Reviews with content warning for Racism - Front Desk

This book is an incredibly poignant look into the life of immigrants to this country who come over for a better life and find hardship most of us cannot dream of. Throughout, the protagonist's positive attitude and general loveableness keeps it from becoming depressing, yet makes the way the deck is stacked really hit home. I've heard that children of immigrants can never forget how hard their parents worked and how much their parents gave up for them to have the opportunities they did, but I understand it in a deeper, gut level way after reading this book.

It is largely autobiographical and it reads as an autobiography at first, without a clear problem to solve being introduced for a fair bit into the book. There are clearly problems in her life, but it reads as more a telling of what her life is like than a traditional story with rising action, etc, for the first half. The second half is where it feels more like a work of fiction. This is not bad, just an observation. The end was fairly feel-good unrealistic, but that makes sense for a children's book about *hard* topics that can't be nicely tied up with a bow.

Overall an important book that makes its readers richer for having read it.

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2busyreading's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

4.75

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aliviasbookshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Front Desk is the story of Mia Tang, a ten year old Chinese immigrant who often works at the front desk of the motel complex she lives in with her parents while they are hard at work cleaning the units. The book explores many of the difficulties migrant families face - poverty, lack of health insurance, loan sharks, illegal and exploitative working conditions, racism, generational conflict and more yet these were handled in way that was appropriate for the intended audience. Mia is a really likeable protagonist with determination and a good-getter attitude, someone who not only wants to help her family but who goes out of her way to help others and stand-up for what she knows to be right. The happy and heartwarming ending is a nice counter to some of the tougher themes. I loved the way this book highlights the significant positive differences children Mia’s age can make in the world. The author’s note at the end adds some valuable context and details how parts of the story are based on her own life experience.

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