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lanica 's review for:
Front Desk
by Kelly Yang
This is a personal narrative - something which is very popular right now. Authors tell what it was like when they were kids from the first person point of view. Many of these stories have been in the form of graphic novel...and this might be a great next step for kids who have finished those and are looking for another book 'like' them.
This is the story of a 10-year-old girl who has immigrated from China when she was 8. Her parents speak little English, but are extremely hard workers. They find a job as motel manager...but soon the motel owner starts to show his true colors. They find themselves in a difficult situation, where they are making barely enough money to survive. The story is about the girl, but I found the situation of the exploited parents and their worse off friends to be the true theme of this story.
I highly recommend this books to 4th graders and up.
So, if I highly recommend it, why not 5 stars?
[Spoiler] Because the ending is too perfect to be enjoyable. The main characters are going through all these hardships...and then in the end they make a plan, work the plan, and are rewarded with all sorts of good people doing the right thing. It is too unrealistic and unlikely - and the ending seems out of sorts with the rest of the books message. I still think it is a wonderful book for kids to read - and it may teach them more than the ending message.
This is the story of a 10-year-old girl who has immigrated from China when she was 8. Her parents speak little English, but are extremely hard workers. They find a job as motel manager...but soon the motel owner starts to show his true colors. They find themselves in a difficult situation, where they are making barely enough money to survive. The story is about the girl, but I found the situation of the exploited parents and their worse off friends to be the true theme of this story.
I highly recommend this books to 4th graders and up.
So, if I highly recommend it, why not 5 stars?
[Spoiler] Because the ending is too perfect to be enjoyable. The main characters are going through all these hardships...and then in the end they make a plan, work the plan, and are rewarded with all sorts of good people doing the right thing. It is too unrealistic and unlikely - and the ending seems out of sorts with the rest of the books message. I still think it is a wonderful book for kids to read - and it may teach them more than the ending message.