pagesofpins 's review for:

Three Keys by Kelly Yang

3.0

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Just as good for conversations with kids as the first book, but also with some of the same flaws: I appreciated that the antagonists experience growth (especially Mia's teacher and enemy-turned-friend Jason), but I also felt like their characters weren't always believably drawn, especially scenes like when Mia's teacher visits, hears some platitudes from the hotel residents about creating a brighter future, and suddenly changes her mind about immigration. The platitudes from Jason are even worse--I can't think of any middle school boy who would talk like he does in a few scenes.