Three Keys (Front Desk #2)
Kelly Yang
Scholastic Press
Published September 15, 2020
Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads
About Three Keys
The story of Mia and her family and friends at the Calivista Motel continues in this powerful, hilarious, and resonant sequel to the award-winning novel Front Desk.Mia Tang thinks she’s going to have the best year ever.She and her parents are the proud owners of the Calivista Motel, Mia gets to run the front desk with her best friend, Lupe, and she’s finally getting somewhere with her writing!
But as it turns out, sixth grade is no picnic…1. Mia’s new teacher doesn’t think her writing is all that great. And her entire class finds out she lives and works in a motel! 2. The motel is struggling, and Mia has to answer to the Calivista’s many, many worried investors. 3. A new immigration law is looming and if it passes, it will threaten everything — and everyone — in Mia’s life.
It’s a roller coaster of challenges, and Mia needs all of her determination to hang on tight. But if anyone can find the key to getting through turbulent times, it’s Mia Tang!
My Review
Authors like Kelly Yang, who write about real situations from recent history that some young readers face, deserve much appreciation. In her author’s note, Yang recalls her own childhood, during which many of the events mentioned in Three Keys take place. She reflects on the parallels between that time period back in the 1990s and the rise of xenophobia and hate in the United States in more recent days.
Through the pages of the novel, though, she carefully deconstructs these challenging ideas so that young readers can see, think about, and explore them in an age-appropriate way. Like Mia herself, many readers will find themselves in school classrooms with children whose families face increased discrimination and fear.
The story makes space for readers to think about what those experiences would feel like and how political ideas, and even recent political history, impact the people around them.
I’ve loved this series so far, and I’m so impressed with the author’s wisdom and careful handling of these sensitive topics. I’m excited to read more of the series.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 9 to 12.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.
Romance/Sexual Content
None.
Spiritual Content
None.
Violent Content
Brief racist comments. References to an adult being arrested and detained.
Drug Content
None.
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