Room to Dream: Front Desk, Book 3
By Amanda Nojadera,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Powerful story tackles racism, consent, and gentrification.
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What's the Story?
In ROOM TO DREAM: FRONT DESK, BOOK 3, Mia Tang and her family are finally taking a trip back to China. But things are different than she remembers, and it's making her think about the changes happening in California. Not only is Lupe taking high school classes, but an awkward encounter with Jason has Mia feeling like she doesn't have any friends at school. On top of that, Mia's noticing that big businesses are replacing small shops. Will Mia find a way to repair her friendships with Lupe and Jason while preventing a giant corporation from buying the Calivista Motel?
Is It Any Good?
Readers will love this heartwarming and inspiring installment in Kelly Yang's powerful trilogy. Yang explores what it's like to feel like an outsider in two cultures and thoughtfully tackles racism, gentrification, and consent. Like the previous books in the Front Desk series, Mia continues to speak up for her community and takes a stand against injustice, this time to fight for small businesses and to call out sexist double standards. As Room to Dream progresses, kids will learn the power of perseverance and integrity and the importance of using their voices to make a difference.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Room to Dream: Front Desk, Book 3 deals with immigration, racism, and bullying. How do these issues affect the characters?
Why do you think Kelly Yang decided to write a story that mirrors her own life? What kind of power do immigrant stories hold? Do you know the story of how -- and why -- your family, or your ancestors, came to your country? What challenges did they face at the time? What's different today?
Talk about the various kinds of diversity in the novel. Why are diverse representations important in children's and young adult literature?
How do the characters demonstrate kindness, perseverance, integrity, communication, and courage? Why are these important character strengths?
Book Details
- Author: Kelly Yang
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Topics: Activism , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , Middle School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Scholastic Press
- Publication date: September 21, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 320
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: October 18, 2021
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Books with Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Characters
Kids' Books About the Immigrant Experience
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