Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Nojadera
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful story tackles racism, consent, and gentrification.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
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 :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Activism , Friendship , School ( 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, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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