Front Desk - Book Review

 The next book I picked up this summer was suggested by my 11 year old son. It was one of his recommended reading at school last year.

This is the second book that he picked up where the protagonist is an immigrant. "Esperanza Rising" was the first of this kind he read at school. (I will give the link to that review at the end).

In "Esperanza Rising" the main character is wealthy and moves to America followed by the series of unfortunate events happens in her life and ends up in California as a bonded Labor whereas in "Front Desk" the Protagonist Mia moves to America from China along with her parents with the hope of living an "American Dream".

Mia Tang boards the flight to America with the dream of Pizza and Cookies whereas her parents longed to have a freedom which is a dream in China.



With $200 in their pockets Mia's Parents have a tough time in the foreign land literally living in their car for months until they find a motel where they are looking for someone to run the place. This lights up their hope until they figure out that it is the biggest trap they ever got their self in!!

While Mia's Parents are exploited by their motel owner Mr.Yao with lowest pay and 24/7 work Mia is having hard time adjusting in school luckily she finds a best friend in Lupe another immigrant from Mexico who is in the same boat as Mia in this cast they both stuck in the "Poor Roller Coaster" forever.

There are so many characters the author introduces as the story grows. Each teaches us a lesson in this land of immigrants. Mia picks up the pen to solve not only her problems but her friends' as well.

I am really touched when Mia's parents figures out that the situation in China is changing and their family members are having better life whereas they are still struggling to make the ends meet even after 2 years of toiling in this land of dreams!!!

Another place where I felt heavy was when Mia and her Mom picks up the empty Macys shopping bag from a mall parking lot and stuffs them with the toilet roll. Then they enter the Macys to "fake shop" just to feel the new clothes and enjoy that smell.

The story takes place in the early 1990s and the Author clearly explains the plight of the Chinese immigrants in detail. Even though they are skilled they weren't able to find a job of their qualification as they lack in English fluency.

As per me this is not an interesting book for an adult to read but the best book for kids to learn about the immigrants' struggle and to see "How the book was judged by its cover rather than its content back then"(Has it changed now?!)

In a nut Shell the first half of the book is like a Balachander Movie (where the lead characters face nothing but defeat) and the next half is a Vikraman Movie!!!

P.S - The Author Kelly Yang wrote this book from her own experience (Obviously!) whereas in real life even with all the struggles she attended Harvard Law School at the age of 13!! Impressive to read about the author at the end notes. Book is available online on "SORA"

Some of the interesting pages from the book 👇





Link to "Esperanza Rising" Book Review is below 👇

https://nirmalavoice.blogspot.com/2022/10/esperanza-rising-book-review.html



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