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Front Desk book cover 1
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Front Desk
Series · 6 books · 2018-2025

Books in series

Front Desk book cover
#1

Front Desk

2018

Mia Tang has a lot of secrets. Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests. Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed. Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language? It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?
Three Keys book cover
#2

Three Keys

2020

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. 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!
Room to Dream book cover
#3

Room to Dream

2021

New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang is back with another heartwarming and inspiring story of Mia and friends! Mia Tang is going for her dreams! After years of hard work, Mia Tang finally gets to go on vacation with her family—to China! A total dream come true! Mia can't wait to see all her cousins and grandparents again, especially her cousin Shen. As she roams around Beijing, witnessing some of the big changes China's going through, Mia thinks about the changes in her own life, like . . . 1. Lupe's taking classes at the high school! And Mia's own plans to be a big writer are . . . stuck. 2. Something happened with Jason and Mia has no idea what to do about it. 3. New buildings are popping up all around the motel, and small businesses are disappearing. Can the Calivista survive? Buckle up! Mia is more determined than ever to get through the turbulence, now that she finally has . . . room to dream!
Key Player book cover
#4

Key Player

2022

Mia Tang is going for the goal in the fourth Front Desk novel by New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang! Mia Tang is play to win! The Women’s World Cup is coming to Southern California, and everyone has soccer fever―especially Mia Tang! The U.S. team is playing China in the finals, and Mia feels like her two identities are finally coming together. But when her P.E. teacher gives her a C, Mia tries to pull up her grade by scoring interviews with the championship teams. It’s not so easy when . . . 1. The two teams are hunkered down in secret hotels in Pasadena and not taking any media requests. 2. Mr. Yao is back at the motel―as a co-owner! Jason is sure his dad deserves a second chance. Mia is not so sure. 3. Mia’s parents are trying to buy a house of their very own, which turns out to be a LOT harder than they thought! As Mia aims for her goals, she'll have to face strikers from all corners, as well as her own fears. But if anyone can find a way to win big, it's Mia Tang!
Top Story book cover
#5

Top Story

2023

The New York Times bestselling Front Desk series continues! Mia Tang is at the top of her game! She’s spending winter break with Mom, Lupe, Jason, and Hank in San Francisco’s Chinatown! Rich with history and hilarious aunties and uncles, it’s the place to find a great story—one she hopes to publish while attending journalism camp at the Tribune. But this trip has as many bumps as the hills of San Francisco . . . 1\. Mia's camp is full of older kids, with famous relatives, fancy laptops, and major connections! Can she compete with just her pen and passion? 2\. Lupe’s thinking about skipping ahead to college! Will Mia ever get a chance to just chill with her best friend? 3\. Jason’s crushing hard on a new girl. For the first time ever, Mia is speechless…and jealous. Can she find the courage to tell Jason—gulp—that she has a crush on him? Even for the best writers, it’s not always easy to find the right words. But if anyone can tell top story, it’s Mia Tang!
Chef's Secret book cover
#6

Chef's Secret

2025

The New York Times bestselling Front Desk series continues! Jason Yao has one goal-to become a true, modern chef. He's not entirely sure what that means yet, but he knows it means being a better version of who he used to be (that is, someone who was in the principal's office three times a week and swiped cash from his dad's motels to buy video games). Jason has a much better grip on his temper now that Mia Tang is in his life. But it still hovers, right beneath the surface, threatening to come out-especially when he returns from Chinatown and tells his parents about his new relationship with Mia ... and his parents say he's not allowed to have a girlfriend. As Jason fights to pursue his own path and be the chef he knows he can be, he'll have to find the courage to stay calm, speak up, and share his heart. Luckily he has Mia, who is brave enough to face anything ... even Jason's parents!

Author

Kelly Yang
Kelly Yang
Author · 12 books
Kelly Yang is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of the FRONT DESK series, winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Children's Literature. Her books include FRONT DESK, THREE KEYS, ROOM TO DREAM, PARACHUTES, NEW FROM HERE, and other middle grade and young adult novels. She was born in China and grew up in Los Angeles. She went to college at the age of 13 and graduated from UC Berkeley at the age of 17 and Harvard Law School at the age of 20. After law school, she founded The Kelly Yang Project, a writing and debating program for children in Asia. Prior to becoming a novelist, she wrote for many years for the South China Morning Post, The New York Times, Washington Post, and the Atlantic. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.
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