Front Desk — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
Four starred reviews and over ten best-of-year lists!* "Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Front Desk joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!
Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!
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?
Frequently asked questions
Is Front Desk appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book addresses themes of violence, including bullying and emotional abuse. Characters experience harsh treatment, and there are mentions of people being beaten and judged based on their skin color, which reflects the struggles faced by the characters. There is no genuinely frightening content in the book. While it deals with serious themes, it does not include elements that would cause fear or distress in young readers.
Does Front Desk have violence?
The book addresses themes of violence, including bullying and emotional abuse. Characters experience harsh treatment, and there are mentions of people being beaten and judged based on their skin color, which reflects the struggles faced by the characters.
Does Front Desk have scary content?
There is no genuinely frightening content in the book. While it deals with serious themes, it does not include elements that would cause fear or distress in young readers.
Does Front Desk have religious themes?
No religious content is present in the book. The search results mention the author's background and experiences but do not indicate any religious practices, beliefs, or themes in the story itself.
Does Front Desk have racial/cultural content?
The book prominently features themes of race and racism, particularly focusing on the experiences of Asian American characters facing discrimination and prejudice. It addresses real-world issues related to race and the immigrant experience.
Does Front Desk have profanity?
The book includes instances of adult language used by a character, which is noted as a significant element in the story. This language is described as being impactful within the context of the narrative.
Does Front Desk have climate change?
No climate themes are present in the book. The search results mention environmental topics related to the author's broader work but do not indicate any climate-related content in 'Front Desk'.
Does Front Desk have sexual identity?
No sexual content is present in the book. The search results discuss the author's other works that may touch on sexual themes, but 'Front Desk' itself does not include any sexual content.
Does Front Desk have gender roles?
While the protagonist is a young Asian girl, the book does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. The narrative focuses more on race and the immigrant experience rather than on gender dynamics.
Does Front Desk have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes are explicitly present in the book 'Front Desk' itself. The search results reference broader discussions about LGBTQ+ media but do not indicate any LGBTQ+ content in the narrative of the book.
