Age rating and parents' guide:Front Desk
by Kelly Yang
Ages 9–14
Front Desk by Kelly Yang is best for children aged 9–14. It has mild violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Economic hardship themes.
Ten-year-old Mia Tang lives in a motel where her immigrant parents work, managing the front desk while hiding secrets, including undocumented guests. Mia dreams of being a writer despite her mother's doubts and the daily racism and poverty her family faces. Encourages gentle, guided conversations about challenging feelings and experiences.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- Mild
- Scary moments
- Mild
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Economic hardship themes
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Novel
- Part of the Front Desk series
- A steady start that picks up quickly
- Mostly text
- Emotionally light
Great for kids who like
- Family
- Survival & resilience
Reading mood
- Thoughtful
Good to talk about
- Family
- Survival & resilience
Books like Front Desk
Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.
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