Author(s): Kelly Yang

Adventure and Real Life Stories

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?"

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Helen's review - This is the story of an immigrant Chinese family running a motel in the U.S. racism and exploitation abound, but the delightful 10-year-old main character Mia is full of positivity, humour and initiative. This story made me laugh and cry - one of my faves!

For age 10+