Front Desk Graphic Novel Review
Kelly Yang’s Front Desk is a thoughtful coming-of-age story about an immigrant family working to build a better life while facing prejudice, financial hardship, and the challenges of fitting in. This graphic novel version, illustrated by Fumio Obata, brings Mia Tang’s story to life in a new format. Read on for a spoiler-free review of the graphic novel Front Desk by Kelly Yang.
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In Front Desk, ten-year-old Mia lives and works at the Calivista Motel with her immigrant parents. While her parents clean rooms, Mia manages the front desk, helps guests, and tries to keep the motel owner, Mr. Yao, from discovering that her family is helping immigrants who need a place to stay. She also dreams of fitting in at school and becoming a writer, even though her mother worries that her struggles with English will hold her back.
One of my favorite things about Mia is that she doesn’t give up easily. Although she struggles with shyness and fitting in, she keeps pushing herself to build confidence. She even writes down common English expressions and practices their meanings to better understand the people around her. Her determination to improve her own circumstances while helping her family and motel community makes her a really interesting character.
Front Desk also tackles serious topics, including racism, immigration, and the exploitation of low-wage workers. One motel guest faces unfair assumptions because of his background, while Mia’s parents work hard for very little pay. The motel owner treats their housing as a benefit that makes up for their low wages, which shows the uneven power between the family and their employer.
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Overall, Front Desk is a meaningful story about perseverance, community, and standing up for what is right. The graphic novel format gives readers another way to experience Mia’s journey, making it a worthwhile addition to school and home libraries. It’s a story that encourages readers to look beyond assumptions and recognize the hard work and hopes behind every family.
