Preview
  • Front Desk

  • By: Kelly Yang
  • Narrated by: Sunny Lu
  • Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,028 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Front Desk

By: Kelly Yang
Narrated by: Sunny Lu
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!

Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.

Number one: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, 10-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.

Number two: 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 three: 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?

©2018 Kelly Yang (P)2018 Listening Library
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

Featured Article: Best Audiobooks for Middle Schoolers


There’s nothing quite like middle school. It’s a time of major change, anxiety, and lots of awkwardness. Luckily for the middle schooler in your life, there are some great stories about navigating the ups and downs of friendships, family, first crushes, big changes, and so much more. We’ve collected 15 of the best audiobooks that focus on the unique experience of being a kid in middle school to help young listeners feel less alone during this exciting and confusing time.

What listeners say about Front Desk

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    869
  • 4 Stars
    109
  • 3 Stars
    28
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    16
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    675
  • 4 Stars
    99
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    687
  • 4 Stars
    89
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully inclusive story

This story is semi-autobiographical. It’s about a Chinese family that comes to America with very little money. They struggle to make a living running a motel. The characters are very realistic in their struggles and are very relatable. There are themes of poverty, diversity, and resilience. My favorite aspect of the book is in the main character’s struggle to fit in with her peers while already working at the motel and while being very poor. It takes a lot of resilience and wits to overcome her circumstances and she has a lot of both. This is a great book for 3rd-5th graders. There is a lot to be learned from the main character’s strength of character.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This book is amazing I love this book

LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!! It is so much fun and scary but that makes it even better

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good book!

Very funny girl with her gentle family! I enjoyed listen to it! not only for children.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Amazing but can be sad and scary

Amazing but there are some scary and sad parts and a little romance seen but overall it was amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thank you Kelly Yang

I just love your book and I want to say that this book is my favorite and it was a great one. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great book to read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Based on real events

Front Desk is a middle grade book about a 10 year old Chinese immigrant named Mia. Even though this is a kids book, I, in my late 30s, enjoyed it quite a bit.

This is book 1 of a series. Book 2 is already released, but book 3 shows to be released in September of 2021. I will read the next book. I'm curious what is next for Mia and her family.

This book tackles some difficult topics such as racism, poverty, bullying, and abuse of power, but it does so in a way that makes it easier for younger audiences to understand. This has morals in it, but they are conveyed in a non preachy way.

At the end of the book, we learn that a lot of this story comes from actual experiences of the author. That is really powerful to know and makes it more relatable for the reader.

The narrator did a great job! She was very believable as the 10 year old main character and her other voices were good too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not for Christians

This book is a great read I like the storyline I like Mia tang she is kind and selfless she tries to get her parents but there is the words hell in the book so if you believe in God and don’t like those words or have children under the age of 9 this book is not for you but overall I like this book and all lives matter 🤜🏿🤛🏻🤜🏾🤛🏽🤜🏽🤛🏼

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

E

Hey u heje she eje ejeje je eje e ejeje e Jeddah j s Jeremy

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great kids book

The narrator did a fabulous job. Great voice to truly feel like a kid but very clear, easy to follow, and fun to listen to. Love the fact that this story was based in part on actual events of the author. Something all young kids should read to help understand the struggles of immigrants and minorities. As well as the struggle between parents and children, and the differences in American children and Chinese children.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

Might be a bit graphic for younger kids but a very good book. This book definitely kept us interested.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful