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Front Desk #5
Top Story
The New York Times bestselling Front Desk series continues!
Mia Tang is at the top of her game!
She’s spending winter break with Mom, Lupe, Jason, and Hank in San Francisco’s Chinatown! Rich with history and hilarious aunties and uncles, it’s the place to find a great story—one she hopes to publish while attending journalism camp at the Tribune. But this trip has as many bumps as the hills of San Francisco . . .
1. Mia's camp is full of older kids, with famous relatives, fancy laptops, and major connections! Can she compete with just her pen and passion?
2. Lupe’s thinking about skipping ahead to college! Will Mia ever get a chance to just chill with her best friend?
3. Jason’s crushing hard on a new girl. For the first time ever, Mia is speechless…and jealous. Can she find the courage to tell Jason—gulp—that she has a crush on him?
Even for the best writers, it’s not always easy to find the right words. But if anyone can tell top story, it’s Mia Tang!
Mia Tang is at the top of her game!
She’s spending winter break with Mom, Lupe, Jason, and Hank in San Francisco’s Chinatown! Rich with history and hilarious aunties and uncles, it’s the place to find a great story—one she hopes to publish while attending journalism camp at the Tribune. But this trip has as many bumps as the hills of San Francisco . . .
1. Mia's camp is full of older kids, with famous relatives, fancy laptops, and major connections! Can she compete with just her pen and passion?
2. Lupe’s thinking about skipping ahead to college! Will Mia ever get a chance to just chill with her best friend?
3. Jason’s crushing hard on a new girl. For the first time ever, Mia is speechless…and jealous. Can she find the courage to tell Jason—gulp—that she has a crush on him?
Even for the best writers, it’s not always easy to find the right words. But if anyone can tell top story, it’s Mia Tang!
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2023
184 people are currently reading
2315 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Yang
31 books2,442 followersKelly Yang is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of the FRONT DESK series, winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Children's Literature. Her books include FRONT DESK, THREE KEYS, ROOM TO DREAM, PARACHUTES, NEW FROM HERE, and other middle grade and young adult novels. She was born in China and grew up in Los Angeles. She went to college at the age of 13 and graduated from UC Berkeley at the age of 17 and Harvard Law School at the age of 20. After law school, she founded The Kelly Yang Project, a writing and debating program for children in Asia. Prior to becoming a novelist, she wrote for many years for the South China Morning Post, The New York Times, Washington Post, and the Atlantic. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
January 28, 2024
Omg!!! I Can NOT wait!!🙊❤️❤️
edit:
finally read this!! My local bookstore kindly ordered it for me ✨ this is was fabulous. Kelly Yang is legendary in my book. her characters are super cozy and relatable and this story was awesome as usual. This time Mia is visiting San Francisco and going to a writing camp!
This series should be read by everyone!! ✨✨📝 also the fiasco with Allie and Lupe was rlly sad 🥺 Allie was such a jerk.
maybe in a future book Lupe will get a crush on someone else?? That would be very sweet.
edit:
finally read this!! My local bookstore kindly ordered it for me ✨ this is was fabulous. Kelly Yang is legendary in my book. her characters are super cozy and relatable and this story was awesome as usual. This time Mia is visiting San Francisco and going to a writing camp!
This series should be read by everyone!! ✨✨📝 also the fiasco with Allie and Lupe was rlly sad 🥺 Allie was such a jerk.
maybe in a future book Lupe will get a crush on someone else?? That would be very sweet.
March 13, 2023
Mia Tang is back with the 5th installment in the Front Desk MG series.
📰
Mia is spending winter break with her mom and Lupe as they embark on the mathletes competition and Mia starts her writing camp at The Tribune in San Francisco. Upon arrival Mia realizes she’s the youngest kid in the program, which immediately puts her on edge, feeling the need to prove herself. Lupe is doing so well with math that she thinks she might take the SATs so she can go to college at Berkeley, an idea that also worries Mia because then she would be without her best friend. The bright spots come when Hank and Jason make the trip to help out at a restaurant. The more time she spends around Jason, the more certain she is that she has a crush on him…too bad he had feelings for a local girl named Emma. Will Mia have a successful break in Chinatown?
🐲
I can always count on Kelly Yang to provide heart, history and family in her middle grade stories and Mia’s are definitely my favorite of hers. There’s something special about returning to this family time and again, especially now when there is still Asian hate happening around our country. Yang shares not only a great story, but also historical facts about The Chinese Exclusion Act, the Page Act, the Alien Land Act, and more about Chinese history, as well as Indigenous history from the area. These stories are our stories as a nation and they’re not shared as loudly or as often as others so that’s why these books are so important. Also, I had my own newspaper when I was in middle school as well (around the same time period as this story is set in) so this definitely gave me waves of nostalgia! Top Story releases September 5.
CW: microaggressions, racist acts, vandalism, homophobia
📰
Mia is spending winter break with her mom and Lupe as they embark on the mathletes competition and Mia starts her writing camp at The Tribune in San Francisco. Upon arrival Mia realizes she’s the youngest kid in the program, which immediately puts her on edge, feeling the need to prove herself. Lupe is doing so well with math that she thinks she might take the SATs so she can go to college at Berkeley, an idea that also worries Mia because then she would be without her best friend. The bright spots come when Hank and Jason make the trip to help out at a restaurant. The more time she spends around Jason, the more certain she is that she has a crush on him…too bad he had feelings for a local girl named Emma. Will Mia have a successful break in Chinatown?
🐲
I can always count on Kelly Yang to provide heart, history and family in her middle grade stories and Mia’s are definitely my favorite of hers. There’s something special about returning to this family time and again, especially now when there is still Asian hate happening around our country. Yang shares not only a great story, but also historical facts about The Chinese Exclusion Act, the Page Act, the Alien Land Act, and more about Chinese history, as well as Indigenous history from the area. These stories are our stories as a nation and they’re not shared as loudly or as often as others so that’s why these books are so important. Also, I had my own newspaper when I was in middle school as well (around the same time period as this story is set in) so this definitely gave me waves of nostalgia! Top Story releases September 5.
CW: microaggressions, racist acts, vandalism, homophobia
March 6, 2025
I loved this book. Mia has flourished so much in all the years and I cannot wait for the next one to come out!
March 11, 2024
I Hope Hope Hope there are going to be more books in the series! I love Mia Tang books!
*Update* I recently just heard that Front Desk novels are banned in elementary schools across the United States because they were ‘’too inappropriate’’ ok one these novels were originally made for MIDDLE SCHOOLER’S! Kelly Yang’s books have content such as romance,occasional swearing, and racism. Also people can’t just expect to have kids not know what racism or swearing is. I don’t know if this was just recently but these are my favorite books. They should be in schools because they are amazing and show Asian kids that they can be heard <3
*Update* I recently just heard that Front Desk novels are banned in elementary schools across the United States because they were ‘’too inappropriate’’ ok one these novels were originally made for MIDDLE SCHOOLER’S! Kelly Yang’s books have content such as romance,occasional swearing, and racism. Also people can’t just expect to have kids not know what racism or swearing is. I don’t know if this was just recently but these are my favorite books. They should be in schools because they are amazing and show Asian kids that they can be heard <3
September 7, 2023
4.25-4.5/5
November 24, 2023
Another fine and uplifting story including Mia, Lupe and Jason. This time the setting is San Francisco with a math competition for Lupe and a writing camp for Mia.
December 24, 2023
I had this book preordered but still couldn’t bring myself to read it until now, three months later. I didn’t want Mia’s adventures to really be over! This final chapter is so wonderful, even though it doesn’t take place at the Calivista. This was such a beautiful series and a wonderful journey. So sad to see it over but wow, wear a wonderful book.
June 29, 2025
Happy to see Mia on a non-sports adventure. There’s a lot of focus on romance in this one. Still nothing for Lupe after the upsetting coming out story from the previous volume, though. Please just give the gay child a win
November 19, 2023
I’m so glad Mia Tang keeps fighting for justice and lifting up unheard voices.
December 21, 2023
this is my recent favorite middle grade series and will be devastated if this is the end
March 17, 2024
I really wish that this series could go on forever. Follow the characters into high school, college, families and jobs, etc. I could read about these characters for many more books. However, if this is the final book of the series, I really love the story it told.
Quick Summary: Mia Tang is spending her winter break in Chinatown attending journalism camp at the Tribune. Her mother and Lupe will be with her to compete in a Math Cup tournament. Only a few chapters into the story, they are joined by Jason and Hank, and now the gang is all here.
Mia quickly finds out that beyond being an immigrant, she has to fight even harder to have her voice heard. But is she going to let people around her stop her? What do you think?
I really enjoyed this story. I listed to the audiobook and this was the first book of the series that really felt “middle grade” to me but it could have been because of the narration. Nonetheless, I loved it just as much as the rest of the series.
When Mia starts at journalism camp, she realizes that her cultural background is not the only thing she is going to have to overcome. Many of the campers have connections and money that give them a better chance of being published. Very quickly Mia and readers see just how unfair and quite frankly disrespectful this is. Everyone should have the same chance since they all worked hard to get into this camp to begin with.
I think what Jason tells her sums it up perfectly: “Remember it’s not who you know, but what you know. Anybody can just write a story. But you, Mia, you see people. You see what they’re going through. You care. That’s what sets you apart. That’s what’s going to get you the story behind the story.” This is the kind of writer Mia is and she meets two other campers who are much like her. They want to tell the stories that need to be told not the ones that are just going to “sell.” And being in Chinatown gives a wonderful setting for such phenomenal stories that Mia is determined to get published one way or another.
Kelly Yang once again provides heart, history, and family in this story. Yang shares not only a great story, but also historical facts about The Chinese Exclusion Act, the Page Act, the Alien Land Act, and more about Chinese history, as well as Indigenous history from the area. We unfortunately see some hate crimes and prejudice in this book. But this is important for middle school readers to read because it is unfortunately still going on today.
This novel has a strong message of the importance of speaking up against injustice and making sure everyone’s voice is heard. And in terms of news, it isn’t always about what is “popular” but the stories that need to be told, the stories that need the attention that they never got before.
Loved so many quotes in this story (see spoiler) and will ALWAYS continuing recommending this series to all readers, young and old!
Quick Summary: Mia Tang is spending her winter break in Chinatown attending journalism camp at the Tribune. Her mother and Lupe will be with her to compete in a Math Cup tournament. Only a few chapters into the story, they are joined by Jason and Hank, and now the gang is all here.
Mia quickly finds out that beyond being an immigrant, she has to fight even harder to have her voice heard. But is she going to let people around her stop her? What do you think?
I really enjoyed this story. I listed to the audiobook and this was the first book of the series that really felt “middle grade” to me but it could have been because of the narration. Nonetheless, I loved it just as much as the rest of the series.
When Mia starts at journalism camp, she realizes that her cultural background is not the only thing she is going to have to overcome. Many of the campers have connections and money that give them a better chance of being published. Very quickly Mia and readers see just how unfair and quite frankly disrespectful this is. Everyone should have the same chance since they all worked hard to get into this camp to begin with.
I think what Jason tells her sums it up perfectly: “Remember it’s not who you know, but what you know. Anybody can just write a story. But you, Mia, you see people. You see what they’re going through. You care. That’s what sets you apart. That’s what’s going to get you the story behind the story.” This is the kind of writer Mia is and she meets two other campers who are much like her. They want to tell the stories that need to be told not the ones that are just going to “sell.” And being in Chinatown gives a wonderful setting for such phenomenal stories that Mia is determined to get published one way or another.
Kelly Yang once again provides heart, history, and family in this story. Yang shares not only a great story, but also historical facts about The Chinese Exclusion Act, the Page Act, the Alien Land Act, and more about Chinese history, as well as Indigenous history from the area. We unfortunately see some hate crimes and prejudice in this book. But this is important for middle school readers to read because it is unfortunately still going on today.
This novel has a strong message of the importance of speaking up against injustice and making sure everyone’s voice is heard. And in terms of news, it isn’t always about what is “popular” but the stories that need to be told, the stories that need the attention that they never got before.
Loved so many quotes in this story (see spoiler) and will ALWAYS continuing recommending this series to all readers, young and old!
November 3, 2025
Another lovely book of Mia and her friends and family. I loved seeing them travel to Chinatown in San Francisco for this installment. There were a lot of great moments of Mia learning to stand up for herself and others when she wasn’t being taken seriously in her journalism camp. There were also some nice developments in the romance department with her crush on Jason.
However there were a few moments that would take me out of the story when things didn’t quite feel period appropriate for a middle schooler in the late 90s/early 2000s. But overall this was another great read in the Front Desk series.
However there were a few moments that would take me out of the story when things didn’t quite feel period appropriate for a middle schooler in the late 90s/early 2000s. But overall this was another great read in the Front Desk series.
August 25, 2025
4.5, rounding up!
The Front Desk books are always fun and surprisingly draw quite a bit from author Kelly Yang's real life (in this case, making her own periodical for Chinatown with stories by other kids). In this fifth installment, Mia Tang takes a holiday break by going to a winter journalism camp in San Francisco but quickly runs into institutional racism when the editors favor nepotism in picking bland stories by kids with connections.
I really love that Mia learns about the United States' history of racist legislation: the Page Act, the Chinese Exclusion Act (and its extension, the Geary Act). as well as Japanese American incarceration during WWII and the denial of tribal existence (in this book, the Muwekma Ohlone tribe which is still seeking federal recognition). A great introduction to a middle grade audience, and also is a period piece because Mia runs into elitism when the newspaper editor expects people to read emails when she doesn't have one (or regular access to a computer...!)
Also! She's a teen, but a young one still in middle school so there's a very cute romance too.
The Front Desk books are always fun and surprisingly draw quite a bit from author Kelly Yang's real life (in this case, making her own periodical for Chinatown with stories by other kids). In this fifth installment, Mia Tang takes a holiday break by going to a winter journalism camp in San Francisco but quickly runs into institutional racism when the editors favor nepotism in picking bland stories by kids with connections.
I really love that Mia learns about the United States' history of racist legislation: the Page Act, the Chinese Exclusion Act (and its extension, the Geary Act). as well as Japanese American incarceration during WWII and the denial of tribal existence (in this book, the Muwekma Ohlone tribe which is still seeking federal recognition). A great introduction to a middle grade audience, and also is a period piece because Mia runs into elitism when the newspaper editor expects people to read emails when she doesn't have one (or regular access to a computer...!)
Also! She's a teen, but a young one still in middle school so there's a very cute romance too.
July 8, 2025
*.ೃ༄
4 stars.
kelly yang truly has a gift for writing middle grade — her writing style captures the wonder of childhood without distilling the real, lived experiences of people of colour. reading this feels like a warm hug as we know exactly what it took to get the characters where they are. as someone who shipped mia and jason this book was full of moments that gave me literal butterflies. i also admire mia and her friends’ determination and drive to publish stories that matter, even when the odds were stacked against them. in our divided world, we need the kindness shown by the chinatown community more than ever and i hope the kids reading this book get to experience it. *.ೃ
October 30, 2023
Book five of a series I’ve loved, but the last one I’ll read. I feel conflicted about this book. One one hand, I adore the protagonist, Mia Tang, and these books have so much heart!
On the other hand, as the series goes on, it becomes more nutritious and less delicious. The author was trying to cram way too much of her research into the novel, usually through characters giving mini history lessons to each other every few pages. There’s sooo much unrealistic dialogue, especially from the 13-year-olds.
Just as bad, there is a huge focus in this book on middle grade romance and confessing your feelings to your crush. The message is that if you’re 13 and you haven’t told your crush how you feel about them, you’re not being honest and your true self. Up until this book, I was totally rooting for Mia and Jason to get together someday and become a cute couple (as young adults in an imaginary future beyond the book). But when they got together as a couple who were still children, I felt really squirmy and couldn’t enjoy it at all.
I’ve bought the first 3 books of the series to share with my kids, but that’s as far as we’ll go with this series and author.
On the other hand, as the series goes on, it becomes more nutritious and less delicious. The author was trying to cram way too much of her research into the novel, usually through characters giving mini history lessons to each other every few pages. There’s sooo much unrealistic dialogue, especially from the 13-year-olds.
Just as bad, there is a huge focus in this book on middle grade romance and confessing your feelings to your crush. The message is that if you’re 13 and you haven’t told your crush how you feel about them, you’re not being honest and your true self. Up until this book, I was totally rooting for Mia and Jason to get together someday and become a cute couple (as young adults in an imaginary future beyond the book). But when they got together as a couple who were still children, I felt really squirmy and couldn’t enjoy it at all.
I’ve bought the first 3 books of the series to share with my kids, but that’s as far as we’ll go with this series and author.
September 6, 2023
Loved this latest Mia Tang book. As usual, come for Mia's humor and heart and stay for her further adventures. Here, Mia and her friends are up in San Francisco for various projects. Mia is at journalism camp at a local newspaper where she quickly learns that talent isn't enough. She and her new cohort, after a lot of learning hiccups, regroup and will have you rooting for their success. And, Mia and her friends, effortlessly weave in San Francisco's history through the various communities in Chinatown, Japantown and the Indigenous community as well as various laws that were passed, not too long ago. I also love how Mia's relationships with her friends have grown and I can't wait for the next installment.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Staff Pick 9/23
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Staff Pick 9/23
March 27, 2024
I've said it before, and I'll say it again...ANYTHING Kelly Yang publishes, I'm going to read! Catching up with Mia and the crew was just as incredible as the first four books. I particularly liked the growth of Mia's character with regard to self-care. Taking time for yourself is important, and I am still learning how to be better at this as a near 30 year old woman! Regardless, it is reassuring to know that others out there struggle with this. I also very much enjoyed the Asian American history that was sprinkled throughout this book. I learned lots of new things! 😃
September 11, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
I love Yang's work and I always will <3
This book is starting to age up in content as Mia grows older - she is starting to like a boy (though she doesn't want to date yet), starting to think more critically about being a child vs. growing up, recognizing injustices and learning how to fight against them, etc. It was cool to read, especially since (as always) Yang based some of the book on her own lived experience.
I love Yang's work and I always will <3
This book is starting to age up in content as Mia grows older - she is starting to like a boy (though she doesn't want to date yet), starting to think more critically about being a child vs. growing up, recognizing injustices and learning how to fight against them, etc. It was cool to read, especially since (as always) Yang based some of the book on her own lived experience.
May 18, 2024
I think I am in the minority in that I just don’t like the whole Mia and Jason thing but I understand it as they are getting older, I really love Kelly yang writing and using her own life experiences in her books, makes them more real, I didn’t give 5 ⭐️as i just couldn’t get into the crush aspect and it’s the only one so far that has not made me cry and feel the emotions. But still a fantastic series that every kid should read!
May 27, 2024
Omg these books are sooooo good!!! Still my favorite author for sure! Her books are never a disappointment!! I thought the writing camp was a great setting for most of the book as well as learning more about Chinatown and it’s history. You get facts and stuff and learn more about important events but follow Mia and her winter break at the same time which is great. The whole Jason and Mia thing and also Dean and Hank were two good relationship plots.
Overall there better be a book 6😍😍😍
Overall there better be a book 6😍😍😍
May 20, 2024
A great ending to an adorable series. Kelly Yang is so good at taking on big topics like racism, historical exclusion, and the changing dynamics of a city but in a digestible way for the middle-grade reader. My children and I really enjoyed this series, and are sad that its over.
September 5, 2024
This Series got worse as the books went on. The First book was amazing this book could use some work. It was like Kelly yang ran out of ideas well reading this story. Do not Read. It took me 3 months to finish.
October 1, 2024
This is a beautiful, inspiring book! I’ve loved every book in this series. This one shares true history and communities caring for each other. When Mia notes that each person she meets has a regular job and also a job they do for their community, that really stuck with me.
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November 6, 2023love stealing my little brother’s books
July 29, 2024
#LOVED hello it was so awesome that they started their own newspaper!! And I’ve been rooting for Mia and Jason sooo this was super cute!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 8, 2024I think it was a very active story and it was very adventurous. I liked all the character development that was in the book, and the plot of the story was really interesting.
October 16, 2023
Yet another WINNER from Kelly Yang, and this one takes place in San Francisco Chinatown! I loved how Kelly brought in historical injustices (Page Act of 1875, Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and more). I especially loved reading about librarian Clara Breed, the Children's Librarian at the San Diego Public Library from 1929 to 1945, who gave pre-stamped postcards to her Japanese child patrons as they were departing for internment camps. The letters students wrote to Clara are currently on display at the Japanese American National Museum in LA, and I am hoping to view them the next time I visit LA.
I cannot wait to have discussions with the students in my library over this latest in the Front Desk series (a series that is in high demand in my library).
I cannot wait to have discussions with the students in my library over this latest in the Front Desk series (a series that is in high demand in my library).
September 27, 2023
os livros da série front desk continuam sendo icônicos, perfeitos, sinceros e cheio de emoções, kelly yang está escrevendo uma obra prima literária (infantil)
continuo sendo fã número 1 brasileira de kelly yang, quando que as editoras vão pegar essa maravilha?
e novamente, essa mulher viveu de tudo, o que ela não fez?
"I proved I belonged—starting with the first sign I made at the front desk. So let ’em look. Let ’em stare. Then let ’em read my words—they wouldn’t know what hit them. Bravely and boldly, I lifted my head and walked up the steps into the Tribune."
continuo sendo fã número 1 brasileira de kelly yang, quando que as editoras vão pegar essa maravilha?
e novamente, essa mulher viveu de tudo, o que ela não fez?
"I proved I belonged—starting with the first sign I made at the front desk. So let ’em look. Let ’em stare. Then let ’em read my words—they wouldn’t know what hit them. Bravely and boldly, I lifted my head and walked up the steps into the Tribune."
December 1, 2023
4.5 Rounding up for a great middle grade author! I have to say this was not my favorite in the series but I will keep reading them if she keeps making them. This one focused on Chinatown and had lots of Asian American and Indigenous People historical events highlighted. Not loving the love story aspect but it was minimal and properly aimed at the age of the intended audience. A must read if you’ve read the others, otherwise start with Front Desk!
March 14, 2024
I love all of Kelly Yang's books about Mia. I've learned so much more about the history and struggles of Chinese immigrants coming to America, things that I never knew and was never taught. I can't wait to add this to my classroom library so that my students can see books with characters that look like them and to encourage other kids to read and learn about the history of our country while walking in the shoes of a character who is brave and never gives up on her dream.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews