Front Desk

Cute and charming while dealing with serious issues. Bonus points for being semi-autobiographical.

Note: I picked this up because some parent somewhere (in ‘Murica natch) was terribly aggrieved that thier precious child had been exposed to all the sordid evil this book contains by an educator and that sort of thing always piques my curiosity.

This was a great book! It makes you see a side of life that not much people experience in life, it makes you realize how lucky you are to have everything you have. Everybody should want to be a “Mia” when they grow up: accepting, generous, percevering, outspoken, ressourceful, kind and full of home and ideas! I highly recommend anyone to read this beautiful and painfuly real book.

Every once in awhile I come across a book I think every American should read (i.e. Wonder) and Front Desk is another. I think young readers would be greatly surprised to read about Mia and her life. She and her parents run a motel owned by a tyrant. They work all hours of the day for almost no pay. Mia does get to attend school, but in a richer area. Her clothing is not “right” and her free school lunch is most likely the most nutritious meal she gets each day.
Mia is a bit of a Pollyanna. Except for one small mention of an incident with a pair of jeans, Mia never complains about how hard her life is or how little she owns. In fact, being a champion for those who are down on their luck becomes her hobby. She wants to single-handedly pull her parents out of poverty and herself off the roller coaster (of the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor). She has a great friend in Lupe, who is going through something similar, but dealing with her own issues.
Did I mention this kid is just 10 years old?
Front Desk tackles some mature themes (racism, poverty) with great examples and a discussion of feelings. It would make a hell of a book club read.