Aug 13, 20203 min read

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Updated: Aug 17, 2021

ABRIDGED MIDDLE READER READING GUIDE

GUIDED ANTI-BIAS/ANTI-RACIST READING | GRADES 3-8

Front Desk (Full-Length Reading Guide PDF)

ABRIDGED OR FULL-LENGTH?

What we include in this blog post is the abridged version of the reading guide. If you'd like access to the full-length reading guide PDF with complete lists of discussion questions and extended resources and learning activities, please click above.

WELCOME + NOTE

This is a reading guide designed to accompany Kelly Yang’s early chapter book Front Desk. We recommend that grownups read the focus book and the reading guide content BEFORE reading with young readers. This guide will help you prepare your own questions for your young readers and choose vocabulary, history, and other related topics to integrate into your learning and discussion.

Lesson content was written by Zapoura Newton-Calvert and was designed to start or deepen anti-racist and anti-bias conversations in families and other learning communities.

This is one of our favorite books at Reading Is Resistance. From the wonderfully optimistic and community-minded protagonist to the multi-racial effort against systemic racism, this story can teach us a lot about big themes like immigration, the “American Dream,” white supremacy structures, and collective action. In addition, readers young and old will fall in love with Mia, whose honesty, curiosity, and big heart lead her to challenge systems of oppression and to be a truly caring friend.

THEMES

Family, Friendship, Immigration, Community, Justice, Diversity, Action

GET THE BOOK

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HOW WE DESIGN OUR READING GUIDES

This guided reading lesson is designed to be part of a larger life-long commitment to anti-racist teaching and learning for the student and the facilitator. Reading Is Resistance sees reading as an opportunity to seed deeper conversations and opportunities for action around racial equity in our communities. We hold the belief that being anti-racist is a process of learning (and unlearning) over time.

The Learning for Justice Social Justice Standards (focused on Identity, Diversity, Justice, and Action) serve as guides for our work.

ABRIDGED GUIDED READING LESSON PLAN

SECTION ONE: CH 1-17

SUMMARY + VIDEO

We are introduced to Mia, who has immigrated to the U.S.from China and it hasn’t been easy. Her parents get a job at the Calivista Motel, owned Mr. Yao, who is judgmental and harsh. Mia starts working at the hotel front desk and gets to know the weeklies, including Hank, a Black man who befriends Mia and later intervenes when a drunk customer threatens her.

At school, things aren’t any easier, but Mia does make friends with Lupe, and the two eventually tell each other the truth about their experiences in the U.S. and grow closer.

SAMPLE DISCUSSION QUESTION

What do we learn about Mia’s various group identities from Mia herself? What identity groups is she part of?

SECTION TWO: CH 18-34

SUMMARY + VIDEO

Mia finds out about an essay contest. The winner could win their very own motel! Mia doubts her own writing skills but loves to write...can she win?

Hank is racially profiled when a car is stolen from the Calavista parking lot. We see acts of anti-Blackness against Hank, who gets fired from his job because of other people’s assumptions. We see discrimination and bullying. But we also see acts of hope, like the way Mia uses a blue hat to signal that the motel is a safe place for other people who’ve immigrated from China to stay.

SAMPLE DISCUSSION QUESTION

Front Desk talks a lot about identity-based bullying both among kids and among grown-ups with different identities. Discuss one example of bullying among kids in the book. Discuss one example of bullying among adults in the book.