The School Library Journal (SLJ) gave the Front Desk graphic novel a starred review, calling it “an excellent graphic adaptation” and “a must-buy.” The comic, written by Kelly Yang, adapted by Georgia Ball with art by Fumio Obata, brings the story of 10-year-old Mia Tang to life.
The SLJ review highlights the adaptation’s cogent, sober discussion of money, opportunity, and the immigrant experience in America, balanced with youthful optimism. Additionally, SLJ praised Fumio Obata’s illustrations, noting they are “deliberate yet lively” and do a great job of distinguishing the complex, diverse cast of characters.
Full Review:
This meaningful, entertaining graphic adaptation of Yang’s acclaimed novel, set in the early 1990s, is full of themes that remain sharply relevant today. Mia’s parents, Chinese immigrants to California, manage a cheap motel. They staff the desk, clean rooms, manage problem clients, and are paid quite poorly, but they can live at the motel free of charge. Fifth grader Mia often helps, sharpening her math skills at the front desk and interacting positively with folks who live at the motel full-time. At school, Mia makes friends with kids from different backgrounds and discovers a new passion for writing in English. But hard times are ahead: Mr. Yao, the motel owner, financially exploits the family’s labor; racial profiling affects a resident; and Mia’s parents take a risk by creating a safe place for undocumented immigrants. Mia thinks she can fix things, and her youthful optimism gets her quite far. But she also possesses youthful bluntness about how little American reality resembles the American dream. Sober, cogent discussions of how money affects opportunity are uncommon in children’s literature, and Yang raises the issue brilliantly while telling a great story. Obata’s illustrations are deliberate yet lively, portraying a complex, diverse cast of characters easy to differentiate in appearance and attitude.VERDICT An excellent graphic adaptation of a compelling American story. A must-buy.