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Description
The New York Times bestselling Front Desk series continues!
Jason Yao has a secret . . . actually, lots of secrets!
For one thing, it's hard being a professional chef, helping to run a motel, and being a regular kid! And now that Mia Tang is officially his girlfriend, Jason's life has reached a whole new level of exciting--and terrifying! After all, Mia is amazing, and Jason is . . . just Jason. But he's determined to be the best boyfriend ever, and he knows exactly what he needs to do:
1. Plan the perfect first date. Thanks to his dad's new scheme to bring fancier guests to the motel, Jason is working harder than ever--and earning even bigger tips, which means he can treat Mia to the dinner of her dreams!
2. Be less cringe, especially around other guys. And try to make some guy friends his own age! Maybe then he can finally move on from those bullies who tormented him in fourth grade.
3. Don't let Mia know the real him. Mia can never find out the darkest secrets that Jason is keeping--no one can!
Jason knows he's got his work cut out for him, but hey, if he can date a girl like Mia Tang, anything's possible, right?
Publication date
June 03, 2025
Genre
Fiction
Page Count
240
ISBN-13
9781546138662
Publisher
Scholastic Press
Series
Front Desk
Universe
Front Desk
BISAC categories
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural JUV039290 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Activism & Social Justice
School Library Journal
Secrets get heavier the longer we carry them, and Jason is learning that lesson the hard way. Threatened by bullies, Jason makes a very poor decision and things just keep getting worse. But then he meets Mia, who makes his heart pound and his head spin. Their schoolwork, his job as a chef, and her job as the front desk clerk at the Calivista Hotel limit their time together, but they build a lovely and tender friendship that helps Jason process his doubts and fears. Jason's parents also face their own ethical dilemmas. Themes of honesty and being your authentic self are sensitively investigated, with scenes that are equally awkward, hilarious, and deeply emotional. Elements of Chinese culture are deftly woven through the story without overpowering the ever-twisting and engaging plot. Genuinely funny, heartbreaking, and sensitively written, this book will appeal to readers who are looking for a male main character with interests other than sports or gaming. They will become fast fans of Jason. VERDICT Waste no time in adding this series to your shelves. It's a winner.
Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Kelly Yang is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several books for young readers, including Three Keys, Room to Dream, Key Player, and the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature winner Front Desk, which was also chosen as a Best Book of the Year by multiple publications, including NPR, The Washington Post, and the New York Public Library. Kelly's family immigrated to the United States from China when she was a young girl, and she grew up in California, in circumstances very similar to those of Mia Tang. After attending college at the age of 13, she graduated UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School. She is the founder of The Kelly Yang Project, a leading writing and debating program for children in Asia and the United States. Her writing has been published in South China Morning Post, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. To learn more about Kelly and the Front Desk series, visit frontdeskthebook.com.
