Immigration, poverty and racism are all really important topics in the news lately. Last month, I read a fantastic new book in which all three of those topics are central themes. What is this book I’m talking about? Front Desk by Kelly Yang! The main character in the story is Mia Tang, a ten-year-old girl who has recently immigrated with her parents from China. Her parents are now working at the Calivista Motel while Mia runs the front desk. Sounds easy and fun, right? It’s not. Mia’s family is really poor, and the motel’s Scrooge of an owner, Mr. Yao, pays them very little. And on top of all that, Mia’s family is hiding Chinese immigrants in the motel, and if the owner discovers their secret, they’re going to be in serious trouble. But there’s hope! Mia finds out about an essay contest. If she wins, the people holding the contest will grant her family ownership of their motel in Vermont. She does have a few issues with writing in English, but she hopes that she can fix that. Although, there’s just one problem…it costs $300 to enter the contest. And how is Mia going to scrape together enough money to pay for it? The problem of making friends in her new country is resolved quickly-Mia meets another immigrant girl, Lupe, and they become best friends. But over the course of the book, many more complications pop up in Mia’s life: a stolen car, a pencil theft, money worries, their friend Hank’s difficulties (Hank lives at the Calivista – he’s one of the “weeklies”), bullying, and more. Mia tries to help solve many of those problems by writing letters-helping Hank find a job, for instance, or writing a letter to store owners in town about a racist list of “bad” customers going around-even though she is still having issues with English. Want to know something fascinating? Front Desk is semi-autobiographical! Kelly Yang actually immigrated from China and lived a lot like Mia-running a motel with a horrid owner. A lot of what happens to Mia in the story happened to Kelly Yang. Front Desk is an inspiring, uplifting story that is impossible to put down. All the difficulties Mia confronts and how she looks for solutions until she finds one teaches us to persevere. The fact that much of the story is nonfiction, and that despite all the hardships the author faced, she went to a good college and became a writer reminds us how much immigrants contribute to this country. Front Desk by Kelly Yang. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2018. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? Let us know in the comments below!
Book Reviews
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Reviewed by Kaya Simcoe, 13
Reviewing Harry Potter is kind of like reviewing Taco Bell or vanilla ice cream. Most everyone has read it, but sometimes just knowing that a book is famous or has won awards won’t make you read it, especially if you are a careful reader, like me. Yes, Harry Potter is scary. And it is also inspirational, amazing, spellbinding, and deeply profound. I had never read it on my own, because I knew it has some very scary moments (and it does). Scary books just aren’t worth it to me. But, one day my grandma persuaded me to read one chapter on the phone. Just one chapter. How hard could it be? HARD! But not the book. Needing to put the book down! From the first page I was hooked. I never knew Harry Potter was funny, but I think it’s hilarious. The characters are strong, well thought out, and multi-dimensional. They are real to me, and that’s one of the magical things about Harry Potter. (“Of course it’s happening inside your head!” Dumbledore exclaims in book seven, “But why on Earth should that mean it’s not real?”) I love Hermione, one of Harry’s best friends, immensely. She is strong, independent and brave, but I really appreciate that author J.K. Rowling sometimes lets her break or be real. “We could have been killed!” Hermione says in book one, “Or worse, expelled.” By book seven though, “We’re coming with you. That was decided months ago— years really.” Though not well known, that is one of my favorite Hermione quotes. I think J.K. Rowling is very brave. As a writer myself, I know how hard it is to put your characters in difficult situations, or make bad things happen to them. You love your characters like friends (at least, I do) and often you can tell something about the author by what he or she makes happen to theirs. Harry Potter IS sad, and scary, but it revolves around love. “You are protected, in short, by your ability to love!” Dumbledore tells Harry in book six. These books have many layers, which makes it interesting for me to read, and you get to decide if it’s worth it to you to see them all. I see the books differently now at thirteen, rather than eight. I really value the beautiful and dynamic characters J.K. Rowling adds to her books. The realness of it all is one of the reasons that I love Harry Potter. No, you probably can’t make someone’s wand shoot out of their hands when you yell “expelliarmus!” in this world, and mail is delivered by postman, not owl. But you CAN stand up, fight back, break down, laugh, cry, and LOVE each other in this world. This is the kind of magic we can all perform. We all have this magic inside of us. Will we use it? Do we even know it’s there?I love Harry Potter because it is it’s own world. I am a part of it every time I open a thoroughly well loved book, where dragons exist and broomsticks can fly. My collection of the hardcover books have a million pages folded down, and every funny scenario is highlighted. Some may argue that this isn’t the way to treat good books—but I think, it’s the best way. Harry Potter inspires me to enjoy smarts, love, and use MY wizard powers. What are they? How will they help? What are YOUR wizard powers? Maybe you’ll find some you didn’t know were there… when you read my favorite book. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. Arthur A. Levine Books, Reissue 2018. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? Let us know in the comments below!
Just Add Magic, Reviewed by Anastasia Brown, 13
Three Friends. One cookbook. A chance to change the world. “Just Add Magic” is an Amazon Prime Original TV series based on a series of books by the same name by Cindy Callahagan. It focuses on the lives of three best friends- Kelly Quinn, (Olivia Sanabia) Darbie O’Brian, (Abby Donnelly) and Hannah Parker-Kent, (Aubrey Miller)- in the tiny town of Saffron Falls. They’re just your ordinary preteen girls- until the book comes into their lives. It all starts with an accident. While exploring Kelly’s attic, the three girls find an old cookbook, full of strange recipes like “Bitter Truth Truffles” and “Mind Peering Peppermints.” Believing it to be an old book that Kelly’s grandmother (Dee Wallace) had written as a girl, they decide to try one of the recipes for a birthday present for Grandma Quinn. They whip up a “Shut ‘Em Up” Shortcake, only to discover that the book might be more than just a little girl’s afternoon project. The cake has literally “shut up” both Hannah and Kelly’s brother Buddy, who are both unable to talk after eating it. Even worse, when Grandma Quinn sees the book, she seems terrified, and tries to warn Kelly of a possible danger, but is unable to explain herself, which helps Kelly realize that Buddy and Hannah aren’t the only ones under some strange spell- Grandma Quinn is, too. But who spelled her? Who else in Saffron Falls knows about this strange book? And will they stop at her Grandma? “Just Add Magic” is really an incredible show. It’s intriguing plot and relatable characters make it a show that kids of any age-and maybe their parents, too- can enjoy. But it is more than just enjoyable entertainment. Woven throughout the story are many thought-provoking ideas- like the need for respecting as well as loving your friends and family. For example, to break one spell, Kelly has to apologize to her younger brother for insulting him. Like everyone, the characters aren’t perfect, but they are willing to realize when they make a mistake and try to fix it. They love each other and work to cooperate, knowing that, at the end of the day, teamwork is what is going to help them save Grandma Quinn- and, ultimately, all of Saffron Falls. Have you watched this show? Or do you plan on watching it? Let us know in the comments below!
