Top Story by Kelly Yang


Hello! I'm Sloane, and I'm reviewing Top Story by Kelly Yang. This is the fifth book in the Front Desk series. I read the other books in the series a while ago, and then realized there was a fifth book, so I read it recently!

In the first Front Desk book, the main character, Mia, moves from China to America, and her parents get jobs at the Calivista motel. The motel is owned by Mr. Yao, who overworks Mia's parents and treats them badly, while Mr. Yao's son, Jason, bullies Mia at school for helping at the motel. Mia and her parents help immigrants stay in the motel, which they have to keep a secret from Mr. Yao. Mia has to navigate her new life and pursue her dream of being a writer.

*Spoilers for the Front Desk series (books 1-4)*

In Top Story, Mia is in Chinatown during winter break with her mom and her friend Lupe, while her dad stays in Anaheim, California to run the Calivista motel. Mia is going to a journalism camp, while Lupe is going to the state championships for the math cup. The inn they are staying at, the Golden Inn, needs help with an upcoming banquet, and Mia knows exactly who to call. They are soon joined by Jason and Hank, who help run Mia's family's motel and restaurant. Mia also meets Emma, who lives in Chinatown and helps her throughout her journey. At journalism camp, Mia hopes to be published in the San Francisco Tribune and write about struggling businesses in Chinatown, but the editors are biased and won't let her publish her news story. Mia and her new friends at camp, Amne and Haru, have to find a way to make their stories heard.

*End of spoilers*

I really like this book. Mia's narrative voice is so natural and flows so well. I also enjoy reading about Lupe's character. There is a main storyline, with so many other storylines in between, which make it a really exciting book to read, as you learn so much about all the characters! The cover art for the book is also really good. I love the sense of community in Chinatown as everyone works together to help each other, especially at the end.

Top Story is an exciting book that covers many important topics, such as biases in the newspaper editing, as Mia makes her voice heard. I recommend the Front Desk series!

Comments

  1. Sarah T.Monday, January 13, 2025 at 2:59:00 PM CST

    This sounds like a really good book! I find it interesting how there are mini storylines that fit into the bigger storyline. This must make it a really fun book to read! I also agree that the cover art of the book looks really nice. Good job on your blog post!

    ReplyDelete

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