Four starred reviews and over ten best-of-year lists!* "Many readers
will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus
Reviews, starred review
Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's
Literature!* "Many readers will recognize themselves or their
neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewMia Tang
has a lot of secrets.Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house.
Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia
manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its
guests.Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel
owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty
rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.Number 3: She wants to be a
writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math
because English is not her first language?It will take all of Mia's
courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be
able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr.
Yao, and go for her dreams?