Children’s#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Yes We Will |
2022 |
Buy |
Finally Seen Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Finally Seen |
2023 |
N/A |
| Finally Heard |
2024 |
Buy |
Front Desk Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Front Desk |
2018 |
Buy |
| Three Keys |
2020 |
Buy |
| Room to Dream |
2021 |
Buy |
| Key Player |
2022 |
Buy |
| Top Story |
2023 |
Buy |
| Chef’s Secret |
2025 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Parachutes |
2020 |
Buy |
| New from Here |
2022 |
Buy |
| Private Label |
2022 |
Buy |
| Finally Seen |
2023 |
Buy |
| The Take |
2026 |
Buy |
Kelly Yang grew up in a series of motels in Southern California after her family emigrated from China. She turned that childhood into the Front Desk series, which follows Mia Tang as she navigates school, family, and the daily challenges of running a motel. Front Desk (2018) won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and has been widely adopted in school reading programs. The series now spans six books.
Beyond the Front Desk series, Yang writes standalone novels for young adult readers, including Parachutes (2020) about Chinese students attending high school in America, and New from Here (2022), set during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also writes for younger readers, with the picture book Yes We Will (2022) and the Finally Seen series for middle grade audiences. Her books consistently center the experiences of Asian-American kids and families.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Kelly Yang written?
Kelly Yang has written fourteen books across four series.
What was Kelly Yang's first book?
Kelly Yang’s first book is Front Desk, published in 2018.
What is Kelly Yang best known for?
Kelly Yang is best known for Front Desk (2018), a middle grade novel about Mia Tang, a ten-year-old Chinese immigrant whose family manages a motel in Southern California. The book won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and became a bestseller. Yang has said the story is based on her own childhood experience of growing up in motels after her family immigrated from China.