Front Desk books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Front Desk series?"

"There are six books in the Front Desk series, published between 2018 and 2025."

Q: "What is the first book in the Front Desk series?"

"The first book in the Front Desk series is Front Desk, published in 2018."

Q: "Who is the main character in the Front Desk series?"

"The main character is Mia Tang, a ten-year-old Chinese immigrant who works the front desk of a motel in Southern California while her parents clean rooms. Over the course of the series, Mia grows older and faces new challenges including school, friendships, and her family's struggle to build a stable life in America. The character is inspired by Kelly Yang's own childhood."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Front Desk	2018	Kelly Yang	Buy
2	Three Keys	2020	Kelly Yang	Buy
3	Room to Dream	2021	Kelly Yang	Buy
4	Key Player	2022	Kelly Yang	Buy
5	Top Story	2023	Kelly Yang	Buy
6	Chef’s Secret	2025	Kelly Yang	Buy

The Front Desk series follows Mia Tang, whose family emigrated from China and manages a rundown motel in Southern California. In the first book, Front Desk (2018), Mia is ten years old, working the front desk after school while her parents clean rooms for a demanding motel owner. The book won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and became one of the most widely read middle grade novels of the late 2010s.

Sequels Three Keys (2020), Room to Dream (2021), Key Player (2022), and Top Story (2023) follow Mia as she gets older and faces new problems, from immigration policy to journalism ethics. Chef’s Secret (2025) is the sixth and latest entry. Each book stands on its own with a self-contained plot, but the series rewards readers who follow Mia’s growth from book to book. Yang writes with humor and specificity about the immigrant experience without making the stories feel like lessons.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Front Desk series?

There are six books in the Front Desk series, published between 2018 and 2025.

What is the first book in the Front Desk series?

The first book in the Front Desk series is Front Desk, published in 2018.

Who is the main character in the Front Desk series?

The main character is Mia Tang, a ten-year-old Chinese immigrant who works the front desk of a motel in Southern California while her parents clean rooms. Over the course of the series, Mia grows older and faces new challenges including school, friendships, and her family’s struggle to build a stable life in America. The character is inspired by Kelly Yang’s own childhood.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order