Three Keys by Kelly Yang

I hope readers take away the three keys of friendship and allyship – you gotta listen, you gotta care, and you gotta keep trying! I also hope young readers are inspired and empowered to stand up for what’s right! Kelly Yang

Major things are happening in Mia's world since we first met her about a year ago. She and her parents are running and owning their motel. Her parents are still working hard but at least they can now get some sleep and no longer have the enormous worry that Mr Yao might arrive and yell at them and worse. Mia has her great friend Lupe and school is going back after the summer. The new teacher is, however, very unkind to Mia. The political climate of California is simmering. An election is about to be held and hot issue is Proposition 187 which was a state ballot initiative that sought to deny access to social services, non-emergency health services, and public education to undocumented immigrants living in California. Lupe and her parents along with some of Mia's classmates are undocumented immigrants. Lupe's mum is in an even more dangerous position because she has recently returned to Mexico and now cannot return. Then Lupe's father finds himself in an immigration detention centre. 

It is time for action and Mia is a girl of action. Hank, who now works at the motel, helps as they begin their campaign - finding a lawyer for Lupe's father; gathering signatures for a petition; and making sure their motel - the Calivitsa is a place that welcomes anyone and everyone. 

I read this book on a recent mini-break and when I finished the twenty something daughter of my friend asked - what was that book about. In my answer I mentioned immigration law; politics; deportation; discrimination; fear; victimisation; violent protests; illegal immigrants; fairness; justice/injustice; bigotry; and even Donald Trump (mentioned in the notes at the back of the book). Her reply? Wow all of that in a children's book! 

Don’t miss this brave hero as she confronts anti-immigrant hatred in a timely historical novel.  Kirkus Star review

Yang’s writing is engaging and earnest, making issues of discrimination, class, poverty, cultural identity, and gender roles accessible to young readers. Horn Book

Three Keys considers the power of individual heroes to win within a broken economic system, and takes a realistic look at what it is to be an immigrant in America today. Like Front Desk, this is an exceptional book. Book Trust

Watch these videos:

Kelly Yang talks about her book

Kelly Yang talks about on important scene in Front Desk

Publisher Blurb (Book Depository): Mia Tang thinks she's going to have the best year ever. She and her parents are the proud owners of the Calivista Motel, Mia gets to run the front desk with her best friend, Lupe, and she's finally getting somewhere with her writing! But as it turns out, sixth grade is no picnic... 1. Mia's new teacher doesn't think her writing is all that great. And her entire class finds out she lives and works in a motel! 2. The motel is struggling, and Mia has to answer to the Calivista's many, many worried investors. 3. A new immigration law is looming and if it passes, it will threaten everything -- and everyone -- in Mia's life.It's a roller coaster of challenges, and Mia needs all of her determination to hang on tight. But if anyone can find the key to getting through turbulent times, it's Mia Tang!

In this interview Kelly Yang talks about Three Keys. Ms Yingling's blog will give you more plot details. In this video Colby Sharp talks about Three Keys - "wonderful wonderful relationships between (the) characters."

Three Keys is the sequel to Front Desk. Here is the web site for Kelly Yang.

The third book in this series has just been published - Room to Dream. I will need to wait until the paperback edition becomes available here in Australia before I can join Mia and Lupe and Jason and the crew of the Calivista Motel. I do hope, in this third instalment, the kids can finally go to Disneyland.