LEWISTON/AUBURN COMMUNITY READ OF FRONT DESK
From April 25 to May 25, The Lewiston and Auburn Public Libraries are inviting both communities to participate in a city-wide reading program, The Lewiston/Auburn Read. This year’s community book selection is Front Desk by Kelly Yang.
Both libraries are planning a variety of activities and programs for readers of all ages to engage with Kelly Yang’s book Front Desk. In addition to reading the book, participants will be encouraged to post selfies reading the book on social media accounts with #TheLewistonRead and/or #TheAuburnRead. “Last year’s community read,” states Lewiston Public Library’s Children’s Librarian, Sara Turner, “was such a success with participation from all over the city! I am excited to partner with Auburn Public Library this year and connect more with our community through Mia’s inspiring story.”
The Lewiston/Auburn Read is a partnership between the Lewiston and Auburn Public Libraries, Lewiston and Auburn Public Schools, and the Cities of Lewiston. Print copies of the book are available for checkout at both libraries, as an ebook or audiobook on the statewide CloudLibrary app for those with library cards, and at public elementary school libraries. Lewiston Public School’s Elementary Librarian notes, “I am super excited that all of our community libraries in Lewiston and Auburn are working together for this read.”
Front Desk is about Mia Tang, who 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. 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. 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?
The author of the book, Kelly Yang, immigrated to America when she was six years old and grew up in Southern California, where she and her parents worked in three different motels. She eventually left the motels and went to college at the age of 13 and law school at the age of 17. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley, where she majored in Political Science, and Harvard Law School. After law school, she gave up law to pursue her passion of writing and teaching children writing. She is the founder of The Kelly Yang Project (kellyyang.edu.hk), a leading writing and debating program for kids in Asia. As a writing teacher for 13 years, Kelly helped thousands of children find their voice and become better writers and more powerful speakers. Before turning to fiction, she was also a columnist for the South China Morning Post for many years. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. She has three children and lives in Los Angeles.
For updates on programs in Lewiston related to the Lewiston/Auburn Read visit our website page for The Lewiston Read and like the Children’s Department Facebook page at LPLKids. For more information contact the Lewiston Public Library Children’s Department at 513-3133 or LPLKids@lewistonmaine.gov. The Lewiston Public Library is located downtown at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street.
For updates on programs in Auburn related to the Lewiston/Auburn Read visit the online monthly calendar and like the Auburn Public Library Advocates Facebook Page. For more information contact the Auburn Public Library Children’s Department at 333-6640 extension 3. The Auburn Public Library is located at 49 Spring Street Auburn, Maine.
