Scan barcode
A review by kindredbooks
Key Player by Kelly Yang
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I received a copy of Key Player by Kelly Yang from Scholastic Canada in exchange for an honest review.
It should go without saying now how much I love The Front Desk series by Kelly Yang. I love reading about Mia and her family and friends. In this fourth installation of the series, Mia finds herself caught between the two parts of her - that which identifies with her home heritage and that of her new home in America. This comes to a head when the Women's World Cup comes to California and it's the US team playing the Chinese team. Mia is determined to track down both championship teams in order to do interviews with them in order to raise her grade in PE. In doing so, she learns a lot about what inspires and drives these amazing women on both national teams. As always, Mia's story - and those of her family and friends around her - are ones of inspiration, perseverance, courage, and finding their place in a country that still has trouble accepting all its citizens.
The story is inspired by Kelly Yang's own childhood growing up - and the experience she had when she really was able to interview with Team China ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup in 1999. While these events happened more than 20 years ago, many of the themes and challenges that Mia and her friends are faced with continue to be relevant today. These stories will inspire readers to celebrate and embrace their own experiences in America.
It should go without saying now how much I love The Front Desk series by Kelly Yang. I love reading about Mia and her family and friends. In this fourth installation of the series, Mia finds herself caught between the two parts of her - that which identifies with her home heritage and that of her new home in America. This comes to a head when the Women's World Cup comes to California and it's the US team playing the Chinese team. Mia is determined to track down both championship teams in order to do interviews with them in order to raise her grade in PE. In doing so, she learns a lot about what inspires and drives these amazing women on both national teams. As always, Mia's story - and those of her family and friends around her - are ones of inspiration, perseverance, courage, and finding their place in a country that still has trouble accepting all its citizens.
The story is inspired by Kelly Yang's own childhood growing up - and the experience she had when she really was able to interview with Team China ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup in 1999. While these events happened more than 20 years ago, many of the themes and challenges that Mia and her friends are faced with continue to be relevant today. These stories will inspire readers to celebrate and embrace their own experiences in America.