Three Keys, written by Kelly Yang, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary: Mia Tang, the precocious fifth-grader who brought an eclectic group of immigrants together to buy a motel in “Front Desk”, is back for another heartwarming story about sticking up for yourself and your friends. As Mia starts sixth grade, the Calivista Motel is expanding under her parents’ ownership, a proposed immigration law is stirring up unrest and anger toward immigrants, and her best friend Lupe’s father is picked up by the immigration police. With her characteristic optimism, Mia forges ahead, starting a letter-writing campaign and a club at school to make sure everyone feels welcome. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Kelly Yang addresses extremely difficult topics with grace and makes them easy for young readers to understand and sympathize with. Lupe’s struggles with immigration lawyers, African-American Hank’s difficulty in procuring a bank loan, and Mia’s teacher’s prejudice against students of color are not sugarcoated, but still presented with a message of hope and a lesson on the power one individual can hold. Fans of “Front Desk” will love seeing Mia mature and stay true to herself and her friends in this sequel. An author's note explains the real immigration law that passed and the author's own experiences with it. Use "Three Keys" to discuss immigration issues in the United States today, or as an example of one person making a difference.