Front Desk (Front Desk #1) (Scholastic Gold)

by Kelly Yang

In China, every child is an only child, ever since the government decided all families are allowed only one. Since none of us had siblings, we were our siblings. Leaving them was the hardest part about leaving China.

I made myself look at the floor and not stare at the top of Mr. Yao’s head, which was all shiny under the light, like it had been painted in egg white.

White on white on white? That’s not a sandwich—that’s an envelope!

That night, I made Uncle Fung a pamphlet of American phrases and what they actually meant.

- When you hear “get out of here,” do not actually get out of there. It’s just something people say when they’re surprised. - If someone says something is a “piece of cake,” it doesn’t mean they’re going to give you cake. It just means it’s easy. - Do not be alarmed when you hear the phrase “riding shotgun.” It doesn’t mean they have a gun. It means to sit next to the driver in the car. - Don’t feel insulted when you hear the word “dawg” as in “What’s up, dawg?” or “How you doing, dawg?” Dawg means “friend.” If someone is calling you a “dawg,” they are not being rude and calling you a “dog.” - If something is sweet, like “Sweet car!” it means it is good. It does not mean it literally tastes sweet. - Similarly, if something is “sick,” as in “Sick bike!” it also means good. I know it’s a little confusing. - The word “dude” is a slang term for a male friend. It should not be used when addressing the police, your boss, a senior citizen, or a female. - Do not stick your middle finger up for any reason in America because the middle finger is considered offensive. Use your index finger or pinkie instead to scratch your face. - Don’t take your shoes off everywhere. Americans like to wear their shoes inside the house. - Do not comment on how someone’s appearance has changed. I know it’s a compliment in China to say, “You look like you’ve gained weight!” but trust me, Americans do not like it.

There’s a saying in Chinese that goes “Never forget how much rice you eat.” It’s a reminder to stay humble, to stay real. Just because you have an important job doesn’t mean you’re better than everybody else. You still eat rice, like the rest of us.

It was the most incredible feeling ever, knowing that something I wrote actually changed someone’s life.

If I Owned a Motel By Mia Tang If I owned a motel, I would treat every customer like family. I would bring all guests an extra blanket or a hot-water bottle if they were cold. I would make them a cup of tea if they were having a bad day. And I would get it out of them what happened. Because sometimes terrible things happen, but there’s nothing more terrible than not having anybody to tell it to. Then, after they tell me, I would try to help them. Sometimes, problems seem humongous in your head, but if you tell someone, you’d be surprised what can happen. After we’ve solved it, we can celebrate together by playing Monopoly after dinner or jumping into the pool together. Life’s short and it’s important to celebrate the good stuff when it happens. I would also protect myself and my customers by putting in a security camera, bulletproof glass inside the front office, and a gate so cars can’t get stolen. I would charge customers twenty dollars per night for a room but give them a discount if they were a weekly because the weeklies have been living there for a long, long time and that’s a lot to pay every day. If I win your motel, I promise to always treat it with love, kindness, and respect. Your motel won’t just be a business to me. It will be home.

in China, girls are kind of like spare tires. It’s nice if you have one, but they’re not important.

“If we owned the motel, I could put up a sign that says Sorry, I’m sleeping. Come back in the morning.”