Key Player

Key Player is the fourth installment of the Front Desk series of middle grade novels by Kelly Yang. It was published by Scholastic Press in 2022. The Front Desk series follows 10-year-old Mia, who has just emigrated from China to Southern California with her family to manage and live in a motel. Mia deals with the struggles of being an immigrant while also pursuing her dreams of being a writer. Key Player picks up on Mia’s story as she and her family take over ownership of the Calivista Motel amidst the backdrop of the upcoming 1999 Women’s World Cup final between the US and China. After receiving a bad grade in PE, Mia must score an interview with players from the Chinese National Team to raise her grade and preserve her chance to attend a prestigious journalism summer camp. The novel explores themes of resilience, empathy, and cultural hybridity.

The series draws inspiration from Yang’s real-life experience immigrating to the US and managing motels in Southern California. Like Mia, Yang was a student journalist who tenaciously tracked down the Chinese national team to score an interview with them. Yang includes her real column at the end of the novel, showing readers how the true story of the players inspired Yang to pursue her dreams and share her writing. The Front Desk series, a New York Times best seller, has won many awards including the Asian American/Pacific Award (“Front Desk.” Kelly Yang).

This guide is based on the 2022 e-book edition published by Scholastic.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide feature depictions of racism, gender discrimination, illness and death, and bullying.

Plot Summary

Mia helps her parents manage the Calivista Motel, which they bought from the previous owner, the exacting, penny-pinching Mr. Yao. Mia receives a bad grade in gym class because she’s afraid to go near the ball. She worries about getting hurt because her family used to lack health insurance and an injury could mean financial ruin. The bad grade threatens her dream of attending a prestigious journalism camp. To fix the grade, Mia makes a deal with her teacher: If she can interview one of the teams playing in the upcoming Women’s World Cup final between the US and China, she’ll be given enough extra credit to restore her GPA.

The Tangs’ successful management of the motel enables them to buy a house of their own—which they view as a key tenet of the American Dream. However, they struggle to find a real estate agent and encounter prejudice from people who don’t want to sell to immigrant families or include them in their neighborhoods.

Jason, the cook at the motel restaurant and son of Mr. Yao, buys into the restaurant with financial help from his father. As an investor, Mr. Yao begins micromanaging Jason and criticizing everything he does. Mia and Jason later find old diary entries written by Mr. Yao that start to reveal a different side of him.

Hank, a cook at the motel restaurant and friend of Mia’s, receives an opportunity to partner with a prestigious restaurant called the Pasadena Grill to feature his original crunchy burger recipe. He gives the recipe to the manager, Mr. Wamble, and expects to hear back. However, the restaurant uses his idea without giving him credit or compensation. Hank decides to hire lawyers and fight back, even though he must take out a loan on his beloved condo.

Mia’s best friend Lupe joins the Math Cup team at the high school. When their arrogant teacher, Mr. Jammer, fails to show up to coach the team, Mia’s mom, Mrs. Tang, steps in and begins coaching them unofficially after hours at the motel. Even though Mrs. Tang feels nervous about her English skills, she proves an inspiring team coach and Lupe’s team ends up beating a much wealthier school at their first meet.

Mia successfully locates both the US and Chinese soccer teams and eventually manages to interview players from the Chinese team. She hears inspiring stories, including one from goalie Gao Hong, who encourages her to silence her inner critic. Star striker Sun Wen shares a line from a poem encouraging girls to chase their dreams. Mia writes a column expressing her plan to root for Team China. The Chinese players ask Mia to serve as their translator for a TV interview. Although Mia worries that her school community will ostracize her for supporting China, she decides to take pride in her identity and translates for the team. In gratitude, the players give her tickets to the World Cup final.

When the Tangs discover asbestos in the house they want to buy, they decide to withdraw their offer and Mia worries they will never find a house. They look at one in a gated community, but a neighbor tries to scare them away by making up rules about the neighborhood.

After reading more of Mr. Yao’s diaries, Mia and Jason learn that he once had a passion for music and traveled to pursue trumpet playing in Europe. When he heavily criticizes Jason’s cooking and Jason considers quitting, Mia urges Mr. Yao to explain his behavior. Mr. Yao confesses that his parents died soon after he left for Europe, and he has blamed himself ever since. He tells them he gave up his music, took over the motel and focused on making money out of guilt. Mia and Jason help him work through his feelings, and Mr. Yao finally tells Jason he is proud of him and promises to be a better father. The Chinese soccer team visits the Calivista Restaurant to try Jason’s special roasted duck.

Lupe’s team loses a match against Sentilla, a wealthy school, and a student from Sentilla makes racist remarks toward Lupe. Mia and Lupe stand up to the student, and they later discover that Sentilla cheated. Mrs. Tang advocates for a rematch, and Lupe’s team wins fairly.

Mia attends the World Cup final and wears a red jersey to support China and white accessories for Team USA. Team USA. wins in a penalty shootout. Mia feels bittersweet but recognizes how the game has inspired girls around the world.

Mia successfully convinces the Anaheim Times to publish an article praising Hank’s burger, which helps his case. The Tangs decide to buy the house in the gated community despite the unwelcoming neighbor. Mia is accepted into the journalism camp and resolves to keep following her dreams.