Front Desk book series by Kelly Yang

Holy cannoli this book series is an extraordinary gateway for discussing racism, sexism, poverty, and the complexities of immigration with kids. I’ve listened to the first two audiobooks with my 9 and 11 year old and it’s been a fantastic jumping off point for conversations about the horrors of today’s world. The book is authentic and does not sugar coat the reality of being a person of color in 1990s California, but manages to still bring humor, joy and hope to every story. Audiobook narrator Sunny Lu is somehow both believable as an 11-year-old girl while also not at all annoying or grating. 10/10 recommend.