Key Player (Front Desk #4)
Mia Tang is going for the goal in the fourth Front Desk novel by New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang!
Mia Tang is play to win!
The Women’s World Cup is coming to Southern California, and everyone has soccer fever—especially Mia Tang! The U.S. team is playing China in the finals, and Mia feels like her two identities are finally coming together. But when her P.E. teacher gives her a C, Mia tries to pull up her grade by scoring interviews with the championship teams. It’s not so easy when . . .
1. The two teams are hunkered down in secret hotels in Pasadena and not taking any media requests.
2. Mr. Yao is back at the motel—as a co-owner! Jason is sure his dad deserves a second chance. Mia is not so sure.
3. Mia’s parents are trying to buy a house of their very own, which turns out to be a LOT harder than they thought!
As Mia aims for her goals, she'll have to face strikers from all corners, as well as her own fears. But if anyone can find a way to win big, it's Mia Tang!
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Community Reviews
Holy Guacamole! I have said it three times now and I will say it again...LOVE THIS SERIES! So many amazing themes throughout this book that build upon the last three books. This story is all about the women's FIFA World Cup - USA vs. China. At first Mia isn't a big fan of soccer or this whole game but as she learns more she is faced with so many questions and so many opportunities. This book deals with themes of sexism and racism primarily and I am so glad that Yang wrote this book the way she did. This whole series has brought up issues that young readers need to hear but does so in a way that is understandable for their age. In this book Mia is conflicted with who to root for in this game. Can she be an American and still cheer for the Chinese team? Why do so many of her classmates and teachers doubt the ability of girls when this game is the only thing being talked about all over the world? Such fantastic writing.
We also see more of Hank and Mr. Yao. We see more about their trials and tribulations and we see just how Mr. Yao's past may have affected his relationships with Jason. I loved reading this story line about family and dreams right along with the women's soccer teams. I hope that we can learn more about Mr. Yao in future books. As Sun Wen says, "Come on girls, do not wait to follow your dreams." 100% recommend and I sincerely hope that Kelly Yang continues Mia (and co)'s story!
Favorite Quotes:
"What's it like, waking up in your own house every day?" He thought for a long while. "Like your heart's at peace," he finally said. "After years of it hammering like you got a hamster stuck in there." Pg. 33
"The point is, they're wrong," Mom said. "Look at these women and what they've achieved, all in the last twenty years, even with everyone around them telling them they can't do it." Pg. 39
But this felt like more than just rooting for their favorite team. It felt like he was putting down a part of me. Even though we didn't live in China anymore, I still ate rice and tofu. I started to worry. If the match didn't unite my two sides, would it rip them apart? - Pg. 43
But still, I wanted to believe that life was a meritocracy. That if someone dreamed big, worked hard, and tried with everything they had, they could achieve anything. The upcoming women's soccer match was a testament to that - Pg. 97
I'd had enough of this conversation. I shook my head at Mr. Ingleton, disappointed he couldn't see past "us" and "them," couldn't see these players for what they were - players. Individuals. Little girls who had grown up their whole lives being told they can't. But they kept going, fueled by nothing but the blind faith inside them. They had the same hopes and dreams as Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain. The difference was if they got theirs, an entire nation of people would wake up tomorrow and dare to dream bigger too - pg. 173
"You think racism is nothing?" I asked. I repeated to the coach what the boy had said. "And let me tell you something," I went on. "Words like that make you shrivel up inside. They make you not want to come back and do the things you deserve to do." My mind went to Mr. Yao's diary. Each and every time a racist comment was made, it left a scar on all of us. - pg. 206
Lupe looked up in surprise. It wasn't a trophy, but it was something. For Jake, hopefully it was the beginning of understanding that he had to take responsibility for his actions. For my best friend, it was the knowledge that she didn't have to suffer through things alone. When one of us got hurt, all of us got hurt - pg. 207
Liane walked over to the players and said, "Thank you all again for being so honest and real. Your journey and struggle are going to resonate with so many Americans." "Really? You think so." "I know so. You may be playing for another country, but we're all playing for the same goal. So girls like Mia can confidently say, I can be anything!" - Pg. 248
I hoped that tomorrow Lupe and Mom would snatch the trophy from Team Sentilla, and that the soccer team's interview would be a roaring success on TV. Most of all, I hoped Mom could see when she got there, it didn't matter how she pronounced the words. It was her passion and devotion to her students that made her a winner. - Pg. 253
We also see more of Hank and Mr. Yao. We see more about their trials and tribulations and we see just how Mr. Yao's past may have affected his relationships with Jason. I loved reading this story line about family and dreams right along with the women's soccer teams. I hope that we can learn more about Mr. Yao in future books. As Sun Wen says, "Come on girls, do not wait to follow your dreams." 100% recommend and I sincerely hope that Kelly Yang continues Mia (and co)'s story!
Favorite Quotes:
"What's it like, waking up in your own house every day?" He thought for a long while. "Like your heart's at peace," he finally said. "After years of it hammering like you got a hamster stuck in there." Pg. 33
"The point is, they're wrong," Mom said. "Look at these women and what they've achieved, all in the last twenty years, even with everyone around them telling them they can't do it." Pg. 39
But this felt like more than just rooting for their favorite team. It felt like he was putting down a part of me. Even though we didn't live in China anymore, I still ate rice and tofu. I started to worry. If the match didn't unite my two sides, would it rip them apart? - Pg. 43
But still, I wanted to believe that life was a meritocracy. That if someone dreamed big, worked hard, and tried with everything they had, they could achieve anything. The upcoming women's soccer match was a testament to that - Pg. 97
I'd had enough of this conversation. I shook my head at Mr. Ingleton, disappointed he couldn't see past "us" and "them," couldn't see these players for what they were - players. Individuals. Little girls who had grown up their whole lives being told they can't. But they kept going, fueled by nothing but the blind faith inside them. They had the same hopes and dreams as Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain. The difference was if they got theirs, an entire nation of people would wake up tomorrow and dare to dream bigger too - pg. 173
"You think racism is nothing?" I asked. I repeated to the coach what the boy had said. "And let me tell you something," I went on. "Words like that make you shrivel up inside. They make you not want to come back and do the things you deserve to do." My mind went to Mr. Yao's diary. Each and every time a racist comment was made, it left a scar on all of us. - pg. 206
Lupe looked up in surprise. It wasn't a trophy, but it was something. For Jake, hopefully it was the beginning of understanding that he had to take responsibility for his actions. For my best friend, it was the knowledge that she didn't have to suffer through things alone. When one of us got hurt, all of us got hurt - pg. 207
Liane walked over to the players and said, "Thank you all again for being so honest and real. Your journey and struggle are going to resonate with so many Americans." "Really? You think so." "I know so. You may be playing for another country, but we're all playing for the same goal. So girls like Mia can confidently say, I can be anything!" - Pg. 248
I hoped that tomorrow Lupe and Mom would snatch the trophy from Team Sentilla, and that the soccer team's interview would be a roaring success on TV. Most of all, I hoped Mom could see when she got there, it didn't matter how she pronounced the words. It was her passion and devotion to her students that made her a winner. - Pg. 253
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