think and feel after reading “front desk” chapter 1 to chapter 23 by kelly yang? ( please don’t summarize)
Chapters 1-12 Analysis
The first segment of the novel introduces all the major characters in the story and their
relationships to one another. It also focuses on a single theme: immigrant exploitation. In the
first paragraph, Mia sets up a contrast between immigrant expectations and the reality of life
as a newcomer to America.
Her vision of unlimited hamburgers contrasts sharply with her father’s experience as a
restaurant cook getting his arms burned on a daily basis by grease spatters. When the Tangs
are offered the job of managing the Calivista, they believe their American dream is starting to
come true. Instead, their expectations are undermined gradually with every new rule that Yao
makes: Mia isn’t allowed to use the pool, and one member of the family must remain at the
motel at all times. The Tangs must do all the room cleaning and laundry themselves. Guest
refunds are deducted from their pay, as is the cost of a new washing machine. The list of
abuses expands with each succeeding chapter. Despite Yao’s outrageous demands, the
Tangs meekly accept these restrictions because they have limited options to find better work
elsewhere.
Though highly abusive, Yao’s behavior is not unusual among bosses of Chinese immigrants.
Mia’s description of her father’s first job in America contains similar examples of
mistreatment. Ming worked at the same restaurant as Mia’s father and reinforces the tales of
exploitation there. Then, he adds to this story of woe by relating his experience with loan
sharks who want to kill him. Like Yao, these loan sharks are themselves Chinese, which
suggests that exploitation of immigrants isn’t limited to whites victimizing Asians. The catalyst for exploitation is the vulnerability of new arrivals in the country. Ming’s encounter
with loan sharks and Mia’s experience with the drunken guest highlight the very real physical
dangers that immigrants face in addition to employer exploitation.
Chapters 13-26 Analysis
As new immigrant visitors arrive at the motel with their own tales of woe, this segment
amplifies on the theme of immigrant exploitation. Li talks about an employer who feeds him
nothing but mayonnaise on white bread. Ling says that she kneels hunched over on the floor
all day to attend to customers. Mia’s list of abusive employers in the area expands.
Of greater significance in this segment is the exploration of the theme of exclusion. Jason
assumes Mia wouldn’t know how to play the piano because such lessons are reserved for the
wealthy. Lupe offers a similar observation when she talks about the “rich” and “poor” roller
coasters. Good jobs and quality education are reserved for the rich and their children.
Because this practice continues from generation to generation, the children of the poor are
permanently excluded from bettering themselves. Mia laments that her parents will never be
able to get off the “poor” roller coaster and onto the “rich” one.
The greatest example of exclusion in these chapters relates to racism. Ling says that her rich,
white female customers believe that all Chinese immigrants are thieves. The racism directed
at blacks in the novel is even worse, as illustrated in the episode of the car theft: Yao explodes
when he learns that one of the early check-outs on the night of the theft was a black woman.
He explicitly tells Mia that black equals bad and that she shouldn’t allow black people to stay
at the motel. The police also believe black equals bad because they target Hank as their
prime suspect. Their suspicions then infect Hank’s boss, who fires him without cause simply
because the police started asking questions.
