68 pages • 2 hours read
208
Novel • Fiction
California • 1990s
2021
Middle grade
8-12 years
In the 1990s, 12-year-old Mia Tang travels from Anaheim, California, to Beijing, China, where she rekindles family connections and navigates cultural changes. Returning home, she faces challenges such as gentrification and family financial struggles while aspiring to be a writer. Room to Dream explores themes like racism, sexism, and xenophobia, capturing societal changes of the era.
Inspirational
Heartwarming
Hopeful
Playful
Emotional
Kelly Yang's Room to Dream has been praised for its relatable characters and insightful exploration of immigrant experiences. Fans celebrate the book's engaging narrative and authentic portrayal of family dynamics. However, some critics feel it occasionally relies on predictable plotlines. Overall, its heartfelt themes and positive representation of Asian American life are widely appreciated.
Readers who enjoy Room to Dream by Kelly Yang are typically middle grade students who appreciate heartwarming, coming-of-age stories exploring themes of family, friendship, and cultural identity. Fans of Front Desk by the same author or Wonder by R.J. Palacio would likely find this book appealing.
208
Novel • Fiction
California • 1990s
2021
Middle grade
8-12 years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.