Play Book Tag discussion

I just love this little Middle Grade Series.
The second installment of Mia Tang, this one focuses more on immigration, what it means to be undocumented, and how different political measures (Prop 187 in particular-which prevented "illegal" immigrants to government funded necessities like hospitals and schools) can effect the community. We get the recurring themes of friendship, teachers, parents, what we want to be when we grow up, generic kid-stuff- but all laced around the bigger themes of immigration and racism. It not only shows anyone can be racist, but also- anyone can change. You can change someone's mind, you can help, and you can make a difference for the better.

This largely follows the story of Lupe, Mia's best friend-through Mia's eyes. Tragedy strikes Lupe's family multiple times, with her family in unknown states and broken up across California and Mexico. We see the kindness of strangers compared against the racism and judgment. Former frenemy-turned friend Jason has a concurrent plotline regarding classism, his parents losing their wealth, him struggling to find his passion. Mia's helps her struggling family and motel. There is also a character that shows extreme growth from racist tendencies and microaggressions in the beginning to learning and growing, and being a part of a success story.

I love the friendship aspect of this story- not all friendships are perfect, and this shows that. Friends can come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and races. As someone who works in the hotel industry- I didn't like the ending (view spoiler)[ turning the hotel into a hostel to charge for beds instead of room- there is so much of this that didn't make sense, and was never explained/touched on. (hide spoiler)]. But that's me being picky. I love what this book is doing- educating kids. Honestly, I think more adults should read it too. This series makes such big daunting topics so approachable, while seeing the in human impact beneath the big political agendas.