Kelly Yang is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over 15 books for children, young adults and adults, including the Front Desk series (Front Desk, Three Keys, Room to Dream, Key Player, Top Story, Chef’s Secret, and the Front Desk Graphic Novel), New From Here, Finally Seen, Finally Heard, Parachutes, Private Label, The Take, Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country and Little Bird Laila. She will speak on how she overcame poverty and language barriers as a young immigrant child to become an internationally best-selling and award-winning author.

With over 2 million copies sold to date, the Front Desk series has changed the landscape of children’s literature. Based on Kelly’s childhood experience living and working in a motel as a first-generation immigrant child from China, the Front Desk series authentically describes the immigrant experience through its heart-warming, spunky protagonist, 10-year-old Mia Tang. Named “one of the best books of the 21st century,” by Kirkus Reviews, Front Desk has won many of the most prestigious awards in literature, including the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, the 2024 Strega Prize for Literature in Italy, the Parents' Choice Gold Medal, the 2019 Global Read Aloud, and many other honors. Kelly will talk about her writing journey and how she incorporates timely themes of immigration, identity, socioeconomic struggles, and technology into the books she writes.

This is an endowed Louise Seaman Bechtel (1915) Lecture.

This event is sponsored by the International Studies Program, the Asian Studies Program,  the Departments of Education and English, and the Office of the Dean of the Faculty.

The event is free and open to the public.