Knights Of scores two middle-grade novels from Kelly Yang

Independent publisher Knights Of has acquired Front Desk and Three Keys, the first two middle-grade novels in the Front Desk series by US author Kelly Yang.

Editorial director Eishar Brar acquired UK and Commonwealth rights through Isobel Gahan at Curtis Brown. Both titles will be published simultaneously on the 7th January 2021.

Inspired by Yang's own childhod experiences, the series will follow Mia, a "tenacious and sparky" 10-year-old who lives in a motel with her parents after they immigrate to California from China. As she and her parents run the motel, Mia must use all her courage and kindness to overcome a rollercoaster of challenges and to help the community of immigrants around her. 

The series was originally published in the US by Scholastic: Front Desk was published in 2018, under its Arthur A Levine Books imprint and Three Keys was published in September 2020, under Scholastic Press. Front Desk won the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. 

Brar said: "We are so excited to bring Kelly Yang’s middle-grade writing to the UK, and to be launching the first two books in her Front Desk series at the same time! Mia is an extraordinary character, full of heart and courage, and I hope, that through her story, young readers will see the true power in using their voices."

Yang commented: "I’m so excited Mia Tang and the Front Desk series will be coming to the UK! It means so much to me that Knights Of will be publishing this series about a young immigrant girl, so that more children can see themselves represented in books!"