Mia is a recent immigrant from China. She and her parents came to America for a better life, but haven't really found it. They are working as hotel managers for Mr. Yao. It seemed like a good deal at the time. They live in the hotel for free and get a cut of all the people staying there. Unfortunately, Mr. Yao is not the most honest of bosses and Mia's family doesn't make much. What they do find is a community of people who stay in the hotel. The "weeklies" become like family and they discover they can let Chinese immigrants who need a hand stay for a night for free. 

Mia struggles in school to fit in. She doesn't want the other kids to know she lives in a hotel. She also shares a class with Mr. Yao's son Jason who is a bit stuck up. Mia doesn't have the right clothes and struggles in English even though she loves to write. She does make a friend in Lupe who is also an immigrant and who's father also works for Mr. Yao. 

I wanted to love this book more than I did. I think it is an important story and the fact that it is based on Kelly Yang's own experiences makes it even more interesting. However, I struggled with it. I was bored and it took me way to long to read. I had to force myself to finish it. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't for me.