Super Short Summary

In Three Keys by Kelly Yang, 11-year-old Mia Tang navigates running a motel with her immigrant family in Anaheim, California, amid the backdrop of the contentious Proposition 187. As Mia and her best friend Lupe grapple with the implications of this proposition on their undocumented status, Mia’s father is detained for deportation, prompting Mia to harness her writing skills to advocate for her friend and influence public opinion. Through themes of friendship, persistence, and the power of the pen, Mia fights for justice while also supporting Jason Yao’s culinary dreams, culminating in a victory for all three friends.