Key Truths

Key Player by Kelly Yang (Knights Of, 2022)

I love Kelly Yang's writing. 

When I began reading the Front Desk series a few years ago, I found myself carried away on a raft of fresh, enjoyably readable prose that compelled me always to read 'just one more chapter'. Then I read Parachutes, her first Young Adult novel, and the story it told truly shocked me. Along with this, the writing was so fluid and so confident  and I simply raced through the novel. 

My friends love Kelly Yang's writing. 

Sam Creighton described Front Desk as 'truly magnificent' and, following his being completely blown away after reading the novel, wrote an epic review for Just Imagine (https://justimagine.co.uk/review/front-desk/) . Sam is a highly selective reader. His thinking about books cuts to the absolute chase. For Front Desk to elicit this kind of response from him demonstrates the effect this book has in potentia for anyone lucky enough to read it.

And my classes love Kelly Yang's writing. 

Just after I myself read Front Desk, I lent my copy to a couple of particularly interested pupils: the book is a little bit bashed and its dustjacket scuffed but I love that its scars are multi-testament to the same affection I have for the book. When I read them Not from Here last year, there was real connection with the experiences described of COVID and empathy was developed hearing about Knox's experiences of racism and bullying. There was a lot of discussion, too, which is always a very good sign. 

For Yang's books to impress so many people shows how vital her writing is; and that they love her books proves that that the all-important emotional vitality is there, too. But as I began Key Player and the same delicious feeling of being in the welcome company of Mia, Hank, Jason - even Mr Yao! - wrapped round me again, I started to wonder (for the first time, funnily enough) just why her writing connects so much, and with so many. 

On page 121, I found my answer. There, tucked away quite unassumingly, was a Truth:

"[...]everyone was someone's child, even Mr Yao."

Mia, in that wonderful way of seeing that children can have, shows us that even the most apparently unpleasant people have come from somewhere, that they were children once too, they were vulnerable and scared and in need of care. 

As quickly as it appeared, though, this Truth passed by.... and vanished, into the fabric of Yang's storytelling.

But then, just a few pages later, another one popped up. Lupe says to Mia: 

" 'I think about how you mum always says, 'Don't worry about what's around you. Or what's behind you. Just focus on what's in front of you.' "

And then another one came along, straight after. Lupe again: 

" 'She's really pretty.'

I stopped kicking and looked over at Lupe. 'How do you know she's pretty?'

Lupe shrugged. 'She just is.'

'But like, who decides?' 

'I dunno,' Lupe admitted. 'The world, I guess.' 

Recently, I have started to notice these Truths more consciously in my reading. They don't appear in every book I read. Often they are so obvious they manage to disguise and play-down their importance and relevance to the reader. Humble and unobtrusive, there they are, hidden in plain sight. But, my goodness, their power, especially to their (intended) younger audience is so strong. They show us what reading is for: they show us how life works; and for children this is one of the most important things their literature can do. 

Now, particularly thanks to Key Player, I think I have started to put my finger on why Yang's books are just so good: 

Those Truths are like the rarest of beasts. They don't parade themselves around, only to be pinned to a board or preserved in glass jars. They are not there to be gawped at. They will show themselves, very briefly, but only if the reader wants to see them. 

And then - like the words, pages, and books that carry and sustain them, just as Key Player does - they shine. 

***

Key Player was published on September 1st 2022 by Knights Of. Please remember, if you can, to support independent bookshops when you order it! 

My thanks to ed PR and Knights Of for sending me a copy.