Twelve-year-old Mia Tang is the protagonist of Room to Dream, and the book is written in her first-person point of view. She is the only child of Li and Ying Tang and lives in the Calivista, a motel in Anaheim, California. She moved with her family to Anaheim four years ago. In that time, Mia made her print debut in the Los Angeles Times with a piece she wrote on Proposition 187. Ever since, she’s been determined to be published again, though after 79 rejections, doubt is setting in. Mia exemplifies Perseverance in the Face of Adversity in several contexts throughout the book, but especially in her efforts to get published.

Mia is a loyal friend and works hard to maintain all of her friendships, even when they get rocky. She works at the front desk of the Calivista and isn’t afraid to jump into adult conversations when she needs to take a stand. She is brave and passionate about small businesses. In Room to Dream, she learns to use her voice in a way that helps others, and eventually, saves the family motel.