Kira-Kira

Kadohata, Cynthia. Kira-Kira. Atheneum, 2004. ISBN-10: 0-689-85639-3

Plot Summary
The story starts when the Takeshima family decides to move from a Japanese community in Iowa, to the deep south of Georgia so Katie's parents can find work at a hatchery. Besides teh changes associated with moving, Katie and her family change in other ways. Katie's sister, Lynn is ess interested in spending time with Katie and has a new friend, Amber, with whom she giggles about boys. Katie's, parents both work double shifts. When Katies brther sam in born Katie looks after kim the way Lynn used to look after her. When Lynn gets sick with cancer, Katie finds herself wanting to care for her too, as the whole family does.

Critical evaluation
Set outside the relatively protected Japanese communities of San Francisco or Seattle, Kadohata's story is one of racism and poverty. It is also a story of sickness and family. Told from the point of view of Katie, who is in elementary school, Kira-Kira relies on powerful description. Katie doesn't know what lymphoma means, but she can see the changes in her sister. While Lynns' sickness is heartbreaking and the family's work ethic exhausting, Kira-Kira is ultimately hopeful. Katie's well described growth into responsibility make this make this book strongly recommended for young tweens.

Readers Annotations
My mother said we were misusing the word. But to Lynn and me, anything could be kira-kira, Japanese for 'glittering'. Anything that shone and sparkled like the stars in the night sky, I called kira-kira. When my older sister got sick, I tried my hardest to see the world as she had taught me. I tried to see kira-kira.

Information About the Author
Cynthia Kadohata is a Japanese American who was born in Chicago. Kira-Kira was her first novel for children. She has published four children's books to date.

Genre
Realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties
Japanese immigration/ racism
Sickness

Booktalking Ideas
Describe Katie's typical day of caring for her siblings while her parents are away at work

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 4-8

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas
none

Why Book Included
Newberry Medal winner 2005