Blog 7: Newbery Award

Book Choice: Kira-Kira
Author: Cynthia Kadohata
Cover Photograph: Julia Kuskin



(1) Kira-Kira simply means "glittering" in Japanese. "Kira-Kira" is how big sister, Lynn, interprets the world for little sister, Katie. Lynn and Katie are as close as sisters can be growing up. The family works very hard to save money so that they can one day afford a home of their own. When the family moves to a tiny town in Georgia where only 41 Japanese people live, Lynn helps Katie see that not all people are accepting of people who are different. These two best friends grow and learn together, all the time Katie is looking up to her big sister. When Lynn starts to become ill frequently, Katie begins to notice a change in her family. When Lynn is diagnosed with lymphoma, Katie cannot fathom that she may die. This is a heart-wrenching story of a Japanese family loving, learning, and coping together to survive.

(2) I have mixed emotions for this story. Kira-Kira is an amazing story with a powerful message. Although both of the characters are relatively young, they do amazing and caring things for one another throughout their lives. I was absolutely in tears at the end of this book. I know this because I could so readily relate to Katie's feelings. I had an aunt who died from lymphoma and I can only imagine how my mother and aunts felt at that time.

(3) This book is an excellent source for teens and young adults who are looking for ways to cope with illness and death. Even though Lynn does not survive, it is evident that she will never truly be gone, because she will live on through her sister. While Cynthia Kadohata has written several other books, ("Weedflower", "Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam", and "Outside Beauty") I have not had the opportunity to read them. I would be more than willing to read other stories by Kadohata if they are as pleasing as "Kira-Kira."

(4) The most insightful aspect of this book is the fact that children can endure so much hardship and still persevere. While most adults realize that children are "hardy", when you read stories such as this one, you realize that though living conditions may be poor, poverty may be rampant, and disease may strike, children can still come through and turn out "ok." I think this is especially important for teachers to remember.

Image courtesy of http://images.google.com.