Kadohata, C. (2004). Kira-Kira. NY: Atheneum. ISBN: 0689856393.
Plot Summary: Katie’s family is living in Iowa and owns an Asian supermarket. When the store goes out of business, the family moves to Georgia and her parents find work at a chicken hatchery. Katie’s best friend is her older sister, Lynnie, a smart and accomplished girl who teaches Katie much about life. Katie admires her sister, but sometimes neglects her in order to make new friends in the new town.
Lynnie becomes sick with anemia that soon progresses into lymphona cancer. The family becomes distressed from trying to care for her while living in poverty and experiencing the town’s prejudice. Lynnie dies and Katie realizes that her sister taught her the words, “Kira-Kira,” which means “bright and sparkly, so that she will always look on the happy side of life and remain hopeful despite life’s harsh experiences. The family continues to struggle under the pressure of unfair conditions at the hatchery, union disputes that cause conflict among families and the grief they feel for the loss of Lynnie. As a memorial, the family takes a vacation in California, where Lynnie would have wanted to live had she survived. On the sunny beach, Katie recalls the memory of her sister and the happiness she would have wanted for her.
Critical Evaluation: This is a quiet and gentle story about grieving from a teen’s point-of-view. The writing is beautiful and poetic. Kadohata manages to create authentic characters who are earnest, hardworking and justified in their fearful outrage about their predicament. Also, she skillfully captures many aspects of Asian American culture, including the reluctance of Katie’s parents to defy authority. It eventually emerges into an uncommon bravery when directly confronting evil and suffering the inevitable consequences. The tone of the story also reflects the humor and slow progression of time associated with the Japanese perspective and its expressions.
Reader’s Annotation:
Katie and her Japanese American family are new to a town in Georgia. They know that some people may treat them with prejudice, but they are determined to succeed and be a happy family. Katie’s best friend is her older sister, Lynnie, who is smart, pretty and teaches her much about life. Everything looks hopeful until one day Lynnie becomes very, very sick…
Information About the Author:
Cynthia Kadohata is Japanese American writer whose family has seen their share of tragedy and death. Her paternal grandfather was killed in a tractor accident while working a farm in California. Two of her father’s brothers died while fighting in World War II. Her maternal grandfather was an orphan and drowned off the coast of Hawaii when her mother was seven. Her family’s history of being separated in two countries and facing bicultural hardships throughout the generations have inspired the content of many of her stories. Born in Chicago in 1957, she eventually studied journalism at the University of Southern California and conducted graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University. Among the awards garnered by Kira-Kira are the 2005 Newberry Honor award and the Booklist Editor’s Choice Award. She currently lives in Los Angeles and loves to travel.
Genre:
Teen Issues: Death and Deadly Disease, Racism, Outsiders
Contemporary Life: Coming of Age
Historical Novels: Twentieth Century (1940-60)
Multicultural Fiction: Asian Americans
Curriculum Ties: English class, Psychology class, Ethnic Studies class, History class, Social Studies class, Book Clubs
Booktalking Ideas:
1.) Relationship between sisters, Katie and Lynnie
2.) The Japanese America experience during the 1950s in America
3.) Coping with grief and loss from a teen perspective
4.) The concept of “stealing” to the Takeshima family
5.) How Katie’s character matures over the course of the novel
Reading Level/Interest Age: Grades 7-12
Challenge Issues/Defenses:
Potential Challenges:
• Portrayal of teens who lie, skip school and shoplift
• Depictions of sexual behavior
• Adult Language
• Content includes references to drinking and smoking
Defense Strategy:
• Provide advisory reviews for parents about issues of age appropriateness and content:
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Kira-Kira.html
• Provide our Collection Development Policy (which includes Young Adult scope): http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/library/collection.asp
• Refer to awards granted to this book by reputable organizations:
http://janmstore.com/kirakira.html
• Provide a link to book reviews by literary journals and media publications:
http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=1522
• Provide a link to book reviews by actual readers from a publicly accessible website:
http://www.amazon.com/Kira-Kira-Newbery-Medal-Cynthia-Kadohata/dp/0689856393
Why This Book Was Included: I always try to read the Newberry Winner books but haven’t had the time to read the past few years award winners. This book is a touching story filled with colorful emotions yet simple and clear prose. Though I could relate to the cultural aspects of the story, I think all teens (younger and older) would enjoy it, cry over it and remember it long after they put the book down.
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