kira-kira, by Cynthia Kadohata

This is a story of a Japanese family trying to make a living in America. Katie, Lynn, and Sam are the three children of parents who work very hard to provide for their children. When their dreams of owning and operating their own Japanese grocery store fall flat, they pack up and move with the children’s often comical uncle and head to Atlanta. Both parents work two jobs to save for the house of their dreams, and those dreams are quickly dashed when their oldest daughter falls ill. Bills have to be paid, the mortgage company won’t wait, and the parents almost work themselves to death to keep the sky blue house they have bought to help heal their daughter Lynn. In the end, it is Lynn herself who heals the family.

This book is the recipient of The Newberry Award, and is appropriate for sixth grader readers and up. The small size of the book makes it a very manageable read, and the story is told from the viewpoint of Katie, the middle child, which also makes this book an easy read. Keep a box of tissues close by near the end of the book!

I was envious of the close ties this family had. They stopped at nothing to do anything for each other, and I don’t know a family that even closely resembles their dedication to each other. I can’t imagine needing to have my children sleep in my car in the parking lot of my workplace, so that I can keep paying my bills. I am so blessed.


Keywords: kira-kira, sweltering, onogiri, chronicled, authenticity, bristly, anemia, lymphoma, obstinate, fatigue, repertoire