Shelly's Book Blog

Kira-Kira (which in Japanese means "glittering" or "shining"), by Cynthia Kadohata, won the Newbery Medal in 2005. The story is told by the younger of two Japanese-American sisters who grow up in the late 1950s and1960s in Georgia. The two sisters, Lynn and Katie, move with their parents from Iowa, where they lived in a comfortable house, to Georgia, where they can only afford a small appartment. The girls' mother and father work long hours at a chicken hatchery and poultry factory. The first word that comes to mind when I try to describe the tone of this book is quiet. That is to say, the plot moves slowly, with Katie focusing more on small, everyday experiences rather than on big, dramatic events. Still, Katie's story reveals profound truths about racism, economic hardship, and family ties. Like so many Newbery winners, this is a serious and sad tale, so not all kids will want to read it. However, I think those that do will enjoy Katie's no-nonsense narrative style, and many will be able to relate to both the pain of being different and the joy of being loved that she describes in this beautiful story.