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Kira-Kira
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Kira-Kira (2004) (edit title/settings)

by Cynthia Kadohata (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Chronicles the close friendship between two Japanese-American sisters growing up in rural Georgia during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and the despair when one sister becomes terminally ill. The whole family begins to fall apart, it is up to Katie to find a way to remind them all that there... read more

Summary edit see section history

Kira-Kira. Lynn teaches her little sister, Katie, the Japanese word for "glittering". But Lynn gives Kira-kira a whole new meaning. "Kira-Kira is colored tissues floating in the breeze and the ocean---oh, how I wish I could see the ocean!" Lynn longs to see the sparkling ocean in California,... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Kira-Kira. Lynn teaches her little sister, Katie, the Japanese word for "glittering". But Lynn gives Kira-kira a whole new meaning. "Kira-Kira is colored tissues floating in the breeze and the ocean---oh, how I wish I could see the ocean!" Lynn longs to see the sparkling ocean in California, and she and Katie would often dream of what they would do when they grow up. Lynn was wise and Katie looked up to her. Katie always wanted to make her happy, for she loved her shining smile. But then one day their family's Oriental Market went out of business so they packed their bags and moved to Georgia. There, Katie's family works at a hatchery owned by a loud, rich owner who works his employees too hard. As each day grows into a new one, Katie's parents spend more and more time at work, and come home too tired ad worn out to talk. Even worse, Lynn falls deathly ill making Katie's family in debt. The whole family is falling apart, caving into Katie's life..and heart. But in these hard times, it's up to Katie to show her family that there's always a little sprinkle of Kira-kira in their life.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Lynn: She is the eldest and is Katie's older sister. She has a good heart and very kind. She is smart, brave, and popular. She is very kind to Katie, but sometimes is tough on her. She longs to see the ocean, and loves to find the kira-kira in life. However, she becomes terminally ill, and inflicts an emotional and financial struggle upon her family.
  • Katie: The middle child and is sometimes optimistic. She tends to be a dreamer, but is still open to new things. She follows Lynn's lead,and she loves Lynn and her family. She is the main character. Her best friend is Lynn, and she would do anything to be like Lynn or make Lynn happy.
  • Sam: The youngest child, he tends to favor Katie over Lynn. But over all, he is still a good kid. Doesn't always understand the things that his family is going through, and is happy and optimistic.
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Kira kira”
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • We were poor, but in the way Japanese are poor, meaning we never borrowed money from anyone, period.
    Highlighted by 17 Kindle customers
  • hitting someone was the worst thing you could do. Stealing was second, and lying was third.
    Highlighted by 17 Kindle customers
  • My father looked proud of me. He was proud of us no matter what we did.
    Highlighted by 14 Kindle customers
  • Kibei, which meant they were born in the United States but were sent to Japan for their education.
    Highlighted by 14 Kindle customers
  • “Lynn does have anemia,” he said. “But she also has lymphoma, and it’s very serious.”
    Highlighted by 14 Kindle customers
  • Inside the living room my father laid me on my cot. “She’s gone,” he said.
    Highlighted by 13 Kindle customers
  • Bera-Bera was my favorite stuffed animal, which my mother had packed in a box. Bera-Bera talked too much, laughed too loudly, and sometimes sassed me, but still I loved him.
    Highlighted by 13 Kindle customers
  • ochazuke—green tea mixed with rice—from the crusty old rice at the bottom of the pot.
    Highlighted by 13 Kindle customers
  • I was born in Iowa in 1951. I know a lot about when I was a little girl, because my sister used to keep a diary. Today I keep her diary in a drawer next to my bed.
    Highlighted by 11 Kindle customers
  • Any of the various malignant tumors that arise in the lymph nodes or in other lymphoid tissue. Then I looked up “malignant” in the dictionary. It said: Threatening to life; virulent: a malignant disease. Tending to metastasize; cancerous. Used of a tumor. And that was how I found out Lynn might die.
    Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers
Show all 11 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

  • Iowa: Where the family lives in the beginning of the book.
  • Georgia

First Sentence edit see section history

My sister, Lynn, taught me my first word: kira-kira.

Glossary edit see section history

  • Kira-Kira: The Japanese word for shiny or glittering. In Lynn's case, Kira-kira is the word to use when you describe the ocean, or the sky, or even people's eyes.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Cynthia Kadohata (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Atheneum
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 2004
ISBN: 0689856393
Page Count: 256

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

This book is wonderfully written and a great read, but deals with some very slightly adult topics that may not be understood by or appropriate for younger children (show spoilers for more details). I would recommend this book to any child ages 10-13 whose parents feel these topics are appropriate for their child. I read "Kira-Kira" in fourth grade, but I enjoyed it more when I read it more recently when I was twelve.

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • My Sister's Keeper

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