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Kira-Kira is a young adult novel that won the Newbery Medal for children's literature in 2005. The book's plot is about a Japanese-American family living in Georgia. The main character and narrator of the story is a girl named Katie, the younger daughter in the family. In a fresh, honest voice, This dazzling book describes Katie's childhood experience, in which she struggles to find her own way in a situation of poverty, discrimination as well as a family torn by illness and horrendous work conditions. It is her sister who teaches her how to face all the disappointments bravely and appreciate the beauty in everyday life. "Kira-kira" (きら きら in hiragana), Japanese for glittering or shining, is also the way the world feels to Katie when her sister Lynn is with her. Small moments shine the brightest in this poignant story. The love demonstrated and portrayed in the novel is also exquisite. Katie’s family members love and care for each other deeply. This is part of what makes this story so compelling, and so very beautiful. The writing is exact and purposeful and the author weaves in bits of Japanese culture in a decidedly American setting(racism), contributing to the richness and authenticity of the novel, and the importance of love, hope and courage are also highlighted subjects of the book. To sum up, a moving, inspiring story of good times, hard times, hope, and inner strength.

Cynthia Kadohata, author of the book, is a Japanese-American born in Chicago. As her first children’s literature, this book is greatly based on her own experience. Her father was a second generation of Japanese immigrants, and when her brother was born, in America, all staff in the hospital ran to see him because they had never seen a Japanese infants. She put this scene into the novel when describing Sam(Katie and Lynn’s brother)’s birth. Today, she can still well remember that indescribable sense of isolation. Wining the Jane Addams Peace Award and Pen USA Award with Weedflower, Cracker!, Outside Beauty, A Million Shades of Gray and several critically acclaimed adult novels including The Floating World, She has also published numerous short stories in such literary journals as the New Yorker, Ploughshares, Grand Street and the Mississippi Review. Now she lives with her son and dog in West Covina, California.

"An unforgettable story." -- San Diego Union-Tribune

"This novel shine[s]." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Will speak to readers who have lost someone they love or fear that they could." -- Booklist, starred review

Story outline
In the 1950s, Katie and her family lived in Iowa, where her parent own a unique Asian supermarket. When the family's store goes out of business, the family moves to an apartment in Georgia where Katie's parents work at a hatchery with other Japanese families. Throughout the novel, Katie's best friend is her older sister Lynn, who Katie looks up to as the most intelligent person she knows, citing Lynn's ability to beat their Uncle Katsuhisa, a self-proclaimed chess grand master, at his own game as an example. Katie holds close to her heart the word Japanese phrase "kira-kira", which Lynn taught her and they use to describe things that sparkle in their lives.

When Katie enters school, she has difficulty being the only Japanese-American in her class. Her grades are solid average C's, in comparison to Lynn's consistent A's. Lynn becomes friends with a popular girl, Amber, whom Katie dislikes immensely, and starts becoming interested in boys, often dropping Katie to go hang out with people of her age. Katie eventually becomes friends with a girl named Silly Kilgore, whom she meets while waiting in the car at her mother's job. Silly's mother backs having a union at the plant to fight for higher wages and better working conditions, though Katie's mother opposes it.

Meanwhile, Lynn becomes ill with lymphoma and becomes even sicker when Amber dumps her as a friend. The family moves into a house of Lynn's choice to help her recover, which appears to work. However, Lynn relapses from distress when her younger brother Sammy is caught in a metal animal trap on the vast property owned by Mr. Lyndon, the owner of the hatchery. Lynn's condition continues to deteriorate and she becomes blank and irritable. Katie's parents eventually tell her about Lynn's illness and Katie realizes that Lynn is dying.

Katie falls asleep after talking to her sister about taking care of the family and getting better grades. She is woken by her father after she watches the Japanese new year sunrise to be told that Lynn has died. Katie realizes why Lynn had taught her the word kira-kira; she wanted to remind her to always look at the world as a shining place and to never lose hope though there might be harsh hurdles in life. Katie keeps Lynn's belongings on her desk as an altar. The family feels that Lynn's spirit will stay around as long as they have her belongings around, though Katie thinks that Lynn's spirit will only stay around 49 days after she dies from an old story her uncle told her.

The same day Lynn dies, Katie's usually calm and restrained father breaks into an angry rage after seeing Sammy struggle with his limp. He takes Katie and goes and wrecks Mr. Lyndon's car, an act which shocks her. Later on, he goes to Mr. Lyndon and owns up to what he did, resulting in him getting fired. Katie is appalled that her father is now unemployed, but he tells her that there is another hatchery opening up in Missouri, where he will probably work next, even though it will be a longer drive.

Katie is left with Lynn's diary, and upon reading it, she realizes that Lynn knew she was going to die and that Lynn has written a will dated several days before her death. Soon after, Katie's mother attends a pro-union meeting at the Kilgore House. One of the things that the union wanted to achieve was having a three-day grief leave for families handling adversities. Though Katie's mother knows it's a little late for their family, if she voted for the union, it wouldn't be too late for the next family suffering grief. Katie tried to fulfilled one of Lynn's dreams by scoring well for her exams.

To cheer everyone up, Katie's family decides to take a vacation. Katie recommends California because that is where Lynn would have wanted to go; California is where the sea she loved is and it is where Lynn wanted to live when she got older. The family arrives, and while Katie walks on the beach, she can hear Lynn's voice in the waves: "Kira-kira, kira-kira."

Learn more about main character
In Kira-Kira, Cynthia Kadohata beautifully explores the postwar years through the eyes of Katie Takeshima. Katie not only is the middle child but is also in the middle between her more traditionally Japanese parents and contemporary American culture. Although Katie doesn't see herself as being different from anyone else, when the family moves to the South, they are subject to prejudice, and the family is lost somewhere in limbo: not quite white and not quite black or Native American. Whether at school or checking into a hotel, the Takeshimas don't quite fit in.

The story is told as a flashback, so we know from the beginning that Lynn will die before Katie does, but Katie's memories are more than just a loving tribute to her older sister. From a child's perspective, we learn that the 1950s were not golden years for everyone in America. The poor were exploited by the rich, and prosperity didn't come easily to all citizens. Katie herself is far from perfect, and she recalls her resentment and jealousy over how much attention her parents bestowed on Lynn and how painful it was when her sister became a teenager and found friends outside the family.

In Katie's transformation from an innocent child to one of her sister's principal caretakers, she never lets go of the concept of kira-kira that was so important to Lynn. By the end, Katie tries to remind her family that there is still beauty in the world and, in turn, starts to understand some of the comforts found in embracing traditional Japanese customs.

"Kira-kira"s in life: the beauty to realize
"I'm writing for what I love and know exactly about. So I don't really care whether others would like it or not. "Said Cynthis Kadohata when she was interviewed by times for kids (TFK).

Q:What make you think of writing this book?

A:One of the ideas comes from my memories of childhood. Many of my writings are based on that. Interestingly, however, I never expected that my experiences at that time would one day become my precious resources when I was young. But I started to believe at a very young age that everyone's childhood is fascinating, no matter where they lived and what experiences they had.

Q:I know that kira-kira is your first children’s book. What make you think of writing a book for kids?

A:In fact, my editor has been encouraging me to try a novel for kids. She sent me loads and loads of children’s book, which forced me to read. Then I started going to libraries and bookstores to my own desire to look for all kinds of books for children. After lots of reading, I just could not help writing my own's.

Q:How do you feel about winning the Newbery Medal with your very first children's book?

A:It is absolutely "kira-kira"!

Q:"kira-kira" means glittering in Japanese, and in this book, it is used to describe all things Katie loves. So ,what do you see as "kira-kira" in your life?

A:Too much! My son's eyes, my boyfriend, my dog, so and so forth. Sitting outdoor looking into the blue sky, and driving on the county road watching twinkle stars. All of them are "kira-kira"s in life. I live in a neat village in Los Angeles, where I can see countless glittering stars every night. I also like sushi and tacos, but I don't really describe them as "kira-kira".

Q:Now I know the book is based on your own experience. What do you want to say to the kids who regard themselves as unsocial or isolated ones?

A:Very good question! What I want to convey in the book is that the world is beautiful and full of hope. These never change whether you adapt to the society or not. But those "Kira-kira"s in life sometimes need you to realize carefully by your own, or it will shade if you pay no attention to. And sometimes, beauty comes without a sign. For example, you may face a stream of breeze all of a sudden, which gives you a particular experience of happiness. As long as you learn to enjoy your life heart and soul, you will witness a magic world of any kinds of beautiful things. And, in this way, whether or not you are social is no more important.

Q:What are the themes of the book?

A:The only message I want to convey is that life is complex, but wonderful. However tiny they are, you should always be sensitive to feel all the beauty around you.

Q: Many female characters in this book are very distinctive, like Katie, Lynn and their mother. How important do you think it is to make them distinctive from one another?

A: I didn't really think about that. It seems that it is "they are like that" rather than "they should be like that". And I just wrote it down.

Q:What are your favorite children's books?

A:One of my favorite children's books growing up was The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton. When I was an aspiring writer, I actually met Jane Langton in a ladies' room. I was absolutely thrilled, but she was just trying to go to the bathroom. I'm embarrassed to say I bothered her for an autograph before she could pee!! She was quite gracious.

I liked any books concerning animals, whether the animals were horses, dogs, pigs, or dinosaurs. I loved The Call of the Wild and still love it. Same with Lassie Come-Home. A couple of other great books about animals are White Fang and Misty of Chincoteague. And I read all the Newbery novels -- King of the Wind and A Wrinkle in Time were special favorites.

A couple of my current favorites are Holes and Saffy's Angel.

Other versions of Kira-Kira

 * Original Title: きら きら
 * Country: Japan
 * Language: Japanese
 * Tankobon Hardcover: 207 pages
 * Publisher: Hakusuisha/Tsai Fong Books; First Edition (October 1, 2004)
 * ISBN 4560047952
 * ISBN 978-4560047958


 * Original Title: 亮晶晶
 * Country: China
 * Language: Chinese
 * Hardcover: 205 pages
 * Publisher: Jieli Books; First Edition (September 1, 2005)
 * ISBN 9787806799895