Kadohata crafts a story that, while heartbreaking, gives readers hope and the inspiration to look for the good in everything in life. The characters all play roles that are identifiable and relatable regardless of ethnicity or decade. The individual personalities of each character shines through the pages, and, by the end of the book, readers have come to know a quiet, hardworking father a delicate yet capable mother an intelligent, loving older sister a younger brother trying just to keep up and, Katie, a driven young girl with a love and dedication for her sister, but with a bit of a tendency toward trouble. The mothering of an older sister and the awe of a younger one are both identifiable roles and easy to relate to. The bonds described among characters, especially among Katie and Lynn, play to the hearts of those with siblings. Down to the details of hairstyle, clothing, and daily activities, the setting and time period are both reflective of history and thought-provoking. Kadohata further gives a poignant depiction of work conditions in Katie’s mother’s poultry factory, where women are forced to wear pads because there are no unscheduled bathroom breaks. Kadohata brings to the forefront many social issues that were present at the time: Lynn warns Katie before starting school that she may be ignored or made to feel like an “ant” because she is Japanese, and readers see signs of color discrimination early on when the family is forced to a back hotel room and only order their food to-go because they do not know where in a restaurant they are supposed to sit. Few Japanese-Americans found themselves in the community that the Takeshimas moved to, but the story and the times are based on truth nonetheless. KIRA-KIRA shines light on what may seem an anomaly in 1950s Georgia. Told through the eyes of Katie, whose love and admiration for her sister are immeasurable, readers are inspired by the theme and moral that, even in the hardest of times, it is important to never lose sight of the “kira-kira.” This is a time where discrimination is still present on many more levels than just color, and the struggles of a Japanese-American family are all in the name of love and well-being. As readers see the Takeshimas struggle to pay for the medical bills and a house, they also see life in a different time. It is not long after the family moves that the eldest daughter, Lynn, is diagnosed with lymphoma.

Upon moving to their new home, Katie, Lynn, and Sam’s parents hope to provide a better life for their children and themselves, working long hours at a poultry production facility in order to buy the house they have longed for. In 1950’s Georgia, the Takeshimas attempt to integrate into the small Japanese-American community while functioning in the larger, predominately white, community. “Kira-kira” means glittering in Japanese, but it truly defines the theme of Cynthia Kadohata’s book. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Kira kira by cynthia kadohata