kira-kira

This book is by Cynthia Kadohata. It is the story of a Japanese-American family living in Georgia (USA) in the 1950s. The story is a first-person narrative told from the point of view of Katie, the middle child in the family, and focuses upon the relationship between Katie and her much-admired older sister, Lynn. When Lynn becomes very ill with cancer, the effects on the family are devastating and traumatic. The ending of kira-kira is sad but also uplifting, reinforcing a positive message about the importance of seeing the beauty and magic in life.

I enjoyed kira-kira but would describe it as a quiet, slow-paced book. It is probably most suitable for patient upper-primary and intermediate readers. As it is mainly about relationships and feelings, there isn't a lot of action to "hook" less enthusiastic readers. I also think that it would probably appeal more to girls than boys. So, not the ideal book for everyone but for the right reader, kira-kira could be a rewarding experience.