Chapter Book 7: Kira-Kira

Author: Cynthia Kadohata

Illustrator: none

Genre: Historical Fiction

Themes: growing up, siblings and family, loss and grief, success

Characters:

~Primary: Katie Takeshima

~Secondary: Lynn Takeshima, Sammy Takeshima, Mr. and Mrs. Takeshima, Silly,
 neighbors

Awards: 
~Newbery Medal
~ALA Notable Children's Book
~Asian/ Pacific American Award for Literature

Date of Publication: 2004

Publishing Company: Simon & Schuster

Summary: Katie Takeshima has always been close to her sister Lynn.  Lynn teachers her everything, even the things in life that are kira-kira, glittering, like the sky and people's eyes.  Even when the two sisters are uprooted by their parents from a small community in Iowa to Georgia, the two sisters remain close, but their relationship changes as Lynn begins to grow older and experiences a terminal illness.  Now, Katie must find a way to hold her family together and remind them that there is always something kira-kira in the world.

Recommendation: Although the book was slow at times, it was a good read.  The sibling relationships in the book were very well developed.  I think that students would enjoy the book for individual reading; however, I would be hesitant to read the book aloud in class since a sibling going through cancer is a traumatic and not uncommon event.