1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kadohata, Cynthia. 2004. KIRA-KIRA. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689856393
2. PLOT SUMMARY
“Kira-kira” means glittering in Japanese, but it truly defines the theme of Cynthia Kadohata’s book. In 1950’s Georgia, the Takeshimas attempt to integrate into the small Japanese-American community while functioning in the larger, predominately white, community. 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. It is not long after the family moves that the eldest daughter, Lynn, is diagnosed with lymphoma. As readers see the Takeshimas struggle to pay for the medical bills and a house, they also see life in a different time. 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. 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.”
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
KIRA-KIRA shines light on what may seem an anomaly in 1950s Georgia. Few Japanese-Americans found themselves in the community that the Takeshimas moved to, but the story and the times are based on truth nonetheless. 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. 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. Down to the details of hairstyle, clothing, and daily activities, the setting and time period are both reflective of history and thought-provoking.
The bonds described among characters, especially among Katie and Lynn, play to the hearts of those with siblings. The mothering of an older sister and the awe of a younger one are both identifiable roles and easy to relate to. 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 characters all play roles that are identifiable and relatable regardless of ethnicity or decade.
Kadohata crafts a story that, while heartbreaking, gives readers hope and the inspiration to look for the good in everything in life. Events in the book present themes of hard work, honesty, and family bonds, and they give hope to society as we see the emergence of racial tolerance. KIRA-KIRA is a truly “glittering” literary work.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in KIRKUS REVIEW: “Katie loves and admires her older sister, Lynn, only to lose her in this story that reads like a memoir about a Japanese-American family in the 1950s. Built around the loss of Lynn to lymphoma, it belongs to Katie and stays true to her perspective. The supporting cast of extended family and friends also fits within Katie's vision of life.”
Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Told from Katie's point of view and set in the 1950s, this beautifully written story tells of a girl struggling to find her own way in a family torn by illness and horrendous work conditions.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Discuss with students what lymphoma is and how it is treated. While a definition is provided in the text, there is never a solid explanation and it may keep children wondering. Also, discuss how medicine and treatments have changed since the 1950s.
*Consider the various aspects of discrimination present in the 1950s south. Examples include:
• White v. colored people (where do the Japanese fit in?)
• Katie and her family being ignored by whites, and then helped by whites (Hank
Garvin)
• The labor conditions in the hatchery and the production facilities
• The presence of union activity
*Discuss the themes of family roles and how they may have been adapted and modified over time but are still present in homes today.
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