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   Reader reviews of Kira-Kira

Read what real people think about Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata, and write your own review.

Kira-Kira Kira-Kira
by Cynthia Kadohata
Hardcover: Feb 2004,
256 pages.
Paperback: Jan 2007,
272 pages.

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Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by R. Spooner
Kira-Kira
The Takeshima family experiences several life changing events that turns their world upside down as they are forced to move from a Japanese community in Iowa to southern Georgia in the 1950's. The inseparable sisters, Lynn and Katie, discover the world through friendship, dreams, poverty, and discrimination; but the love that bonds them together remains unbroken as their family life is interrupted by an addition to the family and a change in their parent's employment conditions which allows less time for the children and more required time at work. When Lynn is struck with a terminal illness, Katie is forced to change her role as the little sister and begin caring for Lynn. She struggles to remember what Lynn had taught her, to view the simple things in life as glittering "kira-kira".

This book is an excellent piece of literature for fifth through middle school aged students to experience. The themes of love, hope, death, and discrimination provide the reader with opportunity to explore life through a young Japanese girl's eyes as she attempts to hold her family together during the struggles of life. This book will touch the hearts of viewers as the Takeshima family learns to appreciate the little things in life.


Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Alex Ecker
Kira-Kira
Kira-Kira was a very touching novel. The story really came out and flew through my eyes and ears as if it was a butterfly that had nothing to worry about. Kira-Kira reached out and in the last 30 or so pages really came down hard. I would never have thought that it would have ended like that. The ending was emotional, but it fit the story.


Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Margaret
The Best Book
This book was brilliant! I was so real and built on real emotions of a teenage girl. The book was so heartbreaking you feel like crying: crying for the main character, her sister, and the rest of the family. This book is absolutely touching.


Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by guggu
Kira-Kira
This book is a heartwarming and touching story about a girl who loses her sibling and learns to fend for herself.


Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Corrina Mckay
Great Story Line
Katie is only about ten when her sister gets very ill and dies when she is fourteen. Her dear sister Lynn has taught her how to see the world as Kira-kira (glittering/ shining there is always a positive side), even though things might turn for the worst.

This heart warming story will help youth who have had to deal with a family member or friend's death.

Cynthia Kadohata has created believable characters and especially Katie Takahama. The reader sees from Katie's perspective, even though she may not thoroughly understand what is going on. Katie is a person who many other people can relate to.


Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by anna<3:)
stupendous book!!
The rating for this review says five stars, but to me, this book deserves 20 stars. I absolutely adore this book! In this book I laughed, I cried, and I was wanting more. Katie looked up to her sister Lynn. To Katie, Lynn was the greatest person in the world. Then, Lynn becomes diagnosed with lymphoma. Lynn can barely move or eat. Katie and her family have to take care of her. Being a Japanese family in the 1950's, life isn't always easy. Katie's mother works at a factory, and her father works at a hatchery. My teacher made us read this book, and I'm not a big fan of reading, so of course I was dreading it. Then, I got hooked to this book. I would highly recomend this book for any reader, young, or old.

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