BOOK PICKS.Byline: The Register-Guard "Kira-Kira" By Cynthia Kadohata Cynthia Kadohata (born 1956 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Japanese American writer known for writing coming of age stories about Asian American women. She spent her early childhood in the South; both her first adult novel and first children's novel take place in Southern states. Atheneum ath·e·nae·um also ath·e·ne·um n. 1. An institution, such as a literary club or scientific academy, for the promotion of learning. 2. A place, such as a library, where printed materials are available for reading. , 2004 Ages 10 and up "Kira-kira" in Japanese means glittering, shining, brilliance. This is the first word that Katie learned when she was a baby. She learned it from her older sister, Lynn. It is Lynn's favorite word. She looks for kira-kira in everything around her and helps Katie to develop this same way of seeing things Seeing Things may refer to:
It begins with their family moving from Iowa to Georgia in the mid-1950s and continues through the mid-1960s. The story is about death, poverty, racial injustice and strong familial love In sociology, familial love is a type affinity or natural affection felt between members of a group bound by common ancestry or blood ties, or through friendship and care. Familial love can also be experienced through kindhearted teachers to their students too. that holds them together against all odds. The girls' hard-working parents cannot support the family with the Asian grocery store in Iowa because there are so few Asian shoppers there. Uncle Katsuhisa, who lives in Georgia, assures them of jobs in the poultry plants. Uncle drives to Iowa in his dilapidated pickup truck, packs up the family and moves them to Georgia, where there are even fewer Japanese, but lots of racism. There, Katie's parents work in deplorable de·plor·a·ble adj. 1. Worthy of severe condemnation or reproach: a deplorable act of violence. 2. conditions. Some of the workers are trying to form labor unions labor union: see union, labor. to protest, but her parents' values force them to be thankful just to have jobs. Even working these long hours, they're unable to pay the overwhelming medical bills brought on by Lynn's serious illness. Lynn was always the caregiver to her younger sister, offering unconditional support and guidance. Katie must now become the caregiver to her two siblings. This poignant story is good historical fiction. It illustrates the plight of immigrant families and the struggle to maintain ethnic values, the conditions that gave rise to labor unions, and the social oppression of the South at that time. "Kira-Kira" is Kadohata's debut novel in middle fiction. It was the 2005 Newbery Award Medal winner for its distinctive contribution to children's literature children's literature, writing whose primary audience is children. See also children's book illustration. The Beginnings of Children's Literature The earliest of what came to be regarded as children's literature was first meant for adults. . - Nicki Maxwell, retired school librarian, Eugene |
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