ikepauh's review
4.0
Just like another reviewer puts it, I could have read more and more. Beautiful, poignant, all those adjectives and more are certainly ways to describe Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata. Furthermore, I agree with another reviewers' sentiments on how Kira-Kira was quiet and engaging. There is such a thing! Through the book, I accumulated more info about the racism and prejudices others in 50s/60s Americas faced (in this case, the Japanese) and learned more than I ever cared to know about hatcheries. Thank you Kira-Kira.
Young readers can most definitely read Kira-Kira because it is from the point of view of a young Katie from toddlerhood to up till 12 years old or so. Kira-Kira concerns one Japanese American family's dealings with life in the 1950s and 1960s. Kira-Kira would indeed be great for my niece as it is devoid of any cursing or sex given how quirky/innocent/cute (dare I say?) Katie is with her thoughts as she and her family processes illness and death in the family.
Young readers can most definitely read Kira-Kira because it is from the point of view of a young Katie from toddlerhood to up till 12 years old or so. Kira-Kira concerns one Japanese American family's dealings with life in the 1950s and 1960s. Kira-Kira would indeed be great for my niece as it is devoid of any cursing or sex given how quirky/innocent/cute (dare I say?) Katie is with her thoughts as she and her family processes illness and death in the family.
kaayycee's review against another edition
4.25
beautiful :'). loved now, probably would have been a favourite in elementary school. how the people we love shape the way we see the world. to take care of what we can,
melancholylethe's review
4.0
I picked this book up on a whim from my school library. I love the narrative voice of the author. It also has a touching way of representing the bonds of family, even throughout hardship. I cried throughout the last 40 pages. A beautifully endearing novella.
thelizzabee's review
3.0
Overall I liked the book but there were parts that seemed frustrating, particularly that it took them so long to tell Kate about Lynn's illness. Also, although there were some beautiful scenes, the book overall read very dry for me and was a bit grating.
I really appreciated a lot about the book though. Obviously Lynn and Kate's relationship was the highlight of the story and both sweet and heartbreaking and Lynn teaching Kate to find the sparkle in everyday life. There were other more subtle elements of the story and life that were good for children to see, particularly introducing information about unions, ridiculousness of medical costs, apologizing when you have done something bad and owning your mistakes, and forgiving ones self.
I really appreciated a lot about the book though. Obviously Lynn and Kate's relationship was the highlight of the story and both sweet and heartbreaking and Lynn teaching Kate to find the sparkle in everyday life. There were other more subtle elements of the story and life that were good for children to see, particularly introducing information about unions, ridiculousness of medical costs, apologizing when you have done something bad and owning your mistakes, and forgiving ones self.
stories_by_sharanja's review
5.0
I don't think I'll ever be able to forget this hauntingly beautiful, yet sad story about the bond between two sisters. The story makes me feel like a little kid again, when I used to wish to have an older sister almost all the time. Lynn and Katie love each other so much. Even though they sort of drift apart when they get older, the bond is still there.
Just really loved this book, and what it taught me about family and just...moving on after something terrible happens. There will always be something "kira-kira" in the future, you just have to pay attention.
Just really loved this book, and what it taught me about family and just...moving on after something terrible happens. There will always be something "kira-kira" in the future, you just have to pay attention.
ajsterkel's review against another edition
3.0
The Good: Let’s be honest: I mostly read this book because it has the same name as my dog. That’s a terrible reason to read a book, but whatever. How often do you come across a book with your dog’s name on the cover? I had to read it.
Kira-Kira has nothing to do with dogs. It’s about a poor Japanese-American family in the 1950s. In order to keep their house, the parents have to work long hours at a chicken hatchery and processing plant. Their middle daughter, Katie, is left to care for her younger brother and her older sister, who has lymphoma. Katie is an easy character to love. She’s realistic. She cares about her siblings, but sometimes she gets stressed out and blows up at them. No one in her life seems to realize what she’s going through. She faces racism at school and constantly gets in trouble for not finishing her homework. She tries to keep everyone happy, but that’s not possible. There’s only so much a girl can take.
Katie’s story is set against a backdrop of rural 1950s Georgia. At that time, workers’ rights weren’t really a thing. Katie’s parents work a lot of hours for very little money. Her mother is forced to wear a diaper to work because she’s not allowed to have bathroom breaks. While Katie is trying to keep things together at home, her parents are dealing with demanding bosses and the pressure to join the brand new workers’ union.
The Bad: The beginning is slow and meandering. The pacing picks up at the end, but I spent most of the book wondering when something big was going to happen. The story mostly follows Katie through her daily life. Her daily life isn’t that interesting. It doesn’t help that the older sister’s impending death is extremely obvious. So, the plot is slow and predictable.
I wouldn’t have noticed this as a kid, but I’m over the whole dying-person-teaches-everyone-to-appreciate-life cliché. I’ve seen it a lot in children’s books.
The Bottom Line: As an adult reader, I can appreciate the struggles of Katie and her parents. If I was a kid, I think the pacing would have been too slow to hold my attention.
Do you like reviews and bookish nonsense? Read All The Things! is full of them.
Kira-Kira has nothing to do with dogs. It’s about a poor Japanese-American family in the 1950s. In order to keep their house, the parents have to work long hours at a chicken hatchery and processing plant. Their middle daughter, Katie, is left to care for her younger brother and her older sister, who has lymphoma. Katie is an easy character to love. She’s realistic. She cares about her siblings, but sometimes she gets stressed out and blows up at them. No one in her life seems to realize what she’s going through. She faces racism at school and constantly gets in trouble for not finishing her homework. She tries to keep everyone happy, but that’s not possible. There’s only so much a girl can take.
Katie’s story is set against a backdrop of rural 1950s Georgia. At that time, workers’ rights weren’t really a thing. Katie’s parents work a lot of hours for very little money. Her mother is forced to wear a diaper to work because she’s not allowed to have bathroom breaks. While Katie is trying to keep things together at home, her parents are dealing with demanding bosses and the pressure to join the brand new workers’ union.
“Some days I think she was really miserable, because she cried a lot. In a way, I'd had to steel my heart to her crying. You need to steel yourself to a lot of things when someone in your family is really sick.” – Kira-Kira
The Bad: The beginning is slow and meandering. The pacing picks up at the end, but I spent most of the book wondering when something big was going to happen. The story mostly follows Katie through her daily life. Her daily life isn’t that interesting. It doesn’t help that the older sister’s impending death is extremely obvious. So, the plot is slow and predictable.
I wouldn’t have noticed this as a kid, but I’m over the whole dying-person-teaches-everyone-to-appreciate-life cliché. I’ve seen it a lot in children’s books.
The Bottom Line: As an adult reader, I can appreciate the struggles of Katie and her parents. If I was a kid, I think the pacing would have been too slow to hold my attention.
Do you like reviews and bookish nonsense? Read All The Things! is full of them.
br2infinity's review
3.0
Cried and cried. Not for young readers,but a beautiful story about sisters.