Parents' Guide to

Kira-Kira

By Sally Engelfried, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Girl faces racism, sister's cancer in touching tale.

Book Cynthia Kadohata Coming of Age 2005
Kira-Kira Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Jmchurch
Jmchurch Adult
September 12, 2018
age 13+

Surprised by content

I am surprised that the Common Sense Media Expert review and the parent reviews didn’t reveal some unnecessary content in the book. Sexy stuff: 1) Main character talk of her sister showing her new breasts to her male cousins. 2)The main character wonders if her 15 year old sister is showing her breasts to the boy she is out with. While playing scrabble, a boy cousin creates the word “sperm. “ There is talk of parents trying to make a baby. The main character didn’t know what it involved, so she listened at her parents’ door and heard a lot of grunting. She then concludes that making a baby is a lot of hard work. Language: There is sporadic use of language through the book. G*d D***. And others. I don’t have time to look it up, but I would say there was mild profanity on 3-4 different occasions. I personally enjoyed the book. However, I read books with kids in mind. 10-12 year olds don’t need the sexy stuff. As a parent, I would be upset if this book was in my child’s classroom. Otherwise, the book is very good with great messages and role models.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
John R.
John R. Adult
November 1, 2016
age 11+

Language

I'm not sure how there is only 1 star for language when it uses the S-word. I was pretty shocked to see it in a book for children. The rest of the book is very good, but for one line I can't keep the book in my classroom library. Disappointing choice by the author, in my opinion.

This title has:

Too much swearing
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When Katie is 5 years old, her family moves from Iowa to Georgia, where they become one of only 31 Japanese Americans in town. Katie adores and admires her older sister, Lynn, who sees everything as kira-kira -- shining and glittering. Before Katie starts school, Lynn tells her that people may not want to talk to her because of her race, but Katie isn't really bothered by this. She's more interested in following her sister around and doing whatever she does, and, when her baby brother is born, taking care of him. Her parents both work in chicken-processing plants and are made to work inhumane hours -- for example, her mother has to wear a pad because she's not allowed to go to the bathroom -- but they withold support of a union out of fear of losing their jobs. Though Katie finds school boring, she finds joy elsewhere -- she loves camping with her uncle, looking at the stars with her sister, and playing with her little brother. When Lynn becomes very ill, she feels as if she's losing her whole family, as her parents must work extra long hours to pay medical bills, and Lynn no longer seems like Lynn. Ultimately, it falls to Katie to hold the family together.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (26):

Historical fiction lovers will find an easy entry into KIRA-KIRA, as Katie's an immensely likeable narrator. She manages to remain optimistic about her future despite her family's struggles to stay afloat financially and, later, to get through her sister's illness. Her experiences as a Japanese American girl living in the Deep South in the 1950s are fascinating and sometimes amusing (as when Katie talks about her Southern accent and her celebrity status as "the little Japanese girl who said 'you all' instead of 'you'") and touch on political and social issues without being heavy-handed. Readers not interested in history may find it rough going, however, since it sometimes seems as if nothing good ever happens to Katie, and the bad times accumulate, especially toward the end.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about historical fiction. What kinds of details show the story is taking place in a time different time from our own? What do you like about reading historical novels?

  • How have attitudes about race changed since the 1950s? What other books you've read or movies you've seen show kids dealing with racism?

  • Some nights Katie and Lynn stay up and tell each other their "selfish wishes" and then finish with an unselfish wish. What selfish wish would you make? How about an unselfish one?

Book Details

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