Common Sense Media Review
By Sally Engelfried
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Girl faces racism, sister's cancer in touching tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 27 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a heartfelt and emotional coming-of-age story that beautifully captures the struggles of a family facing poverty and grief, while also conveying themes of hope and love. Although it includes some mature content and language, readers find the narrative engaging and touching, often resulting in tears, and recommend it for older kids who can handle its sensitive subjects.
- heartfelt story
- emotional themes
- relatable characters
- mature content
- positive messages
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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?
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
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster
- Publication date : February 27, 2005
- Number of pages : 244
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Newbery Medal and Honors
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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