Kira-KIra

Kira-Kira.ISBN978-689-85640-2.Written by Cynthia Kadohata.The Newbery Medal. Ages 11-15

Kira-Kira is a story about two sisters and the bond they share. It takes place during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Though she lives in a harsh time, she is oblivious to everything around her except the security of her family's love. That cocoon of love is slowly shattered, however, beginning with a move that takes her family from the familiar cornfields of Iowa to Georgia. In this different environment Katie begins to understand the difficulties of the time. She is also stuck with another harsh reality when her sister becomes ill and eventually dies.
At the beginning of the story, Lynn taught Katie the word Kira-Kira and she uses it to describe everything meaning "glittering". At the end of the book as the family is trying to recover from all that has occurred Katie's parents attempt to cheer the family up by taking them all on a wonderful, beautiful vacation. Katie recommends California because that is where Lynn would have wanted to go; California is where the sea she loved is and it is where Lynn wanted to live when she got older. The family arrives and while Katie walked on the beach, she could hear Lynn's voice in the waves: "Kira-Kira, Kira-Kira" For me this is where Katie comes full circle with the phrase and understands the importance of seeing beauty in everything.

Another excellent book to help humanize historical events.