Newbery Medal Winner
Kira-Kira
by Cynthia Kadohata
Summary
Narrated by a young Japanese American girl named Katie, this novel follows her close bond with her older sister Lynn as their family works grueling jobs in 1950s Georgia. When Lynn falls gravely ill, Katie clings to her sister's lesson that the world is glittering, the meaning of the title word kira kira. Kadohata writes with quiet tenderness about family, loss, and finding beauty amid hardship.
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Historical Context & Significance
Cynthia Kadohata was the first Asian American author to win the Newbery Medal.