Kira Kira

"Kira-kira means "glittering" in Japanese. Lynne told me that when I was a baby, she used to tale me unto our empty road at night, where we would lie on our backs and look at the stars while she said over and over, "Katie, say 'kira-kira, kira-kira.'"

Katie will always see her older sister Lynn as her guardian and her best friend. However, this quickly changes when Katie's family's Oriental market goes out of business and they must move to Georgia to live with their Uncle. Katie is very apprehensive about her new home. She struggles to become acclimated in a school where she is the only Japanese-American student in her class. When she looks to her older sister for help and support she finds that Lynn is too busy with her new friend Amber and their newly found interest in boys. Instead of spending time with Katie like she used to Lynn often leaves her behind to entertain various adventures with children her own age. Eventually, Katie finds a friend in Silly Kilgore, a girl whose mother who works at the same plant as Katie's. But Katie doesn't forget Lynn. What will happen to their relationship?

Websites

• Yet again Carol Hurst is able to offer some ideas on what we as teachers may wish to enhance our students' learning as they read the novel Kira Kira. Refer to this website for ideas on what to focus on when reading and whole class activities.
• Students may also find it beneficial to learn about author Cynthia Kadohata. Is her story based upon some of her own personal experiences? 

Vocabulary

The vocabulary in this novel reflects the fact that the content is intended for students in upper elementary and beyond. Some of the terms a teacher may wish to review are:

•  anemia
• antebellum
• apprehensive
• authenticity
• boisterous
• capitalistic
• emerged
• eulogy
• exasperated
• femininity
• lopsided
• melodramatic
• obstinate
• restrained
• shunned
• traction
• unabashedly

Reading Activities

Before Reading

Introduce the novel by focusing on the aspect that Katie is apprehensive about moving to a new place. Students can write about what they might feel and if they have had any similar experiences themselves. What do you think might be the most diificult part of leaving a familiar place behind? You can post their responses on a classroom bulletin board in order for them to be shared with the classroom community.

During Reading

One of the vocabulary words listed above is eulogy. As students read about Lynn's death they might think who would they want to read their eulogy. Why would this person be suitable? What would you hope they would speak about?

After Reading

Katie's family is Japanese-American. Learning about their culture can help students be more open to diversity. Assist your students in conducting some research on other cultures that are now present in the United States. Why is it important that we be accepting of these people? How does our nation benefit from all of the diversity?