When their Japanese grocery store goes out of business, Katie and her family move from Iowa to Georgia. Now both of her parents are working all the time, but Katie’s sister Lynn is good at taking care of things. Lynn is Katie’s best friend and teaches her how to enjoy the little things in life. When their little brother is born, Katie and Lynn both teach Sammy about ‘Kira-kira’--the words that means “glittering” in Japanese.
In spite of hardships, the three siblings are able to see beauty in their lives. But when Lynn gets sick, ‘Kira-kira’ is harder to find. Kira-kira is a book about history and culture, but mostly it is a story of love and loyalty in the midst of hardship. Young readers will relate to Katie’s innocent narrative while learning about an interesting time and family culture.
Recommended ages--10 and up