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jenlynne26's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
coleycole's review
3.0
Kira-Kira is well-drawn portrait of childhood from a child’s eyes. Kadohata does an excellent job of creating Katie’s narrative voice, and her rambling style evokes the viewpoint of a child. Her portrait of the grieving family is poignant and honest, and the story comes across as a love letter from one sister to another.
butchbear's review
dnf @ 13%
started reading from my class library after my final and just am not interested enough to go out and keep reading this. might pick up again… eventually
started reading from my class library after my final and just am not interested enough to go out and keep reading this. might pick up again… eventually
a_kira's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
wesley_sq's review
4.0
Unique perspective with a strong character voice. Read this on a plane ride and it's quite an emotional quick read. Since it's more of an early coming of age story (pre-school to school-age), the prose and descriptions are very simple and concise. That adds to the believability of the character but despite having a young girl narrate the story, it cuts deep at times and as an adult reading it, you realize and pick up on more things around her world that she is oblivious to, and that can be tragic and comforting at the same time.
epiphoria's review
3.0
It's a good story sure. But maybe aimed at a younger audience. A very touching and heartwarming piece about the love between two sisters. But the simplicity of the language and the story even kinda bored me. Other than that it was great.
kitsuneheart's review
4.0
Lynn and Katie grew up in Iowa, their family relatively prosperous in an isolated Japanese-American community. But hard times come and they must move to Georgia, where their parents take up menial jobs as poultry farms, working long hours just to get by. Perhaps worse than the hard work is the social isolation, with only a small Japanese-American population in town, leaving the family outcasts in the xenophobic community.
At least the sisters are able to take comfort in one another. Until Lynn starts getting sick. Over and over, until the doctors finally make a terrifying diagnosis: leukemia.
This book is full of details about the Takeshima's family life and the day-to-day things that must be done to get by in a poor community. What could have become boring, going into such minutia, is made fascinating by the family's attitude. They are not downtrodden. They have hope, even when their eldest daughter becomes ill. Little rays of light make the reader smile, allowing them to get through the book's tragedies.
At least the sisters are able to take comfort in one another. Until Lynn starts getting sick. Over and over, until the doctors finally make a terrifying diagnosis: leukemia.
This book is full of details about the Takeshima's family life and the day-to-day things that must be done to get by in a poor community. What could have become boring, going into such minutia, is made fascinating by the family's attitude. They are not downtrodden. They have hope, even when their eldest daughter becomes ill. Little rays of light make the reader smile, allowing them to get through the book's tragedies.