Kira-Kira

A novel by Cynthia Kadohata that won the Newbery Medal for Children's Literature in 2005.

Taking place in the 1950s, the story revolves around Katie Takeshima, a Japanese-American girl who looks up to her sister, Lynn, because she reminds Katie to always look at the bright side of life by knowing that the future is always glittering: kira-kira. After her parents move from Iowa to Georgia to get jobs at chicken hatcheries, Lynn develops anemia and later lymphoma.

Do Not Confuse With the Japanese Visual Novel Kirakira.


 * Child Prodigy: Lynn can beat her Uncle Katsuhisa, a self-proclaimed chess grand master, at his own game.
 * Coming of Age Story
 * Deep South
 * Ill Girl: Lynn.
 * Innocent Prodigy: Lynn.
 * Leaning on the Fourth Wall: "It seemed that at this moment I was inside a story. This was the story of my life, and I did not know what any of it meant."
 * Innocent Prodigy: Lynn.
 * Leaning on the Fourth Wall: "It seemed that at this moment I was inside a story. This was the story of my life, and I did not know what any of it meant."