kira-kira

kira-kira in Japanese means glittering or shining. That's how Katie Takeshima's sister, Lynn, makes everything seem. The sky is kira-kira because its color is deep but see-through at the same time. The sea is kira-kira for the same reason. And so are people's eyes.

When Katie and her family move from a Japanese community in Iowa to the Deep South of Georgia, it's Lynn who explains to her why people stop on the street to stare. And it's Lynn who, with her special way of viewing the world, teaches Katie to look beyond tomorrow.

But, when Lynn becomes desperately ill with Lymphoma and ultimately dies, the whole family begins to fall apart, it's up to Katie to find a way to remind them all that there is always hope and something glittering -- kira-kira -- in the future.

The story is really touching. Although this is a children novel, but Cynthia Kadohata write it in a beautiful way. No wonder if she received a Newberry Medal for this book. You may check here for more detail info about the writer.