Chapter Book 3

Author	Cynthia Kadohata
Title	Kira-Kira
Illustrator	N/A
Readability Score	Grade level equivalent:  5.8 Lexile Measure: 740L Guided Reading: X
Genre	Fiction
Subgenre	Historical Fiction
Theme	This book emphasizes the importance of family.
Primary and Secondary Characters	Katie, Lynn, Mother, Father, Uncle Katsuhisa, Auntie Fumie, Sammy, Silly, Amber
Award(s) date of publication	2004, Newbery Medal
Publishing Company	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN Number	0-689-85639-3
Brief Summary	Katie always loved and admired her older sister Lynn.  Lynn was beautiful and smart, everything Katie aspired to be.  When their parents fall upon difficult times financially, the family moves to Georgia near Uncle Katsuhisa.  While trying to make ends meet and save up for a house of their own, mother and father end up spending the majority of their time working long hours and extra shifts at various hatcheries.  Lynn, Katie, and their new baby brother Sammy develop a very close bond and protect each other fiercely.  As Lynn grows older and begins to make friends her own age, Katie senses that she is being left behind and feels resentment toward her sister.  However, when tragedy strikes and Lynn becomes terminally ill, the family pulls together to make all of Lynn’s wishes and hopes for the future come true.
Picture of book cover
Description of how you would use book with students	I would use this book in literature circles and book clubs.  The mature subject matter of the book would lead to deep, meaningful discussions about family, friendships, poverty, and death.