Title: Kira-Kira

                        
Author: Cynthia Kadohata
 Review:  I think Kira-Kira is a great book that is very dramatic and engaging in its own profound ways. What I really love about the book is its realness. This plot takes place over years of time, and the characters develop and change in obvious yet subtle ways, just like people in real life. Katie is just your average girl who isn't one of those larger-than-life story characters. She’s a normal little girl who is trying to find her way in a foreign world that she calls home. Life throws many obstacles at Katie, but she always manages to overcome them with the help of her loving family. Katie’s sweet and optimistic personality ensures that there will always be kira-kira around her. Katie and her family struggle to get by in life, and it gets worse when Lynn, Katie’s older sister gets ill. Despite their efforts, Lynn doesn't make it. Besides Lynn, the hardships this family faces are shocking. They face racism, financial issues, and the struggles of being at the bottom of the social pyramid. With the way this books is written, even the really sad ending makes the reader smile with hope for the future. Katie’s unorthodox way of looking at life and its obstacles make this a heartwarming read.