Kira-Kira, by Cynthia Kodohata

Identifying the theme of a story is mentioned several times throughout Kira-Kira, however, as much as Kodohata attempts to tie her own story together with a number of themes, it feels disjointed and forced. Katie’s life begins in a Japanese-American community in Iowa. Her parents have a grocery store and all is well with the family of five, including her sister, Lynn, and brother, Sammy, until they must move to Georgia for work after having to close the store.

Katie’s parents find work at a chicken plant and Katie and her siblings spend a lot of time taking care of one another since their parents are working all of the time for next to nothing. Kodohata brings forth the horrible working conditions of such factories, but one doesn't feel a real connection with any of the characters. It’s reads more like “a day in the life of…” story. This is true even with the added stress of Lynn becoming sick and eventually dying of lymphoma, Sammy being injured by an animal trap, and their father losing his job.

Kira-Kira means glittering or shining.  Though, some felt that this book was a star, as it was awarded the Newbery, despite the spotlight on the reform of working conditions and pay along with the treatment of Japanese Americans, I did not think it glittered.