美しい物を見出そうとするその眼差しそのもの『Kira-Kira』書評
【Kira-Kira】by Cynthia Kadohata
English Level ★★☆☆☆
Overall Rating ★★★★★
ニューベリー・メダル 受賞作
アメリカで最も権威のある児童文学賞の一つ「ニューベリー・メダル」を2005 年に受賞したこの物語は、1950年代の日系アメリカ人の一家の日常が、三人姉弟の真ん中にあたるKatieの視点で描かれている。
私自身、日本で移民三世として生まれ育ったのと同時に、三人の子を連れてカナダへ移住した一世でもあるため、姉のLynn, 語り手のKatie, そして弟のSammyの三人の姿ひとつひとつが心に深く響いた。それらの描写があまりに切実で身近に感じられ、涙があふれてしまう場面も多々あった。
この物語の素晴らしいところは、大人になるにつれて忘れてしまう先入観のない視点や、幼い頃に感じていた世界、様々な小さな事柄に宿る輝きを思い出させてくれる描写が多くあることだと思う。児童文学ということもあり、難しい表現や語彙はほとんどないものの、それがかえって思わず胸を突かれるような美しい文章を際立たせている。
どんなに不遇な境遇にあっても、悲しみや絶望の中に居ても、自分の内側に持ち続けることが出来る美しさを忘れないために、何度でも手に取り読み返したいフレーズが沢山ある。散りばめられたその小さなKira-Kiraひとつひとつは、この物語が終わった後もいつまでも輝き続け、ずっと忘れることはないだろう。
引用
"What's a spirit?"
"It's the invisible part of me"
“My sister had taught me to look at the world that way, as a place that glitters, as a place where the calls of the crickets and the crows and the wind are everyday occurrences that also happen to be magic.”
English ver.
Winner of the 2005 Newbery Medal, one of the most prestigious children's literature awards in the U.S., this story portrays the daily life of a Japanese American family in the 1950s through the eyes of Katie, the middle child of three siblings.
Having been born in Japan as a third-generation immigrant and later moving to Canada with my three children, I found myself deeply connected to the three siblings in the story—Lynn, the eldest; Katie, the narrator; and Sammy, the youngest. Their experiences resonated so strongly with me that there were moments when tears welled up in my eyes, touched by their lives and struggles.
This story brings back memories of the unfiltered perspectives I once had as a child—of seeing the world with wonder and noticing the brilliance in the smallest of things. As we grow older, it’s easy to forget these precious ways of seeing. The simplicity of the language, tailored for children, enhances the beauty of the writing itself.
No matter how difficult the circumstances or how deep the sadness and despair, this story is filled with phrases that remind us to hold on to the beauty within ourselves. These are words I want to return to and read over and over again, to never forget that inner light. Every instance of the word "Kira-Kira," sprinkled throughout the story, glimmers in the depths of your heart, leaving a lasting impression that continues to shine long after the final page is turned.
Quotes
"What's a spirit?"
"It's the invisible part of me"
“My sister had taught me to look at the world that way, as a place that glitters, as a place where the calls of the crickets and the crows and the wind are everyday occurrences that also happen to be magic.”