Cynthia Kadohata
Cynthia Kadohata, a second-generation Japanese American, born in Chicago, Illinois in the late 1950’s is an Author that has written numerous coming of age works of literature. From works such as Kira-Kira, Weedflower, and The Thing About Luck, she has been praised for her books. Traveling most of her childhood, Kadohata says that she loves being on the road and draws a lot of inspiration from her travels across the United States.
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Kadohata and her family spent a lot of time traveling The United States. Going to states like Arkansas, Georgia, and Michigan; they finally settled in California when she was about fifteen after her parent’s divorce. She attended Hollywood High but dropped out as she felt that she was an outsider. Her shyness took a toll on her, making it hard to talk to people. Although being shy, she eventually started college at Los Angeles City College, later transferring to The University of Southern California where she …show more content…
She wrote science fiction and fantasy genre books such as In The Heart of The Valley of Love and The Glass Mountains. Although she did go back to her roots, writing about what she was familiar with, and integrating pieces of her past into the stories. Out of these past experiences came the book, Kira-Kira. Kira-Kira is one of Cynthia Kadohata’s most well-known books, being praised by critics and readers everywhere. The world loved it; enough that it won the John Newbery Award, which was a huge feat, especially since it has Kadohata’s first book directed towards young readers. This opened up opportunities for Kadohata; traveling all over The United States visiting schools and libraries to talk about her award-winning book and life. That wasn't the end for the Kira-Kira author; she continued writing and gathering ideas from her