logo

49 pages 1 hour read

Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2019

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Mitch Albom

Finding Chika

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2019
Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Haiti, Michigan • 2010s

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Finding Chika by Mitch Albom is a memoir about Albom’s journey after taking over an orphanage in Haiti, where he met Chika, a spirited young girl soon diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. Albom and his wife, Janine, bring Chika to their home in Michigan to seek treatment, forming deep parental bonds and learning profound life lessons. The memoir intertwines faith and real-life experiences. Features discussion of terminal illness in a child.

Emotional

Inspirational

Heartwarming

Bittersweet

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

4.6

40,289 ratings

90%

Loved it

8%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Finding Chika by Mitch Albom delivers a poignant memoir detailing the author’s journey of love, loss, and family with Chika, a Haitian orphan. Readers praise its emotional depth and heartwarming message. Some critics find it overly sentimental. Overall, it’s a touching exploration of life’s fragility, showcasing Albom’s tender storytelling.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Finding Chika?

A reader who would enjoy Finding Chika by Mitch Albom is one who appreciates heartfelt memoirs about love, loss, and the human spirit. Comparable to readers of The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, they seek stories that invoke profound emotional connections and offer life-affirming messages.

4.6

40,289 ratings

90%

Loved it

8%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Character List

Medjerda “Chika” Jeune

A lively and resilient girl born in Haiti, whose enduring curiosity and love of life leave a lasting impact on those around her despite her health challenges. Her story underscores themes of childhood innocence and familial bonds.

An author and the director of an orphanage in Haiti, who becomes a father figure to Chika, learning profound lessons about love and family through their time together. His narrative reflects deep personal growth through his experiences.

Mitch Albom's wife, who embraces her role as a mother figure to Chika with open arms, contributing significantly to the family's dynamic without hesitation. Her compassion and wisdom play a crucial role in Chika's life and the couple's marriage transformation.

Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Haiti, Michigan • 2010s

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.