by Katherine Applegate
Jackson is a scientifically minded fifth-grader, so he is greatly concerned when his imaginary friend, Crenshaw, shows up. The last time he saw Crenshaw was right after he finished first grade, which was the first time his family had to live in their van. As his family perseveres through another difficult time financially, Crenshaw helps guide Jackson in understanding his own feelings and in communicating them to his parents.
Crenshaw is recommended for readers aged ten to fourteen. Due to the subject matter of homelessness, financial strain, and dealing with a parent's multiple sclerosis, I think that is a good guideline. Because Crenshaw is imaginary and is a giant talking cat, there is a bit of fantasy woven into this fiction chapter book. A story about being homeless written from the perspective of a child was interesting. However, at times I felt like the story dragged. Much more time was spent developing the subject matter of financial strain than on exploring Crenshaw's purpose which surprised me since the name of the book is Crenshaw. One thing that stood out to me, though, in Katherine Applegate's writing was what excellent transitions she utilized between chapters. Each chapter ended in a way that made me curious about the next. Overall, this book is great for allowing the reader to experience an aspect of life without having to actually go through it.
🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮
Some information about author, Katherine Applegate:
http://www.mackidsbooks.com/crenshaw/
Book trailer:
An interview with the author:
