Crenshaw

Title: Crenshaw

Author: Katherine Applegate

Publisher: Square Fish 

Date of publication: 2018

Number of pages: 272

Genre: realistic fiction, fantasy

Audience age range: Amazon says grades 3-4, but I disagree and think this could easily be a 4-6 title due to theme.

A quick personal review:

Jackson is the ten year old main character in this book.  He currently lives with his parents, his sister Robin, and their dog Aretha, who is named after the singer Aretha Franklin since his parents both play guitar and love music!  Sometimes another character lives in their apartment, and his name is Crenshaw.  He’s Jackson’s imaginary friend from childhood.  Crenshaw is a very large cat, almost human size, and he is not very cat-like. He enjoys bubble baths and can do gymnastic feats.  Crenshaw explains to Jackson that imaginary friends appear when their people need them, so Crenshaw is there a great deal now.

Jackson’s family is having money difficulties.  It’s not the first time.  For a while, they had lived in their minivan, but things got better.  Ow, hard times have hit again.  Dad has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), and he can no longer work.  Mom is working several part time jobs, but it is just not enough to make the rent.  The family sells off as many belongings as possible, and Dad even receives an offer for his beloved guitar.  Robin cries and cries at that thought, yet they need to survive. How much can this family afford to lose before they again end up living in their van?

Through it all, Crenshaw is there to remind Jackson of what is truly important. He helps Jackson and by default, his father.  The conclusion to the book is rather unexpected as are the actions of this very unique cat!

Unique qualities:

The book contains short chapters which move the story along quickly. 

The blend of realism and fantasy occurs through an imaginary friend.  What makes the imaginary friend fantastical is that Crenshaw is much larger than your average cat, enjoys bubble baths, can talk, and does unusual acts such as cartwheels and handstands.

Red flags:

I found none.

Recommendations:

This book’s Crenshaw is charming and a true friend to Jackson.  Their relationship, which he feels he’s outgrown but still desperately needs, adds a needed element to the stark reality of the lack of health care in our society for those who need it and the state of homelessness in our country.  Read this book regardless of what age you are!