Crenshaw is a young adult novel by author Katherine Applegate that examines food insecurity, financial insecurity, and housing instability through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy named Jackson and his former imaginary friend Crenshaw, an enormous cat who has suddenly returned, much to Jackson’s chagrin.
At first glance the idea of reading a book about such serious topics might not appeal. It certainly wouldn’t have appealed to me had I not read and loved her Newbury Medal winning novel The One and Only Ivan just recently. The story was so good that when I was looking for a shorter audio book to accompany me on a weekend trip out of state, I quickly snatched up Crenshaw with an Audible credit.
The narrator had to grow on me, but the period of time in which that happened was very brief and soon I was really enjoying listening to him voice the story.
I work in the mental health field and over my years as a social worker have helped people with the very issues that Jackson’s family has faced and is facing once again. I know from the experiences of people I have helped and from friends and family how quickly you can go from having a stable job, plenty to eat, and a place to live to having difficulty in one or more of these areas. So it surprised me how easily I found myself feeling judgmental towards Jackson’s parents. It is a testament to Katherine Applegate’s writing skills that seeing things from Jackson’s point of view, and also that of his younger sister, exposed prejudices and stereotypes regarding poverty that are hurtful and ignorant and yet rise up all too easily in our human nature.
Crenshaw is a fun, sweet book that tackles difficult subjects with such grace that you end up really pulling for this family and grateful for their ability to love one another through the hard times. Katherine Applegate did a marvelous job of telling a hopeful story without sugar-coating the trauma of poverty and without ending the story in an unrealistic manner. I was very impressed.
Jackson is an enjoyable character and all of the supporting characters in the book help to make both Jackson and the reader realize the importance of holding on to the magic that happens in life, and not simply abandoning it because one grows older.
Whether you pick up the novel to read for yourself or choose to enjoy it on audio as I did, Crenshaw is a book that I recommend being added to your TBR (or listened to) list.
This was my first book finished for #VentureForth2021 and #20BooksofSummer21.
Carl, I was a Social Worker, SW manager and Program Manager in health and human services for just over 30 years, so I understand whereof you speak. However, my reaction to this book was different; I didn’t like it much, and thought the author played on the reader’s emotions unnecessarily. Crenshaw, however, was a great character.