Crenshaw, the Book Summary – A Story of Resilience & Friendship
By Lily | Published 2 January 2023 | Goodreads Rating 3.98 | This post may contain affiliate links.
Crenshaw is Katherine Applegate’s first novel since The One and Only Ivan, winner of the Newbery Medal (2013). Our hope is that this book summary for Crenshaw will persuade you to select this book for the next family read-aloud!
Even though Crenshaw is considered a middle-grade book, the themes are suitable for a family to discuss albeit on the heavier side. It deals with tough issues like families living in homelessness and an eye-opener that poverty and having enough food to eat or a safe place to live is a very real struggle for children here in the United States.
In the book, Crenshaw also discusses imaginary friends and the role they play in a child's life. Katherine Applegate, author extraordinaire, proves in unexpected ways that friends matter, whether real or imaginary. With Crenshaw, she delivers another unforgettable and magical story about family, friendship, and resilience.
The Plot: What is Crenshaw about?
At the beginning of the story, the main character fifth-grader Jackson is at the beach on a beautiful summer’s day and spies something very unusual – a giant surfing cat! No one else on the beach aside from Jackson seems to be able to see this magical cat. The more Jackson thinks about it, the more he realizes this particular cat looks awfully familiar. And he has good reason to recognize this giant cat, because it is none other than his long-forgotten imaginary friend: Crenshaw.
Crenshaw is an outspoken and large cat with a black & white coat. He first appeared in Jackson’s life when he was about five years old, during the summer after first grade – right when Jackson really needed a good friend. His parents had just moved him and his little sister Robin out of their house and into their car. They were forced to live in their car for a period of time due to their financial situation.
Now, Jackson can tell his parents are hiding something from him and his sister. There's no more money to pay the rent. Also worrisome is the fact that there’s little to eat in the house these days. Dark days are looming. On top of all that, Jackson wonders if he's losing his mind. Crenshaw is back. Jackson's long-forgotten childhood imaginary friend. No matter what he does, the cat won't go away. However, after Jackson’s family sell practically everything they own, living in the Honda mini-van car becomes the family's reality.
Jackson doesn’t want to live inside the minivan again, because he doesn’t want his life to change or have to move again.
If your child needs some convincing to read Crenshaw, have them watch the book trailer!
RELATED: Be sure to download Reading Quests’ free printables to build reading comprehension of Crenshaw.
The Characters: Who are they and what are they like?
Crenshaw, at the time, was the only friend Jackson had, who was able to keep him grounded and gave him the distraction needed at such a difficult time. This a situation that a five-year-old cannot possibly process or understand even though Jackson has an old soul and is a serious, responsible, and very intelligent boy.
But Jackson is now nine. He loves animals and can recite animal facts like no other boy his age. Jackson is an aspiring scientist because he believes in facts. That’s why this time around, Jackson has a hard time dealing with Crenshaw. It also seems that Crenshaw has appeared for the second time because Jackson needs help – the kind of help that can only come from a magical cat.
Jackson's family has fallen on hard times again. Jackson's dad lost his ability to work as a carpenter because of multiple sclerosis. Jackson's mother also lost her job as a school teacher in a "downsizing" and now works a series of part-time jobs.
Who is Crenshaw and why is he such a special character?
Crenshaw enters (or re-enters, actually) Jackson's life in this time of stress. The only reason he is back now is because Jackson needs him, and whether he'll admit it or not, he was the one who summoned Crenshaw. Crenshaw doesn't make the rules...Jackson does. Crenshaw tells him he is here to stay until Jackson tells him to go away, but that's not as easy as it sounds. Because Jackson needs to mean it.
Unlike that obnoxious party-crasher, the Cat in the Hat, Crenshaw is urbane, large and as tall as an adult! He loves a bubble bath and purple jelly beans, is a stickler for honesty, and guides (and comforts) Jackson through some hard days. A friend, indeed.
Sometimes life isn’t fair, and sometimes an imaginary friend comes along just at the right time. Soon, you will find yourself on a journey with Jackson and Crenshaw.
What’s to love about Crenshaw the book?
This is a wonderful story of a young boy who is trying to be strong for his family. A boy way beyond his years, with a lot more responsibility than he should have, and a lot weighing on his shoulders. The two scenes our family loved was when Jackson's younger sister would come to him and have him read her a story or put her to sleep. I personally loved how the parents always tried to remain positive in front of their children, and never let it get in between them.
It was also good to see this entire story from a child's perspective and to understand that sometimes being straightforward and honest is good for a child. We can't always put on a good face, because children can be a lot more perceptive than we give them credit for.
The story of Jackson is one that kids can relate to – kids who might have been through some of the same challenges as Jackson. Kids will also fall in love with Crenshaw and his antics throughout the story (ever hear of a cat that likes to take bubble baths?).
To Conclude …
Dealing with an important social issue such as homeless families is a brave thing for Katherine Applegate to tackle in this story which is for the most part directed at children. However, she does a great job creating a story around this issue that children can understand and perhaps relate to.
By the end of the story the reader will realize that friends really do matter even if they are only imaginary; because imaginary friends never really go away – they are always within reach whenever their kid might need them.
Most of all, I love that the ending isn't ultimately happy and things don't wrap up nicely with a red bow, but one where happiness could be achieved and all the family is left with is a lot of hope for a better life in their future. I am however hoping that someday, Katherine Applegate will write a sequel, so that we find out what happens to Jackson, his family and his imaginary cat friend: Crenshaw.
Cats rule, Dogs drool.
RELATED: If your child loved this book, check out these Crenshaw-themed activities to continue the reading fun!
Book Reviews of Crenshaw
For Kids by a Kid
I really liked this book because it tells a story of how family and friends can have such a great impact on your life. Also, I love cats and candy, so it was enjoyable to read about a giant, talking, jelly bean loving, furry friend. This story is definitely one of my favorite books, so far. – Maya, Schulze, Age 11, The Children’s Book Review
By Parents and Adults
I knew nothing of this book before going in but it was supposed to be good. WOW! Love. It seems like this book will be about an imaginary friend and it is. Then Katherine Applegate super ninja's you and she gives only hints about Crenshaw the imaginary cat and she shows you the raw painful world of Jackson and the life he leads. This book is about poverty. The end does address the help Imaginary friends give. What an amazing fantastic book. It is so raw and real. I am so affected by this book. I think this is a masterpiece. I think this could help anyone going through some real tough times. Sometimes facts are not pleasant. Fact: this book is fantastic. – Goodreads review by Calista
It is not fair to compare this book to The One and Only Ivan. The only similarity is that they are both beautifully written and put a very special issue in the spotlight. Like Ivan made you think about animal’s imprisonment, Crenshaw makes you think about homelessness; however, it is more than that. This book made me think about so many things. First, this book shows the speed and brutality of homelessness. It can affect anyone and can come from nowhere. There is an extended scene from Jackson’s past that made me want to jump into the book to give him a hug and help his family in any way I could. Second, this book looks at how much children sometimes have to deal with because of their home situation. Jackson had such anxiety and pressure on him because he felt like he had to be a grown up (specifically for his sister). Finally, the themes of friendship – both of the imaginary and real kind – and how important they are. And specifically how the magic of both kinds are something you need to hold onto. - Goodreads review by K. Moy
This is easy reading for my 10-year-old grandson, but the concepts of being homeless are not so easily grasped by a child who has never had this kind of experience. He enjoys the humor and the short chapters. I’ve read the book and we are discussing chapter by chapter as he reads. I am looking forward to discussing the book further with him and seeing what he has to say about the surprise ending. – Amazon review by Willy
By an Editor
“The tone is warm and, occasionally, quirkily funny, but it doesn't sugarcoat the effects of hunger and vulnerability. This novel adds a middle-grade perspective to the literature of imaginary friends and paints a convincing and compassionate portrait of a social class―the working poor―underrepresented in children's books.” ―The Horn Book, starred review
"...a quick read that encourages people of all ages to be honest with one another and value family and friends (real and imaginary!)" ―Booklist
RELATED: If your child loves cats, check out our book list with 50 more purr-fect books to read!
About the Author
Beloved author Katherine Applegate is the author of several best-selling young adult series, including Animorphs and Roscoe Riley Rules. Home of the Brave, her first standalone novel, received the SCBWI 2008 Golden Kite Award for Best Fiction and the Bank Street 2008 Josette Frank Award. She lives with her family in Irvine, California.
This title has Common Core connections.