84 pages • 2 hours read
Katherine ApplegateCrenshaw
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate, Jackson, a fact-loving boy from a financially unstable family, grapples with the return of his childhood imaginary friend, Crenshaw, a human-sized cat. As his family's struggles deepen, Jackson learns to balance reality with imagination, confronts the importance of honesty, and finds comfort in the presence of Crenshaw while aiming to understand life's uncertainties. Themes of poverty and homelessness are present.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate blends elements of magic realism and heartfelt storytelling, resonating with readers through its portrayal of childhood struggles and imagination. Reviews praise its empathetic and touching narrative, though some feel its treatment of serious issues may be too understated. Overall, it's celebrated for its emotional depth and relatable characters.
Who Should Read Crenshaw?
Readers who enjoy heartwarming, imaginative stories with themes of friendship and resilience, akin to those in Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson or The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, will find Crenshaw engaging. Suitable for middle-grade readers who appreciate a blend of fantasy and realistic fiction.
RecommendedReading Age
8-12yearsLexile Level
540LBook Details
Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Relationships: Family
Fantasy
Children's Literature
Realistic Fiction
Animals