It's a really great book, but I found it unbearably sad. Jackson's family is caught in a cycle of homelessness, and Applegate taps into pure empathy at the horrifying helplessness of that state. I do think that Crenshaw, giant black and white imaginary friend cat, like Totoro, adds a joyful surrealness to the story, but for me it was all too realistic, and very low on hope. ( )

Jackson and his family do not have things come easily to them. They have been down on their luck and struggling with money. We take this journey with Jackson (a 4th/5th grader) as we read the book and discover his imaginary friend Crenshaw. Jackson doesn't really want Crenshaw around...and he isn't much, but enough that the cat can help Jackson realize what he needs.

Overall, I enjoying this book while reading it, it was a quick read, it gave me a new perspective, but I'm not sure it is one I'll be thinking about years from now. ( )

This is a story of a 10-year old boy, Jackson, whose imaginary friend (a seven-foot-tall talking cat) helps him cope with a family crisis--an impending eviction notice. Crenshaw is the companion that Jackson needs to realize that the weight of the world is not on his shoulders.

In this candid treatment of a tough topic, 10-year-old Jackson learns to deal with hunger and homelessness as his wellintentioned parents make one bad financial decision after another

A sweet, but somewhat meandering story about a boy named Jackson and his family struggling in difficult economic and health circumstances. His father has MS and had to quit his construction job, leaving the parents with a series of part-time jobs. The book explores the subjects of poverty and homelessness and their effect on children, with Jackson discussing his problems with his imaginary friend, a large cat named Crenshaw. Jackson's relationship with Marisol is one of the highlights in the story. ( )