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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
“I guess becoming homeless doesn’t happen all at once. My mom told me once that money problems sort of sneak up on you. She said it’s like catching a cold. At first you just have a tickle in your throat, and then you have a headache, and then maybe you’re coughing a little. The next thing you know, you have a pile of Kleenexes around your bed and you’re hacking your lungs up.”
That quote really stuck with me after reading this book. I am currently doing a final project on homelessness/poverty in my children’s literature class. I think this book was really powerful and had a lot of great themes. Ultimately, it is written in such a way that children will be able to empathize with those who have money struggles in their families (or relate to the main character themselves), and the takeaway of this is that life isn’t always fair, but you can always find the magic and the bright side to every bad situation.
I love that the main character had an imaginary friend who was a big cat (I’m a crazy cat lady), and thought this had a lot of funny moments that would definitely work with children. However, I think this is maybe too long for the targeted age group and the pacing/timelines got a little wonky. I found myself confused at some points as to whether we were in the present, or the past. Not to mention the actual imaginary cat, Crenshaw, was barely in the story.
This was also overwhelmingly sad. For a book that’s telling kids to “enjoy the magic while you can” (in reference to having imaginary friends and enjoying your childhood) this was a bit too dark at times. It was just too messy. One moment it’s funny and childlike, and the next it’s very depressing.
I remember watching my mom cry over money and I remember how that made me mature faster as a child, but I just don’t think I’d want to have my future child or kids in my library read this one. It’s a bit too serious and the original message gets lost. I see what the author was trying to do with the story, but I just don’t think it was executed as well as it could have been.
That quote really stuck with me after reading this book. I am currently doing a final project on homelessness/poverty in my children’s literature class. I think this book was really powerful and had a lot of great themes. Ultimately, it is written in such a way that children will be able to empathize with those who have money struggles in their families (or relate to the main character themselves), and the takeaway of this is that life isn’t always fair, but you can always find the magic and the bright side to every bad situation.
I love that the main character had an imaginary friend who was a big cat (I’m a crazy cat lady), and thought this had a lot of funny moments that would definitely work with children. However, I think this is maybe too long for the targeted age group and the pacing/timelines got a little wonky. I found myself confused at some points as to whether we were in the present, or the past. Not to mention the actual imaginary cat, Crenshaw, was barely in the story.
This was also overwhelmingly sad. For a book that’s telling kids to “enjoy the magic while you can” (in reference to having imaginary friends and enjoying your childhood) this was a bit too dark at times. It was just too messy. One moment it’s funny and childlike, and the next it’s very depressing.
I remember watching my mom cry over money and I remember how that made me mature faster as a child, but I just don’t think I’d want to have my future child or kids in my library read this one. It’s a bit too serious and the original message gets lost. I see what the author was trying to do with the story, but I just don’t think it was executed as well as it could have been.
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was beautiful:)✨️
Ok honestly I kept falling asleep during this story. It's a story about being super poor as a child and making sense of your world. It's weird.
Applegate has done it again. Another book that gave me all the feels and with such an important message.
April 12, 2016: Wow. This is an intense story. Poverty is hard on parents. I was especially struck with how hard it is on kids too. I had thought this would be a One School One Book choice. The topic certainly would be timely given our economy and the oil industry right now. However, just like Jacksons parents, my instinct is to not expose kids to sad stories of homelessness, hunger and other financial struggles. I am not sure I would read it with kids younger than grade three.
I think this would make a great novel study. I can imagine great discussions could come out of this story. We could even start a food drive for the food bank. Good character project!
I loved the cover for this book. Jackson has an imaginary friend who helps him through hard times. That seems right.
Reread March 2018
Questions to bring up at book club:
- Why do you think Jackson's parents don't tell him everything about their troubles? Should parents tell their kids more?
Jackson wasn't honest with his friend about their situation. Wasn't he doing just what his parents were doing?
Have you ever had an imaginary friend?
How can imaginary friends help kids?
Why did the author choose a cat as an imaginary friend? Cats are often not that friendly. They don't mind being alone.
Was Crenshaw a typical cat? He really didnt like dogs....???what else?
Why did the author make him so silly? (He loved jelly beans, bubble baths, etc)
I think this would make a great novel study. I can imagine great discussions could come out of this story. We could even start a food drive for the food bank. Good character project!
I loved the cover for this book. Jackson has an imaginary friend who helps him through hard times. That seems right.
Reread March 2018
Questions to bring up at book club:
- Why do you think Jackson's parents don't tell him everything about their troubles? Should parents tell their kids more?
Jackson wasn't honest with his friend about their situation. Wasn't he doing just what his parents were doing?
Have you ever had an imaginary friend?
How can imaginary friends help kids?
Why did the author choose a cat as an imaginary friend? Cats are often not that friendly. They don't mind being alone.
Was Crenshaw a typical cat? He really didnt like dogs....???what else?
Why did the author make him so silly? (He loved jelly beans, bubble baths, etc)
«میدانستم که او آنجاست و همین برای من کافی بود.
بعضی وقتها این تنها چیزی است که از یک دوست توقع داری.»
«آن روز خانم مالون حرف دیگری هم دربارهٔ خفاشها زد. گفت گاهی با خودش فکر میکند شاید خفاشها از ما آدمها، آدمتر هستند!»
بعضی وقتها این تنها چیزی است که از یک دوست توقع داری.»
«آن روز خانم مالون حرف دیگری هم دربارهٔ خفاشها زد. گفت گاهی با خودش فکر میکند شاید خفاشها از ما آدمها، آدمتر هستند!»
dark
sad
tense
so adorable; had this recommended to me by the sweetest little girl from this camp i teach
Considered DNFing this book. Heavy topics, as expected, but not enough with Crenshaw to keep interest. My 6yo found it confusing and it didn’t flow nicely when read aloud.
خب
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