Crenshaw

Crenshaw

• Genre: Fiction; children’s, realistic fiction
• Originally Published: 2015
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 540L; grades 3-4
• Structure/Length: 58 chapters; approximately 272 pages; approximately 3 hours, 18 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel follows Jackson, a young boy whose family is facing financial challenges and homelessness once again. To Jackson’s surprise, his imaginary friend from his earlier childhood, Crenshaw, returns. Crenshaw is a large talking cat who offers Jackson support, advice, and a way to cope with his circumstances. The central conflict revolves around Jackson’s struggle to understand his family’s situation, his relationship with Crenshaw, and his journey to find hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Depictions of an unhoused family; family struggles; friendship challenges

Katherine Applegate, Author

• Bio: Born 1956; American author known for her children’s and young adult books; often explores themes of empathy, kindness, and the human experience in her works; Crenshaw is praised for its sensitive portrayal of difficult topics and its ability to engage young readers in thoughtful discussions; known for her versatility as an author, having written across genres and age groups; also well-known for her The One and Only Ivan, which won the Newbery Medal
• Other Works: The One and Only Ivan (2012); Wishtree (2017); Home of the Brave (2007); The Buffalo Storm (2013); The Truth of Me (2013); Endling: The Last (2018); The One and Only Bob (2020)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Truth/Fact Versus Story/Fantasy
• The Impact of Poverty
• Coping with Unpredictability and the Unknown

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the social and emotional contexts of imagination and comfort objects that incite Jackson’s conflict.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Fact Versus Fantasy, Poverty, and the Unknown.
• Plan, design, and construct visual media to create an imaginary friend that reflects your character attributes based on textual details.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding lies, relationships, and other topics.