Madeleine's Childrens Lit Blog

As I read Crenshaw, I could definitely see how Applegate has established herself as an author that marches to a beat of empathy and inclusion. I loved how Applegate continually writes with these attributes at the forefront of her novels. I also can see a pattern of writing that has unlikely hero's at the forefront. In Wishtree, the hero's are woodland animals, a tree and an immigrant girl. In Crenshaw, the hero's are an imaginary cat and a young boy living in poverty. To me, this makes the book(s) all that more appealing to teachers and students alike. Crenshaw will have you giggling one minute and crying the next. Like many kids, Jackson has a home life that would probably surprise many of his classmates and teachers. 

In Crenshaw, I can feel the weight of Jackson's family on his shoulders. He knows that in the eyes of the world, his family is lucky. But when comparing his family to families of his classmates, he can see a gap. I can relate to Jackson in this way. Although I never grew up hungry in my house, I compared my house, clothes, summer vacations and belongings to my friends. It's hard to be in a place where you are constantly feeling inadequate, and I can only imagine how a child like Jackson would feel. Going to school hungry, having to sell belongings to make rent... These are things that many children are feeling day to day. Something that Crenshaw made me notice is that this group of kids (lower socioeconomic levels) is not well represented in books. Crenshaw would be a great book to include in a classroom of kids that could relate to Jackson and his family. 

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A part of the book that really stuck out to me was when Jackson was talking about how he counted on school lunches and breakfasts during the summertime. I know very few schools that provide these resources for children, and it seems like programs like this are being cut way more than they are being put into place. It is a reality check for me, as a teacher, to know that when school is not in session, some kids might be hungry. How can we as educators advocate for food to be provided to kids no matter what season it is? In the book, there is no talk of Jackson's teachers. As an educator, I want to learn how I can be aware of the warning signs for extreme poverty and homelessness. How would Jackson's story be different if his school had gotten involved?

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Additionally, this book made me reflect on how children are not responsible for many, if any, of their lives circumstances. Poverty can cause chaos in a child's life. When a child come to school in a sad or angry mood, forgets or is unable to do to do his/her homework or is having trouble getting along with his or her classmates, there might be more to the story. I want to be a teacher that can respond to these situations with empathy and kindness. In the Bishop article, she writes, "...the classroom, diverse lit- erature can also offer opportunities both to expand literary understandings and to encourage critical examination of issues that plague our democracy, such as inequities tied to race, gender, income, and disability." (Bishop 2016). Teachers and students alike should be aware of how poverty affects not only their classmates, but the world around them.

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Imagination is a huge aspect of the book! Crenshaw, Jackson's imaginary cat, helps Jackson cope with the uncomfortable, lonely aspects of his homelessness. Because Jackson is in 5th grade, he is always second guessing his imagination, thinking that he should have outgrown his imaginary friend long ago. I think it is important for kids and adults alike to let their imaginations run wild sometimes, especially when our imaginations can help us through situations that seem daunting. In a classroom setting, talking about how our imaginations change as we get older could open up a lot of meaningful conversation and writing possibilities. 

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