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This K-5 Librarian read and thoroughly enjoyed this masterful work of #YALit! There was so much buzz about it on Twitter...it made #1 on the NY Times Best Seller List...and yes, this is her 1st book! I am Ah-Mazed. It is excellent, passionate, relevant, brilliant, and in my mind, award bound!!

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Read 73k reviews from the world's largest community for readers. An alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780062498533 can be found here. Sixteen-year-old Star...

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A novel in verse that is smooth like butter! The cover grabbed my students but the words captivated them with a store that resonated with them. Made me think about how the choices we make for ourselves impact our families. I listened to this book 3x and will listen to it again....and then again. Yes, it was that good!

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Read 8,779 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. "With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING....

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#3 Ms. Bixby's Last Day | by John David Anderson

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#3 Ms. Bixby's Last Day | by John David Anderson

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I listened to this book 2X this school year! Plus I used it for my 5th grade boys book club that ended with a Virtual Visit with John David Anderson. Award Worthy book!

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Ms. Bixby's Last Day has 2,188 ratings and 645 reviews. Julie said: First things first: I will admit I had a hard time starting this book, because I've l...

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I listened to this book 3x during my commute this school year!  Yes, 3X...because I L-O-V-E-D it! My students enjoyed it too and checked it out regularly from our library.

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In her first novel since winning the NEWBERY MEDAL,
KATHERINE APPLEGATE delivers an UNFORGETTABLE and
MAGICAL story about FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP, and RESILIENCE.

Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.

Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?

Beloved author Katherine Applegate proves in unexpected ways that friends matter, whether real or imaginary.

Available wherever books are sold

Watch the Trailer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katherine Applegate is the author of The One and Only Ivan, winner of the Newbery Medal. Her most recent novel for F&F, Crenshaw, spent over twenty weeks on the New York Times children's bestseller list, and her first middle-grade stand-alone novel, Home of the Brave (also F&F) continues to be on state reading lists, summer reading lists, and class reading lists. Katherine Applegate lives in Tiburon, California, with her family.

MORE FROM THE AUTHOR

Praise for Crenshaw

☆ "This accessible and moving novel demonstrates how the creative resilience of a child's mind can soften difficult situations, while exploring the intersection of imagination and truth." - Publishers Weekly, starred review

☆ "A compelling and unflinchingly honest treatment of a difficult topic." - School Library Journal, starred review

☆ "Warm and, occasionally, quirkily funny. . . .[ Crenshaw] paints a convincing and compassionate portrait of a social class - the working poor - underrepresented in children's books." - The Horn Book, starred review

"This book will remind you why you fell in love with reading." - Colby Sharp, teacher

"I laughed. I cried. I cannot wait for you to read Crenshaw." - John Schumacher, librarian

"I just love Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. What a special book." - Lauren Castillo, author of the Caldecott Honor Book Nana in the City

"Katherine Applegate continues to amaze me with her ability to attack such profound issues and deliver them in a package that is accessible by so many." - Mary Brown, Books, Bytes & Beyond

"I immediately wanted to hand Crenshaw to my nine-year-old daughter so she, too, could meet and befriend Jackson. Such a difficult topic dealt with in such a straightforward, believable way. It was a pleasure to read this latest gem from Katherine Applegate." - Karen Rosenthal, R.J. Julia Booksellers

"Friends, Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate is just wonderful - can't wait to share with kids. Move this to the top of your to-be-read list." - Mary Ann Scheuer, school librarian

"I just finished Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate and was not disappointed. A touching story with beautiful characters and a sweet family." - Kerri Poore, Politics & Prose

Fight Hunger with Crenshaw

Share photos of your school food drive online with #CrenshawFoodDrive

Check back for information and resources on how to participate in the 2017 Crenshaw Food Drive later this summer.

Schools and libraries across the country host Crenshaw Food Drives to fight childhood hunger. See a few examples of their charity in action!

Students in Vermont filled a Crenshaw silhouette with "I Donated" stickers!

Students conclude their Crenshaw Food Drive with a visit to the local food pantry to learn about how their donations will help those in need.

Students in Michigan decorated a hallway with "I Donated!" wall decals

The "I Donated!" wall decals in action!

Students in Kentucky created posters to decorate the school hallways

Students research childhood hunger and the best foods to donate to food pantries to prepare for their Crenshaw Food Drive

Did you know. . .

Nearly one in five kids in America lives in a household that struggles to put food on the table.

Three out of five K-8 public school teachers say they regularly see students come to school hungry.

Teachers of hungry kids spend, on average, about $37 of their own money each month to buy food for students.

An excerpt from Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

I went to my window and opened it. Carefully, I pulled out the screen. Our apartment was on the ground floor. A few feet below the window, a cushion of grass waited.

"Good-bye, Crenshaw," I said.

He opened one eye a bit, like someone peeking from behind a shade. "But we were having such a lovely time."

"Now," I said. I put my hands on my hips to show I meant business.

"Jackson, be reasonable. I came all this way."

"You have to go back to wherever you came from."

Crenshaw opened his other eye. "But you need me here."

"I don't need you. I have enough to deal with already."

With a great show of effort, Crenshaw sat up. He stretched, easing his back into an upside-down U. "I don't think you understand what's going on here, Jackson," he said. "Imaginary friends don't come of their own volition. We are invited. We stay as long as we're needed. And then, and only then, do we leave."

"Well, I sure didn't invite you."

Crenshaw raised an eyebrow. He had long, whiskery brows like strings on marionette.

I took a step closer. "If you won't go, I'll make you go."

I put my arms around his waist and yanked. It was like hugging a lion. That cat weighed a ton.

Crenshaw dug his claws deep into the quilt my Great-aunt Trudy made when I was a baby. I gave up and let go.

"Look," Crenshaw said as he extracted his claws from my quilt, "I can't go until I help you. I don't make the rules."

"Then who does?"

Crenshaw stared at me with eyes like green marbles. He put his two front paws on my shoulders. He smelled like soapsuds and catnip and the ocean at night.

"You do, Jackson," he said. "You make the rules."

Praise for Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

☆"This accessible and moving novel demonstrates how the creative resilience of a child's mind can soften difficult situations, while exploring the intersection of imagination and truth." - Publisher's Weekly, starred review

☆"A compelling and unflinchingly honest treatment of a difficult topic." - School Library Journal, starred review

☆"Warm and, occasionally quirkily funny....[CRENSHAW] paints a convincing and compassionate portrait of a social class-the working poor-underrepresented in children's books." - Horn Book, starred review

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Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again. Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary.

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#5 All American Boys | by Jason Reynolds

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#5 All American Boys | by Jason Reynolds

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Read 7,141 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Rashad is absent again today. That's the sidewalk graffiti that started it all... Well, ...

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Neil Gaiman | Neil's Work | Books | The Graveyard Book

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Journal Neil's Work Cool Stuff & Things About Neil Message Boards Where's Neil Search Links & Downloads Mousecircus.com FAQs

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#8 All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook | by Leslie Connor

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#8 All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook | by Leslie Connor

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Educator and Librarian Resources

Critical Praise

"With complex, memorable characters, a situation that demands sympathy, and a story that's shown, not just told, this is fresh and affecting. Well-crafted, warm, and wonderful." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Rich characterizations give the novel its big heart: Jessica, Big Ed, and the other Blue River inmates are nuanced, vivid characters whose stories of perseverance after tragedy embody the novel's themes of redemption, hope, and community. This beautifully written work will send readers' spirits soaring." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"This book offers a different kind of diversity story that is important for kids to find on the shelf." - Booklist

"Readers will long remember the folks of Blue River after its gates have closed." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"In a novel filled with endearing characters, sad goodbyes, and new beginnings, Connor (Crunch) expresses the depth of Perry's homesickness without romanticizing his life in a prison." - Publishers Weekly

"Every so often, a novel comes along to remind us of that what we hope is true, is true: that understanding is stronger than what seems to be justice, that kindness is deeper and fuller than anger, and that goodness can heal brokenness. This is one of those novels." - Newbery Honor-winning author Gary D. Schmidt

"Perry Cook is a character who steps off the page, wanders through your mind, and finds his way to your heart." - Lynda Mullaly Hunt, New York Times bestselling author of Fish in a Tree

"All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is a book filled with tough truths, relentless optimism, fierce love and above all else gorgeous writing. I loved every heartbreaking, joyful page." - Corey Ann Haydu, author of Rules for Stealing Stars

"A heartwarming story with an unstoppable hero, a mystery that keeps you guessing, and a unique setting. All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is a rich look at family and what it means to face adversity and fly-I loved it." - Kimberly Newton Fusco, author of Beholding Bee

"Leslie Connor has given young readers a gentle introduction into the world of incarcerated parents in an engaging and ultimately wonderfully rewarding story." - Nora Raleigh Baskin, author of Ruby on the Outside and Anything But Typical

"I don't think there's been a book so moving and heartwarming for this age range since WONDER." - Shoshana, Reading Bug (San Carlos, CA)

Starred Reviews for Waiting for Normal: "A heroine with spunk and spirit offers an inspiring lesson in perseverance and hope. First-rate." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on Waiting for Normal

"A story centered around loss, heartbreak, abandonment, and new beginnings." - School Library Journal (starred review) on Waiting for Normal

"Characters as persuasively optimistic as Addie are rare, and readers will gravitate to her. Poignant." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Waiting for Normal

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all rise for the honorable perry t. cook

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All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook - Leslie Connor - Hardcover

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Educator and Librarian Resources Critical Praise "With complex, memorable characters, a situation that demands sympathy, and a story that's shown, not just told, this is fresh and affecting. Well-crafted, warm, and wonderful."

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#9 Fortunately The Milk | by Neil Gaiman

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#9 Fortunately The Milk | by Neil Gaiman

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Read by the author with his most awesome accent! Makes me think of how we used to wait for my dad to come back from the store. He knows so many people and could never just leave! He would always have to stop and talk...to everyone. This dad however, comes up with a tall tale that is at once ridiculous & hilarious!

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"I bought the milk," said my father. "I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: thummthumm. I looked up and saw a hug...

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Yes, I do sometimes get to read books that aren't #MGLit or #YALit. Although, I do think YA readers would enjoy this adrenaline laced, fast-paced, adventure. It's the thrill of the chase...but you can't really outrun your past no matter how hard you try!

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The Progeny (Descendants of the House of Bathory #1)

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The Progeny has 920 ratings and 259 reviews. Eve Recinella (Between The Bookends) said: NOOOOOO this book ends on one HELL of a cliffhanger. I want to cr...

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I highly recommend this book to everybody, but especially to disabled kids, kids who know disabled kids, anyone who works with disabled kids, especially non-verbal/speech impaired disabled people and people with cerebral palsy or similar neurological motor conditions.

This is an absolutely wonderful book that almost made my favorites shelf. It's wickedly funny and brutally, wonderfully honest.

I've always enjoyed stories about special needs kids, special education, ill children, disabled children,...more

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I highly recommend this book to everybody, but especially to disabled kids, kids who know disabled kids, anyone who works with disabled kids, especially non-verbal/speech impaired disabled people and people with cerebral palsy or similar neurological motor conditions. This is an absolutely wonderful book that almost made my favorites shelf.