First published 2025
Jackson is ten years old and thought he had left childish things behind. But when his parents lose their jobs and the family prepares to move back into their minivan, his imaginary friend Crenshaw reappears. The giant cat first showed up years earlier during another period of instability. Now Jackson's little sister Robin asks questions about why they might lose their apartment. His parents put on brave faces and try to hide their financial struggles. Jackson sees past their forced cheerfulness to the unpaid bills and unemployment beneath. Crenshaw arrives exactly when Jackson needs someone who will listen to worries he cannot voice to his family. The invisible cat becomes a safe space for Jackson to work through feelings that overwhelm him. Jackson faces a choice between accepting this comforting presence or rejecting what seems too childish. The story shows how families pull together during hard times and reveals the ways children use their imagination to handle grown-up problems.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary, realistic-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, invisible-friend
263 pages · Hardcover · Feiwel & Friends