The Coincidence Makers

The Coincidence Makers by Yoav Blum, 291 pages.
A wonderfully bizarre look at love, coincidence, and imaginary friends.
Sure, it sounds strange when you say it that way, but part of what this book imagines is that coincidences don't just happen, not with out a lot of work going into them anyway. Two coincidence makers, both of whom started out as imaginary friends, must figure out how to move past their own backgrounds and find a connection. It is bizarre book, but very good, very enjoyable.

Crenshaw

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate  245 pp.

This book is one of my selections for the Treehouse Book Club. Jackson is a 10 year old with an imaginary friend, a large (think "Harvey") cat named Crenshaw. Crenshaw is not your average imaginary cat. Besides his great size he enjoys bubble baths and purple jelly beans. Jackson first met Crenshaw when he was little and his family was homeless and forced to live in their minivan for several weeks. It has been a long time since Jackson has seen Crenshaw but he suddenly reappears just when things are once again coming to a crisis in Jackson's family. His father has MS and has recently lost his job. Jackson's mother is working multiple part-time jobs so they can get by. Unfortunately, they are once again facing homelessness and sell most of their possessions at a yard sale in hopes of staying in their small apartment. Crenshaw doesn't solve the family's problems but he helps Jackson cope with the stress of what is going on around him. There is a temporary happy resolution to the homelessness issue which leaves the story with a hopeful ending. The explanations of what imaginary friends do when they aren't being needed is wonderful.