Cricket and the Cracker Box Kid

by Alane Ferguson

Pampered eleven-year-old rich kid Cricket thinks she has finally found a friend in Dominic, who lives in the low-income houses called crackerboxes, until they quarrel over ownership of a dog and their classroom becomes a courtroom to decide who is right

Genres: Friendship, Childrens, Realistic Fiction

179 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 1990

About the author

Alane Ferguson was born in Cumberland, Maryland, in 1957. She attended the University of Utah and Westminster College where she studied journalism. Later, Alane became interested in writing for children, mostly, she says, to follow the example of her mother, successful author Gloria Skurzynski. Her mother has written over fifty-seven books for children, while Alane is currently completing her thirty-second. Alane and her mother co-authored a series for National Geographic. Their novel, WOLF STALKER, was the first work of fiction National Geographic had published in its as of then 109 year history. WOLF STALKER was nominated for the 1998 Mystery Writer's of America's Edgar Allan Poe Award and the newest and 13th book in the series, NIGHT OF THE BLACK BEAR, was launched in spring of 2007. A recipient of the 1990 Edgar Allan Poe Award as well as the Belgium's Children's Choice Award for her young adult novel SHOW ME THE EVIDENCE, Alane was also a nominee for her third young-adult mystery, POISON. She received a 2007 Edgar nomination for her young adult novel, THE CHRISTOPHER KILLER, the first in the Sleuth Forensic Mystery series. Alane won the Children's Crown Classic Award for CRICKET ANDTHE CRACKERBOX KID, the American Bookseller's Association's "Pick of the List" for her picture book entitled THAT NEW PET, and has been on numerous ALA Recommended Books for Reluctant Young Readers and Young Adult's Choice list.

Reviews

[Aleisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beloved book from my childhood. Will never forget meeting the author and how kind she was-- a pivotal moment for a young girl who always wanted to be a writer. This story will always be special.

[Elizabeth Ricks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was cleaning out a box of books, wondering if they deserved spots on my bookshelves. This book was a gift to Daniel back in 1990 and was signed by the author, who is the sister of a friend of my sister's. I had never read it. It was fun to read "Pepperwood," a place in Sandy that meant super upper class when I was growing up. (Ferguson is from Sandy.) The book is definitely dated, but it had a good message. I liked the principal in the story a lot.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found an old library copy of this for sale online and read it to my girls. Charming story with lots of good lessons to discuss!

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps somewhat sophomoric for today’s youth, but an enjoyable read for a younger accelerated reader. The friendships and situations the children face are very realistic for that age group. I really liked this books as a little girl, but I have no clue how I would feel about it now.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A school with a mixture of rich, snotty kids and poorer, resentful kids. Cricket gets a dog from the pound, and it ends up being Dominic's lost dog. Their friendship is compromised by the ensuing war over who owns the dog, but in the end they sort it out. Not bad.

[Vicki Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book to read aloud to my class