Book Review: Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Author: Ellen Hopkins
Released: being re-released in hardcover June 15, 2010
Pages: 537
Publisher: my copy is Simon & Schuster,
Reading Level: ages 14 up
Summary: Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless.

Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life. (taken from Shelfari)

Flirtin' with the Monster

Life was good

before I

met

the monster.

After,

life

was great.

At

least

for a little while.

Text copyright © 2004 by Ellen Hopkins

What I thought: WOW! This is one of those books that you think about, and think about for days after you've read it. A story that is crazy scary, it makes you realize how a drug like meth can quickly take over your life and not let go. The main character Kristina decides that she wants to visit her father who she hasn't seen and has barely heard from in eight years. When she gets there she soon realizes that he doesn't have much time for her and she meets Adam. She discovers that she has an outgoing side to herself named Bree. Bree isn't afraid and she makes Kristina feel brave and alive. Adam convinces Bree to party one night with the "monster"and that party will change her life and the lives of her family forever. Ellen Hopkins says that this story is loosely based on her daughter's addiction and how it affected her and their family. I like how this book is written like a poem however, a few times the writing took on a shape and those pages I would have to read over again to make sure I had read it right. All in all a really good and heartbreaking book that I would recommend to both parents and teens.