Thursday, April 16, 2009

Crank, by Ellen Hopkins

Crank is the first of 4 books by Ellen Hopkins chronicling her daugher's descent into drug addiction. Kristina (who later creates her alter-ego, Bree) is first introduced to methamphetamine by a local boy when she is visiting her father in Albuquerque. When she returns to her family in Reno, Nevada, she believes that her fascination with drugs was a temporary thing, but as she soon learns, drugs are much easier to start than they are to quit. Although the teen drug addiction theme has become very boring and overdone, I believe that Ellen Hopkins used a fresh, interesting approach. Crank is a very well-written, powerful book, and I would recommend it to readers of any age.

- Reviewed by MarinaDW, grade 10.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Crank, by Ellen Hopkins, is about a quiet girl from the suburbs name Kristina. She goes to visit her long lost dad but uses the name Bree . Bree starts getting involve in parties and romance and starts using crystal meth also known as crank . Even after she returns home she continues her downward spiral into addiction.

This book was really intense and it shows how a drug could ruin some ones life . It shows no matter what background your from you could still get addicted to drugs.

Reviewed by J.M., grade 12.

Central Library

Teen Speak said...

The books is the first book of the series and the author talks about a young woman named Kristina who is a straight-A student but falls down the wrong path meeting two young boys named Chase and Brendan who offer her to try crank also known as crystal meth. She asks Brendan for more and he ends up raping her and getting her pregnant. She truly cares for Chase and ends up telling him who wanted to wait for sex with her until she was ready. She becomes pregnant with Brendan's baby and tries to hang onto Chase as she falls apart going down the wrong road.

I liked that there were obstacles she had to try to push through. She created so much for herself to handle because she was being pushed hard by her parents to be the best she could be. I didn't like that she went down the wrong and ended up not being able to control what had happened to her by the character Brendan. I feel very sick for her. I think people who have a curiosity in people and their choices would really enjoy such a book.

Reviewed by Felicia-Maria, Grade 12
Glendale Central Library