Crank
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Series: #1 in the Crank Trilogy
Description:
This is a story about a monster. Not a dragon or a mythological beast, but a very real, very destructive monster–crystal meth–that takes hold of seventeen-year-old Kristina Snow and transforms her into her reckless alter-ego Bree. Based on her own daughter’s addiction to crystal meth, Ellen Hopkins’ novel-in-verse is a vivid, transfixing look into teenage drug use. Told in Kristina’s voice, it provides a realistic portrayal of the tortured logic of an addict.
Review:
Have you ever picked up a book by an author who has a fairly decent backlist for the first time, and after finishing it, you are like, how the heck have I never read (insert name here) before? That was me and crank/me and Ellen Hopkins. I had routinely seen her books at the library in the YA section, but for some reason, I had never picked them up – maybe it was the idea of poetry, since I am normally not a huge fan…it wasn’t until I managed to need 2 poetry books for a reading challenge, and having Ellen Hopkins recommended to me by a good friend (I now blame her for my addiction), that I picked up Crank…or more specifically, I downloaded the audiobook of Crank to listen to. I was sucked it…
This isn’t the typical poetry that so many of us were “tortured” with in school (and trust me, I think a lot of my distaste comes from those experiences). I was sucked in by the free verse, it was almost at times, like reading a story – the story of Kristina and her addiction to crank (crystal meth)…the transition from her being the good girl to the drug addicted bad girl and the emergence of her alter-ego Bre…there was just something about it – I couldn’t stop listening…
the audiobook itself wasn’t all that long – i think just shy of 4 hours, but considering that it was 4 hours of poetry and I actually listened attentively to the whole thing…lol! I’m pretty sure that I have never listened to anything done by this narrator before – Laura Flanagan – she had the teenage lilt just right…I felt like I was in Kristina/Bre’s shoes…felt her falling into the void created by the crystal meth…it was kind of freaky in a few places…
Personally, I want to say everyone should read this book, but at the same time, i also realize that caution should be given to reading this book. I would advise parents to be prepared to discuss topics with your teen during reading and after, because I’m sure that they will have a lot of questions. But at the same time, I think its something that needs to be read/discussed – because in essence, it isn’t just about drug abuse, its about peer pressure that our teenagers face as they grow up – they wanting to be cool, even for just one minute, even the “cool” kids…I’m interested to see what the other 2 books in the trilogy bring. This is a hard book to rate, but I would probably give it a solid 4 stars, if not 4.5.
Dee's Book Blog 
susandyer1962
June 17, 2013 at 2:32 am
I have never read one of her books!
Dee
June 17, 2013 at 8:15 am
Add to your pile!!
susandyer1962Susan dyer
June 19, 2013 at 2:19 am
Where do I start??
Dee
June 19, 2013 at 2:21 am
Crank was first book and first in a trilogy – so I would start there – Glass and Fallout are other 2 in trilogy
susandyer1962
June 19, 2013 at 2:26 am
Has she written a bunch??? Lol
Dee
June 19, 2013 at 2:51 am
At least 8 that I know of – this trilogy; an adult/ya duo; and some others
susandyer1962Susan dyer
June 19, 2013 at 2:55 am
Does she write in poetry or prose like Lisa Schroeder?? Lol sorry to be a pita!!!
Dee
June 19, 2013 at 2:59 am
It’s free verse poetry – so every page is a different poem but the are like a story – it felt like narrative – I’ve never read Lisa Schroeder…
susandyer1962
June 19, 2013 at 3:10 am
Ohhhhh I’ve read all of her books!! Love her!!
Ellen Hopkins
June 21, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Many thanks for the great review. FYI, I have nine young adult novels and two adult novels now, plus another YA out in September. All in narrative free verse, which is what Lisa writes, too.
Susan Dyer
June 21, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Thanks so much for the info Ellen!! I’m going to start with Crank and go from there!!
Dee
June 21, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Lol – and I have 5 sitting on my bedside table right now…
Susan Dyer
June 21, 2013 at 3:16 pm
I have four of them waiting for me to pick them up at the library! LOL
Dee
June 21, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Which four?
susandyer1962
June 21, 2013 at 4:19 pm
Crank glass fallout and impulse!
Dee
June 21, 2013 at 4:29 pm
I’ll hold off on glass/fallout if you wanna buddy read
susandyer1962
June 21, 2013 at 4:38 pm
I’m going to start crank this weekend!
Dee
June 21, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Sounds good 😉