11.27.2009

Crank

Title: Crank
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Pages: 537
Pub Date: 2004
Genre: Poetry, Young Adult,

Kristina is a relatively perfect girl. She's exceptionally bright, plays by the rules, and shy. Her life becomes a bit more interesting when Mom agrees to allow Kristina to visit her father who walked out nearly seven years before.
Kristina meets her dad, and to say that he's a deadbeat father is putting it mildly. Left on her own, she explores and meets Adam. She introduces herself as Bree and a new life is created. "Bree" tries her first hit of Crank (crystal meth), and even smokes with her father. She often refers to it as the Monster.
Eventually "Bree" has to return to Kristina's life, but the Monster has followed. As the Monster takes more up more of Kristina's mental space, the more Kristina loses herself to her creation, Bree.


Crank is relentless and raw. Watching Kristina wrestle with her drug addiction and deal with the aftermath of poor decision after poor decision without remorse made me shudder. Hopkins is an incredible author. Her portrayal of an addict is unquestionable. Kristina's story does not end with Crank, a part two-Glass, continues her life. This was a relief because the ending was rather disheartening (even if a glimpse of realism).


Excerpt:

Choices, Choices

Life is full of
choices.
We don't
always
make
good ones.
It seems to
Kristina
you gotta
be
crazy
to open your
windows,
invite the
demon in.
Bree
throws rocks
at the feeble
glass,
laughs.

1 comment:

  1. Interesting storyline. I don't know if I could cope with reading about drug addicton. I find it so sad.

    ReplyDelete

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