Crank (Crank #1)

Reader reviewed by Vicki

CRANK is a novel written in verse, which makes it easier to read. It is one of the better books that I have read about teenage addictions. It had me captivated from the first page. I read it in one day and I am eager to read the sequel GLASS.

**** SPOILERS****

Kristina Snow (a.k.a. Bree) is your typical teenage girl who is dealing with a lot of emotional baggage. She visits her dad for summer vacation when she is introduced to the "monster". She comes home a different person, a person who is lying to herself and her family. She is addicted and will do whatever it takes to get that fix again.

A must read for all parents and teens, and as the author states: think twice and then think again.

Reader reviewed by Expedia

THis book, was very captuvating. IT gives you a sense of what it must be like if you where in someones shoes. I most definately felt for the character.. But most importantly, it let me know how some of my friends feel, and a sense of what they go through.. What i mean by that is that, many of my friends need someone near them and im the one to help them up.. These books give me a better insight on how i should really help them.

Reader reviewed by Taylor J

When I first looked at this book I thought it was weird because of its poetry format. After a few pages I became addicted to the style of writing. I also love the characters and interesting plot. It was so intense and had good meaning. It shows you what going down a bad path can look like and its not a nice place. It can really scare the reader from doing anything to do with drugs, and alcohol. The book is a must read and is a page turner. It is such a quick read. I read it in less than a day!

Reader reviewed by KJ

Kristina is a straight-A, rule following family girl. She has a great life and lots of friends. When Kristina has to go visit her  father, she meets Adam. Adam introduces Kristina (and her new self, Bree) to the world of "the monster".  Kristina's life is in chaos. As her addiction grows, Kristina loses valuable friends, starts doing badly in school, and Bree begins to control her life.

Crank was written in verse so I finished it pretty quickly, but it will stick with me for a long time. I've read every book written by Ellen Hopkins but this one remains,to me ,one of her best. I would recommend this book to people 14 and up, as it deals with a lot of things inappropriate to younger audiences. This is an amazing book, that every teenager should read. 

Reader reviewed by fayeflame

Synopsis:

In Crank, Ellen Hopkins chronicles the turbulent and
often disturbing relationship between Kristina, a character based on
her own daughter, and the "monster," the highly addictive drug crystal
meth, or "crank." Kristina is introduced to the drug while visiting her
largely absent and ne'er-do-well father. While under the influence of
the monster, Kristina discovers her sexy alter-ego, Bree: "there is no
perfect daughter, / no gifted high school junior, / no Kristina Georgia
Snow. / There is only Bree." Bree will do all the things good girl
Kristina won't, including attracting the attention of dangerous boys
who can provide her with a steady flow of crank.

Soon, her
grades plummet, her relationships with family and friends deteriorate,
and she needs more and more of the monster just to get through the day.
Kristina hits her lowest point when she is raped by one of her drug
dealers and becomes pregnant as a result. Her decision to keep the baby
slows her drug use, but doesn't stop it, and the author leaves the
reader with the distinct impression that Kristina/Bree may never be
free from her addiction.

I don't know way i was drawn to this
book, it was ok, not great. I don't really read books like Crank. But i
gave it a try. I guess i was drawn to the way it was written and
Kristina's struggle to be someone different or when she was under the mothers influence , which came from the
"monster/crank". She got so lost, while i was reading it, it just kept
on kristina's struggle, there was never any spark of "something goods
gonna happen". I was rooting for her, hoping for something good to
happen.it was so intense, it made me think.... I'll definitely continue
Ellen Hopkins books.

Reader reviewed by Jessica

Ellen Hopkin's beautiful novel in verse "CRANK" details Kristina's life as she slowly begins to fall into the trap that drugs provide for her under the intense situation of her life. She slowly finds that she wishes to be more open and creates a second person within her own body, Bree, who will do all the things that Kristina wishes she could do, all those things that Kristina knows are bad and shouldn't do. Bree is the alter ego who causes the drug addiction, and the bad behavior.

A shocking novel for all teens about the reality of crystal meth, "CRANK" is a novel that should be read again and again in order for the true effect of the words to sink in. Kristina was the ordinary daughter, the good kid, who collapsed under the weight and pressure that drugs offered her. The true underlying power of this book is in the feeling that this could happen to anyone, anywhere, any child who believes they are safe, truly isn't.

Reader reviewed by selina c

I have never been more shocked or thrilled to read such a mind blowing story.  The two girl persona in Crank and the ride downhill from honor roll to being a teenage mother addicted to drugs makes you realize how far the fall really is.  Ellen Hopkins is a poetic genious, creating such a masterpiece of a story out of poems that are hard to swallow and unbelievably visual for words.  Crank really left a mark on me after i read it, but it was also inspiring and showed the raw truth of drug abuse and what it does to you, both physically and mentally.  A great read, but not recommended for those sensitive to certain materials.

Reader reviewed by cici

this was a disturbingly awesome book. i love how the poems just capture you from page one and never like go. it was a pleasure to read this book, i just couldnt put it down. she writes some thick books i started reading it on a friday and was done with it by saturday morining thats how amazing this book really is. praise for ellen hopkins!!!!!

Reader reviewed by mearley

Some of my edgier eighth graders can't get enough of Ellen Hopkins, and after reading Crank it is clear to see why.  The story of Kristina's journey into the world of drugs is as addictive as the drugs themselves.  Eventually Kristina does see that her habits have brought her to a place she doesn't want to be and she's turned into a person she no longer recognizes.  

Told in verse, the 500 pages go by quite quickly.  I wouldn't recommend this for many middle school students (there's a scene of rape, quite a bit of bad language, and of course the glamorized drug use), but more mature students could probably handle it.  

Reader reviewed by Tessa

I couldn't put this book down! I needed to stay up all night to finish it. I just had to know how it ended. The author has a certain way with words and describing things that makes you feel like you're the main character. Amazing. I had to read all the books that this author has written because her books are so enticing and make you look at life through another person's possible point of view in life.