Crank

I decided to read this one again because I wanted to read the whole series together. There was so much of it that I had forgotten about from previous reads. It is fascinating and honestly heartbreaking to see just how much a life is changed by one simple event of using drugs. I know Ellen Hopkins wrote this series to shed light on the effects drugs can have on a person and a family and she definitely did a phenomenal job! I can't believe how Kristina's life turned upside down so fast. And I know that I am supposed to feel this way but I am so angry at her Dad. How could he encourage her to get into drugs when he knew exactly the types of consequences it would cause?! Even meeting Adam, she still could have resisted but then being encouraged by the one person who was supposed to keep her safe? Even told in verse, reading this book, I could really feel all of Kristina's emotions and trials, I could picture the different settings. I felt like I was on this adventure with her and that is truly a nod to Hopkins' writing style. Let's see what happens in the second book...

*spoilers*


Kristina goes to visit her dad for the summer and things take a turn for the worst. She's a straight-A honor student who never breaks the rules until she meets Adam. Adam convinces her to try crank, or meth, and they soon start a relationship. Kristina becomes addicted to meth and even finds a dealer when she returns home to her mom. Her dealer rapes her and she becomes pregnant, all while still addicted to meth. She goes though drug-withdrawal and eventually tells her mom and stepdad about her pregnancy and gives birth to a son. The narrative implies that she is still doing drugs.

The way it is written is very well-done. I know that I wouldn't have been able to write a whole book in poetry form. However, I really didn't enjoy the subject matter. It made me uncomfortable and I just didn't like it. But I'm aware of how popular the book is and still recommend it to teens looking for something "different" or "dark". They love it.

I love books written in poems.
They are easy to read because each poems feels like a new chapter. You can just speed through it. I couldn't put it down.

I have a thing for books about teens with drug problems. I don't know what it is about them that draws me to them so much. I loved this book.

Although I do just want to punch her in the face half the time. Stupid Kristina.

I absolutely loved this book. The ending made me quite upset though!

I was shaking when I finished the book. And deeply depressed for another week after