Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Title: Crank
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Release date: January 1, 2001
Pages: 537

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.

Crank is the story of Kristina, better known as Bree, her alter-ego.  During a trip to visit her father Bree discovers two things: boys and crystal meth.  With her return home to live with her mother, she takes her new found love for both things with her.  Throughout the course of the book Bree becomes more and more addicted to meth and the people that provide it for her, usually boys that are no good for her.  Crank is a story of addiction and abuse told through verse.

Crank is definitely not something I would recommend to readers that aren't in high school, at least.  It's a very dark story full of drugs, alcohol, sex, abuse, and other heavy topics that younger readers might not be able to comprehend.  While it is a dark story, it's one that deserves to be read.  It is a book that will make you think.

Themes:

• abuse
• addiction
• family
• love
• loss of innocence

Extra content:

I'm Loving Books' review: "In the end I was not a huge fan of this book and I’m not entirely sure if it’s the style (in-verse) or if it’s the author."

Peeking Between The Pages' review: "Crank by Ellen Hopkins is an intense and intricately woven story of the damage that drugs can do an individual and those around them."