| Crank | 
 enlarge | Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Category: Book
List Price: $9.99
Buy New: $5.09
You Save: $4.90 (49%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  108 reviews
Sales Rank: 1216
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 544
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 5 x 1.7
ISBN: 0689865198
EAN: 9780689865190
ASIN: 0689865198
Publication Date: October 5, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com Review
Ellen Hopkins's semi-autobiographical verse novel, Crank, reads like a Go Ask Alice for the 21st century. In it, she 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. In the author's note, Hopkins warns "nothing in this story is impossible," but when Kristina's controlled, high-powered mother allows her teenage daughter to visit her biological father (a nearly homeless known drug user), the story feels unbelievable. Still, the descriptions of crystal meth use and its consequences are powerful, and will horrify and transfix older teenage readers, just as Alice did over 20 years ago. --Jennifer Hubert
Product Description
Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless. Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 103 more reviews...
 Life with the Monster September 29, 2008
Life with the Monster
While visiting her good for nothing father, 17-year-old Kristina meets the guy she thinks is the love of her life and is introduced to the "MONSTER". It's taking over Kristina and turning her into Bree, who is her negative alter ego. Switching between these two personalities her life is a roller coaster, which she can't control.
After returning home to Reno, things were not normal. Her grades weren't good anymore, and her relationships with family and friends had changed. She always managed to find a way of getting hold of the monster just to get through the day.
This book is written in a physical poem format that can be confusing at times, but yet it's a page-turner because it can be an every day reality that many teens face. It is based on a true story that is captivating and you will not be able to put it down.
Reviewers:
Eduardo
Diana
Jose
Erika
Crank
A Monster Addiction September 24, 2008
Once you grab a hold on the fine pages of Crank, the author Ellen Hopkins, almost automatically pulls you in on the rich detail of the first few pages. Crank is exceptionally well written and rich in detail. The ability to craft her tale into an easy to read dose of real-life drama is out of this world. To add, her structure of writing is mind-blowing and keeps you reading page after page until you find that you are addicted. This characteristic makes the relationship between you and the main character Kristina (or Bree) mutual. As the monster ruins Kristina's life, you find her helpless and in need. You wish you could help but you can't. Since Hopkins uses first person visualizations, you are able to understand the main idea and follow Kristina step by step as the monster tears her life apart.
She calls herself Bree-the other side of Kristina that seems like the best follower when it comes to trouble. You'll find yourself rooting for one or the other. In any case, you're forced to face the decisions of both characters. Even though being the same person, Kristina and Bree share different ideas on the world and the addiction to Crank.
Crank is an easy book to connect to visually and emotionally. Crank is a premium recommended read for people of all ages. Teenage girls will enjoy this book even more since they will be able to directly share ideas and connect emotionally. Boys will find this interesting for the fact that it explains a girl's thoughts in great detail. The word choice is a bit novice but the way the story ties together is superb. You'll find your eyes glued to the pages all the way until the juicy ending slaps you in the face. Even then, you will be left mouth watering and awaiting the grasp of her sequel Glass.
Sincerely,
Valdez
AMAZING BOOK August 3, 2008
I picked this book up because of the interesting cover, and the weird style of writing I found inside when I flipped through it. I had absolutely no idea what crank was (I mean I had never heard it refered to as crank), and I dove in eagerly.
I must say I enjoyed the book. As I read the book I seriously started to feel sick. The addiction the girl has and the description of it literally made me feel sick. I had to put the book down and take a break a couple of times.
I wanted to point out H. Thompson's review. I HIGHLY disagree with it. I am seventeen. Ellen Hopkins did not "have fun" with the enter key. If you took the time to read it you would have noticed WHY she did that. Secondly, you say it has no plot. Seriously, does your life have a plot? I don't think so. Sure, Kristina in the book may only be interesting because of her addiction, but at least SHE'S interesting. Her story only made me think "What in the world do people see in this drug that's so good!?!?!?" I didn't read it because it had all the crap that it had in it, I read it because it's an honest story, based on a true story. The message is so clear it's not even funny, but apparently you were too interested in the rape scene to see it.
Next, you may THINK most teenagers aren't out there using drugs, getting raped, selling themselves, and commiting suicide, but you're wrong. Just the other day my family pulled up to a Hy-Vee, and my dad and brother went in to pick up milk. My mom, sister, and I were sitting in the car (this was later at night, we had just got done seeing a movie). Another car pulled up across from us. The music was blaring. There was a guy who looked somewhere between 17-20, and a girl who looked 14. He got out and went in. The girl immediately she turned the music off, which, in my opinion, is a sign she's just acting for him, for his attention. She's smoking, AND she's drinking. He comes back out, and she immediately turns the music back on. The guy's carying a small sack wadded up tightly, revealing the shape of a small box. Condoms. Don't tell me things like that don't happen every second of every day, because they do.
Ellen Hopkins gives us a glimpse of what addiction is like. And although it's no where near experiencing it, it doesn't leave you wanting to try it. So H. Thompson, shut up and throw the book away, but keep the talking to yourself.
Crank by Ellen hopkins August 2, 2008
This book took a hard look at a girls fight with crank ! And all the struggles and toll on family life! Very very well written book!
 Juvenile and unpolished August 2, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Ellen Hopkins attempts to break new ground with her book about a daughter's descent into crytal meth addiction and, while I grieve for her struggle, comes off as an untalented peddler of poor writing.
While the story is compelling, a once perfect daughter falls off and begins to use drugs, and speaks to fears bread into us all concerning drug use and addiction; her utilization of free-verse "poetry" is a mockery to poetry itself. Hopkins is able to leave the reader with sparse details in some areas, and extreme details in others; thus allowing herself as author to escape from the duty of conveying the story with any real sense of literary authority or authenticity. While she is heralded as a "ground breaker" and "experimental genius" her work pails in comparison to other experimental fiction, and is a poor use of the poetic form.
In the end this is a book for a high schooler to read for fun, it is low in literary value and an easy read that goes by quick and painlessly with no real impact besides from what a reader might experience have they not been exposed to fiction that succeeds where Hopkins fails.
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