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

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

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.

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!

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.

This book, a sort of biographical account of a daughter's descent into crystal meth addiction -- written by her mother -- is a very powerful story written in free verse. The simplicity of the words belies the terrible story of the immediate and irresistable hold that crank takes on the unwary victim. The fact that the drug is introduced to an honor student by her father during a custody visit makes it all the more scary. Her quick decline into the life of a loser meth addict is riveting and makes a compelling read. Crank is so beloved at our school library that it doesn't stay on the shelf and is read again and again. Highly recommended. Be sure to get the sequel Glass as well. The story will stay with you long after you have turned the last beautifully written page.

I just finished "crank". The book belongs to my 14yr old daughter and as a parent it was a very hard read. I worry every day about drugs and my children.

I liked that the book was honest in the fact about how quickly this drug can hook you and about the terrible things an addict would go through to get their drug. I also like that it didn't gloss over the fact that date rape does happen and adding drugs to the mix just ups the chances. I do feel that it glamorizes drug use and goes even as far as explaining how to smoke crack using aluminum foil and a straw.

I want my daughter to be aware of the dangers but I don't want to raise her curiosity enough that she wants to try it.

The book was good. The poetry and the way it was written was very beautiful. The story hard to read because all I could think was that could be my daughter. I just want to recommend that parents should read the book before giving it to their teenager. Maybe even use the book to start a conversation about drugs.

As a high school teacher, I see students come through obviously strung out 90% of their lives. It is unfortunate, and as much as we try to help, we also feel powerless in the face of drug addiction. Just as I never wanted to listen to the advice from adults when I was a teen, it is so frustrating to be that voice to my students. I relate stories of friends, families, classmates... but nothing seems to work. I found a connection to the character in this book because of her almost pleading nature. Despite what other reviews said, I never once found this book to be preachy (even when looking back at all the things that happened to Bree/Kristina). As someone who reads teen writing for a living, I found this collection of poems as authentic as any adult could be. Not once did I question the age of the narrator, in fact, at points I could picture a couple of my students writing this piece. Hopefully this book will someday be a staple of all high school educations.

Crank is loosely based off the life of ellen hopkin's (the author) daughter and her life ride with the monster. this monster is no giant green reature, no it is worst. this monster is crank this monster is crytal meth.
Kristina Snow is a mother's dream, a honor student and a role model. She never gets in trouble and is a very nice person. But soon that dream turn into a nightmare when Kristina meets the monster and turns into her extreme alter ego Bree. To her family she is a different kristina but to the monster she is Bree, the outgoing trouble maker that ill do anything to get closer to the monster. Through this book and its sequel Glass, you follow the excruciating journey of a girl greatly affected by crank and her desparete fight to get her life back again.
I personally love this book. crank is defiantly one of my favorite books and will alway be. I would recommend this book to anyone mature enought to handle its content. This book is for guys along with girls. Everyone can relate to this book in one way or another. the best thing about this book is that it hides nothing and it never tries to beauty anything up. it is the truth form start to finish no matter how gruesome that truth is. This book and its sequel are writin in verse. thought verse is just another way to write it really help you connect to the character so much moire the form and shapes the words from lets you know exactly how kristina is feeling without telling you. you can tell if shes angry, happy, high, or distraught. Crank doesnt necissarly have a happy ending but it leaves you with a feeling begging for more. crank is as addicing as the drug is based on. I never wanted to put this book down. i ill read it over and over again!
"Life was good before i met the monster after, life was great at least for a little while"

-F

I think this book is really good. It pretty much tells you the truth about what happens when people get into to drugs. I think that this is a book that teens should read that way they have more facts about why they should NOT do drugs...ecspecially hardcore drugs like crank.....DON'T DO DRUGS!!!!

Ellen Hopkins's Crank is a New York Times bestseller. It cautions on the back, "Ages 14 and up", and it is immediately obvious why. Hopkins began writing her series about hardcore drug use in teenagers after dealing firsthand with the addiction of her daughter. Crank is a book about a 16 year old girl, Kristina, who flies to visit her estranged, junkie father in Albuquerque, and quickly becomes addicted to crank, a form of methamphetamine. The book details her close escape from a gang rape while high, and her subsequent graphic rape while trying to buy drugs. It is written in free verse poetry, so even though it is 500+ pages, it is a relatively quick read. The themes in the book are of course, dealing with drug addiction, rape, and subsequent pregnancy. It also deals with divorce.
Kristina's first person voice is heard in the poems, but they are rather disjointed, and sometimes, the formatting makes them difficult to read. The narration reveals Kristina's actions, her thoughts, and the thoughts of her "alter-ego", Bree. Bree is the voice of the addict. Even though the poetry is first person, it does not seem to realistically reflect the thoughts of the character. It offers some insight to her thoughts, but is not entirely convincing.
I bought Crank because it is a best seller. It is easy to see why kids would find this book fascinating. It has all of the forbidden stuff in it, sex, drugs, stealing, sneaking out, alcohol, cigarettes, rape, teenage pregnancy, abortion, attempted suicide, and the list goes on. It is true that one of the best ways to connect with adolescent readers and encourage reading is through adolescent novels that gain their interest, and it is obvious that this book has. It could be argued that kids do indeed see these sorts of traumatic things in their lives, but for the most part, I'd have to say this book just goes too far. Most kids are not out on the street buying methamphetamines from a gang of Mexicans that have a house just for cooking it. Most kids haven't been date raped. Most kids haven't seen a person jump from a building in a suicide attempt. And, I'd argue, most kids shouldn't have to deal with reading about it. I was absolutely appalled during my reading of this book, I don't think I even know any adults I'd recommend it to. It could never be used in a classroom, the material is purposefully shocking.
The only good thing I have to say about the book is that it uses some higher level vocabulary words. Beyond that, the subject matter is purposefully crass, the characters are only interesting because of their addictions, the style is unnecessary (it seems like she just wrote some prose and then played with the indentions and the enter key), and the ending hardly ties up the loose ends. Thematically, it really only deals with the issues at hand, it is quite literal, and beyond the plot, not much can be read into it. I don't plan to recommend this book to my students at all. I don't think I'll be reading it again, and I can't see any reason to keep it. This book might just end up in my trash can.
And no, Ms. Hopkins, I do not prefer "Gossip Girls". As I've previously mentioned, trashy novels aren't my style.
You have to wonder about adults who'd write this kind of book for a young audience. Is she so desparate to be a writer that she'd sell drugs to children because her writing isn't good enough for the adult literary world?

Crank is the first "novel" by Ellen Hopkins. She's an amazing author with a lot to say and a beautiful way of saying it. Let me explain. First of all, the word novel is in quotes because this book is made up entirely of poetry. The poems are beautiful to read AND look at. She has a stylized look to her work that isn't seen very often, and hasn't been done this well since EE Cummings. I actually sat down and finished the book in two sittings! Which is the tell tale sign of a good book, especially considering that it is 537 pages long! I guess that you could say... Ellen Hopkins got me hooked on Crank! You can tell she must be influenced by Cummings and the great Dylan Thomas as well. Within twenty pages she makes you forget (like Thomas) that you're even reading poetry and that this isn't just a standard novel. The book is a harrowing look at a young girl's descent into meth addiction, hence the title. In the forward, Hopkins says the story is roughly based on her own daughter's life. That fact makes this book hard to read at times. It's written so well, that you can feel her pain, love, agony, and failure. Although this book is found in the young adult section of the book store, anyone with an open mind and the ability to read should buy this book immediately!

Reading this book opened my eyes to what my friend went through (a little). Obviously everyone handles things differently, but not having gone through anything like this before. This really puts it all in to perspective. Hopkins does a great job writing in an easy way to understand. The book was easy to follow. This is another book that was extremely hard to put down and stop reading. I even read it at work! I think Hopkins is one of the better writers today. She really reaches out and understands what teens are going through and what the life of a person involved with drugs is like. Great book!

It was great to read someone who really understands me! Meth isn't all bad news...that is just everyone preaching! With it I can go anywhere and do anything!
If I had read this during my decade of using crystal meth, I would have so relieved to hear from a girl who understood not only the downs, but also the ups. Luckily I am one week away from my four year clean date. If you have a child or loved one who needs some guidance, don't let them near this book! She is so flippant and nonchalant about her addiction. It is not real, and she never really has to deal with life. You want guidance, let me tell you about the police showing up at the hospital in the middle of my newborn son's heart surgery to get me to pee in a cup before they would let me in to see him. From the day I found out I was pregnant I fought for my life, and more importantly, my son's life. Now, he is three, healthy, and I am a children's librarian who will fight to keep this book away from my kids.

Although this book is meant for young adults I think that everyone would adore this book - Not because it was fun, kind, and heart warming. Because it has proof of what can happen when someone gets addicted to drugs: In this case it was Crank or otherwise known as Meth...

This story is sad but heart-stopping as a girl who was once perfect goes on to meet bad people and get into bad situations that will change her life forever.

Try this book out! It is written in poetry format but even if you're not a big poetry fan I still suggest you try it!

A friend loaned me this book and once I started I couldn't put it down. I loved the prose-style; it made for a gripping read. This book reminded me of "Go Ask Alice," a book I read and re-read as a teenager - introducing the horrors of drugs and the consequences of choices. As a teenager, "Go Ask Alice" scared the beejeezus out of me; as a parent, "Crank" is downright horrifying. I will most likely purchase this book and have both of my children read it their freshman year of high school, because the book is written in a voice they will hear.

I am a former crank/meth user. I bought this book after being clean for 3 years. WOW it is so real the story line and how it is being in love with what this author calls The Monster. I have never found anything written on Meth/ The Monster, that touched me so deeply and gave me the friendly reminder of why I never want to go back. I bought every book Ellen Hopkins has written and I have never been in the least bit disappointed. If you want to know how quick meth grabs and kills your life READ THIS BOOK

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. "Crank" was so original and the author was fearless while writing it. No wonder why it was a Ney York Times bestseller. I am twenty years old and enjoyed this book very much. I would reccomend it to people my age and parents alike. It really opened up my eyes to a world that I have been pretty much sheltered from. Definitely a reccomended read-

Ive been reading through all of the Ellen Hopkins books, and most, if not all are wonderfully enticing and very hard to put down. The reading is very different than a normal book in which i mean that it reads like a book of poems. Every page has a different typing setup either going diagonally or going up and down. It maybe a little hard to read at first but once you get the overall feel for the reading its very very good.

I am a Middle School Librarian and this is an awesome book. Many of my students have read it and are mesmerized by it. They even went to a book signing and said how wonderful the author treated them. They were so impressed by her. I would recommend this book to all adults and teens. It is a great life lesson.

I hestitated several times buying this book, afraid of its format. I decided to give it a try and WOW, what an incredible read. I finished the book in one 3 hour flight from Texas to California. Amazing format, addictive story and a definite eye-opener. I'm so addicted to this format that I'm heading to the bookstore to snatch up the author's other books. This book left me wanting more and more and more. Ironic.

this was an amazing book. i was about to go to sleep one night around 1am and decided to start reading a little of this new book i got (crank). i figured i should read maybe 10 pages then go straight to bed as i was really tired. a few hours later i realized the sun was coming up and i was finished with the book.

i've read other books on troubled teens (smack, cut, candy, etc.) and they didnt come close. the only reason people are giving this book a rating of 2s and 1s is because the novel is written in verse like a poem, however, i find that this style actually made it more fun to read, it's different. i actually felt like i was looking at things through the eyes of kristina/bree and i felt this described the rush you get while high and the pain and suffering better than a junkie can describe it.

i HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone!

i leave this one out on the coffee table. it's a great read for anyone.
it's a deep dark look into something that a lot of people are afraid to talk about; drugs.

a must read for everyone.

Read it then bought one for my granddaughter who never reads. She loved it. Instructional without being preachy.

That's how I felt when reading this book. I couldn't put it down. Just one more page. I finished it in one day. It was THAT good. The author wrote the poetry in a visual attempt to get the reader to "feel" or "identify" with the speaker. The short "chapters" are meant to get the reader to want to read "just one more page"...thus allowing the reader to feel what is like to be addicted to something. "One more page won't hurt". Brilliant, I think. There was something psychological about the way the poetry read on the page, scattered and what not, and it wasn't just me that felt the effect of being addicted: my sister and I both revealed to one another that by the end of the book we both felt like we were addicted to something, needed something, urged for something and that we related to the speaker in that way. Word of advice when reading this book: sometimes the words that stick out from the rest of the page should be read vertically, starting from the top the the bottom. You will be amazed at the underlying clarity a whole page could have when a few words are strewn to the side and read by themselves. I wish I could write more on this but I have to leave. This is an awesome book and I can't wait for "Glass" to come out on the 21st.

I do not normally buy this sort of work, preferring to stick to strictly fictional accounts not based in any sort of reality however, this book spoke to me from the moment i picked it up.

I have no personal experience with drug use or abuse but the manner in which the author draws the reader in compelled me to read.

I have three daughters of my own, one on the threshold of her teen years, just waiting to jump across the line and i felt this book to be a necessity in that right as well. She will read this book, even if it doesn't deter her in any way, she will read it. And we will discuss it, at length.

Thank You Ellen Hopkins for sharing this story with us in all it's fictional and non-fictional parts.

Gifted in school, never in trouble, always the loving daughter; Kristina Georgia Snow seems to be the model of perfection. Kristina is far from that, however, and the manifestation of the problems she exhibits forms under the name of "Bree." Bree is many of the things that Kristina wants to be, she's fearless and she's her own person, and a visit with her absentee father sends Kristina scrambling into the arms of Bree and into the arms of another monster - crank. And while life seems good for a time, Kristina finds herself slowly bleeding away and the other her, the consumed her, taking hold.

Ellen Hopkins is an absolutely phenomenal writer, and even better than that is her ability to craft a tale using her own methods. It has to be mentioned that she also has a specific point-of-view about "the monster" in the book as well, recounting some of the struggles that she endured while her daughter fought with addiction and almost lost. Some of that is wrenching, too, but Hopkins uses that feeling and doesn't make you feel sorry for the person behind the pen. She instead uses that power to make you feel for the person behind the mask, hoping to find something better.

When I first read the book, I was impressed by the things that Hopkins manages to work into the proverbial foundations of the very thing she delivers. She writes words within the wording, putting things in the columns and the rows that formulate a story all their own. Things like "treading the riptide, good girls drown" appear in the middle of an area that is part of a larger sum, and the way these things are utilized make you pay attention.
It seems rare to have to do that anyone, too - paying attention, I mean. Too often an author placates an audience with a tale, and the somber tale is moving BUT it finds one thing missing.
The thing I like about Hopkins and her book Crank is that it is fixes a lot of that; she does call Crack "the monster" and she does tell her how much the substance hurt them all but, in the story, she still paints the "good points," the reasons for use and habituation, that are often left out of tales. She also spells everything out in a way that doesn't allow for speed-reading if you want the whole effect.
And, trust me, you want the whole effect.

Basically, when you read this, you get a feeling for the child, for the surroundings, and for the turmoil that brews inside her life. That makes it understandable when it comes to her meeting with her "father" and why she needs her alter-ego, not to mention the drug itself. Combine that with the beautiful workmanship, the story within the story, and you have something really well worth mentioning.

Gifted in school, never in trouble, always the loving daughter; Kristina Georgia Snow seems to be perfect. She's far from that, however, and the manifestation of those problems comes under the name of "Bree." Bree is many of the things that Kristina wants to be, she's fearless and she's her own person, and a visit with her absentee father sends Kristina scrambling into the arms of Bree and into the arms of another monster - crank. And whle life seems good for a time, Kristina finds herself slowly bleeding away and the other her, the consumed her, taking hold.

Ellen Hopkins is an absolutely phenomenal writer, and even better than that is her ability to craft a tale using her own method. It has to be mentioned that she also has a specific opinion about "the monster" in the book as well while many writers write about topics they see or hear about, she is recounting some of the struggles that she endured while her daughter fought with addiction and almost lost. Some of that is wrenching, too, but Hopkins uses that feeling and doesn't make you feel sorry for the person behind the pen.
She instead makes you feel for the person behind the mask, hoping to find smething better.

When I first read the book, I was impressed by the things that Hopkins manages to work into the proverbial foundations of the thing she delivers. She writes words within words, putting things in the columns that formulate a story all their own. Things like "treading the riptide, good girls drown" appear in the middle of a story as it is being told and make you pay attention.
It seems rare to have to do that anyone - paying attention, I mean. Too often an author placates an audience with a tale, and the somber tale is moving But it finds one thing missing. It has holes in the style, allows for speed-reading, and sometimes drones on by trying to birth fear.
I like that about Hopkins and her book Crank; she does call it "the monster" and she does tell her how much it hurt them all but, in the story, she still paints the "good points," the reasons for use and habituation, that are often left out of tales.

When you read this, you get a feeling for the child, for the surroundings, and for the turmoil that brews inside her life. That makes it understandable when it comes to her meeting with her "father" and why she needs her alter-ego, not to mention the drug itself. Combine that with the beautiful workmanship, the story within the story,

This book was ok. It was interesting but not the best book I've ever read by any means. It does send a good message and give a better understanding of addiction to these types of drugs.

In the beginning, I couldn't get the format. But afterwards, I began to love the story. It was boring sometimes, but I thought it kept me equally entertained. I really enjoyed it.

My favorite part about the book was the way she wrote it. The story itself was ok, but i enjoyed her style of writing more. You should def pick it up and read it! :)

I absolutely love to read and like just about anything ... but this is absolutley the best book I have ever read!

I picked this book up when I was 14, last year, and I have read it too many times to count since then.
This book uses vivid and dramatic verse to portray the mind and soul of a teenager bound to crystal meth. The reason I liked it was because of the beautiful, lyrical language the author uses.

The weak spot is the dialogue, which is not very realistic. It is kind of stilted, and just doesn't seem 'right'.

Too many times Kristina doesn't sound like a teenager, but like a 40something mother. Still, all in all, this book will captivate you with the stunning use of poetry and verse.

I bet you never paid attention to what they say in the D.A.R.E. stickers but you did pay attention to the drawing in the front of the sticker. Well, the book I read was "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins that's what happens in the books to girl named Kristina. The book is about a girl named Kristina; she has a wild side named Bree, she fears Bree because Bree is naughty, mean and most important she is fearless. Everything starts when Kristina goes to visit her dad at Albuquerque. In Albuquerque Kristina lets Bree take her over which is bad because Bree will lead Kristina to a lot of mess in the book, including drugs rape and pregnancy! Will Kristina let Bree take her to the extreme (death)? Or will Kristina learn to hide Bree in the back of her mind?

I recommend this book because It relates to the true worked .There really are girls like Kristina. This book will lead you to an addiction of reading it will keep you turning pages!!

The beginning of the book was written more like poetry rather than telling an actual story. The sentences were broken up and scattered all over the pages, very inconsistant. It's a little discouraging when you first start to read it and a bit confusing. Towards the middle it began telling more a story rather than poems about how the "author" felt which helped you get into the book more. Towards the end I just wanted to hurry up and finish it just to find out the ending without skipping to the end. The story line is good but poorly written, true or not.

I thought "Crank" was an amazing book, and excellent summer reading for high-school students; A quick, interesting read with a powerful message.

Like its illegal counterpart, "Crank" is addictive. Once you start reading it, you won't be able to stop. Hopkins does a phenomenal job bringing Kristina and her battle with Bree and the Monster to life. Even high-schoolers who don't like to read will love this book. The poetry provides a crystal-clear, powerful, and fast-paced narrative, which will appeal to most average readers. But lovers of literature will find an abundance of literary goodies between the lines of prose. Simply put, EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!!!

The book "Crank" has some good points: I liked the use of text layout in the shape of a cross when the character is praying, for example. However, the narrator's point of view is inauthentic. It does not sound like a teenage girl but a mother in many places in the story. It gets a little preachy due to how heavy-handed the messages is hammered home that meth is addictive. The portrayal of the Planned Parenthood clinic is completely wrong and feels like the author has an agenda, an ax to grind. I have worked with staff and volunteers at Planned Parenthood clinics, and the people who work there are very nice, non-judgemental people who really care about the women and girls they treat. They do not "recommend" abortion as the author says, but let you make up your own mind. This part of the book feels like a scare tactic, a polemic. The novel "Go Ask Alice" is much more authentic story about a girl and addiction. This novel, like any, is just one person's opinion.

A good story, but a terrible read. Page structuring is absolutely attrocious with each page written in a differently shaped stanza, as if the author thought this would make for more interesting reading, but my guess isattempting to portray the manic and angst that is the feel of the story in the paragraph structure. the result though, is a hard to read, hard to follow book that, if it had normal paragraph structuring, would probably only amount to 75 pages or so.

Save the stanzas for a poem. This could have been a really good book.

Since I've read Ellen Hopkins' other two books Impulse and Burned I knew reading this I would not be disappointed, and I was right. Hopkins' style of writing is so...good..it's heavy, it's intense, it's raw, It is Life at it's barest point. I love how she never gives you a happy ending, at first when I had just read Burned, this angered me because I was so hoping for something happy. As I look back now I don't think I want a happy ending because life isn't full of happy endings it's a string of intense moments connected togethor by choices and that's what I think each book Ellen Hopkins has written shows. I loved this book and I highly recommend Impulse and Burned.

This is the scariest book I've read in a long time.
Perhaps I need to qualify that by admitting I don't seek out thrillers or horrors, but I was (and am) terrified by how easily the protagonist fell into the arms of meth.
That some readers are put off by the prose-in-verse format surprises me. The text is completely accessible and a plausible reflection on the intelligent narrator. Crank is a fact of life these days, and this book is a powerful lesson for those of us who think we and our children are somehow protected from its grasp. As Hopkins notes in her introduction, nothing in the story is impossible. That's what should be putting fear into all of us.

When I got Ellen Hopkins book, I realized it was written in the form of poetry and prose. I picked it up many times but would not read it because of its format. Poetry would not be my first choice in reading. However, after I had read all my other books, and this one remained, I reluctantly decided to try to read it. I am so very glad I did. Ms. Hopkins gives life to her characters. One seems to be right there with the character. You want to cry out to them, ask them what they think they are doing, or warn them that their life courses have taken a wrong turn! From the first page, I was hooked. I had to know how this girl's life would turn out. I had to keep reading so that I could walk this journey with her, help her along the way from my vantage point as the reader. If she would only listen to me, she would be okay, and not make the mistakes she was making. Anyone who has ever suffered will want to help Ms. Hopkins main character. I would like to thank her for making her characters so alive that they seem to rise from the page and become real.

When you pick up this book and realize that it is written in prose, DO NOT PUT IT BACK. This book is none other than addiction. The story is emotional and compelling. I was engaged from the begining. The book is an incredibly fast read ( I read over 500 pages in 3 sitting within a 3 day period). I could not put it down. This is also a perfect story about how a "normal" girl in an upper middle class family throws a large part of her life away and loses control of the world around her. This could happen to any American family. Parents, please read this book and think of what it must be like to be a teenager in today's world. It is a true wake up call.

Who wants to read a book in verse? How annoying....too much work, very disappointed.

Nash Campbell
10-10-06
I enjoyed reading this because I think it has a wonderful explanation to what could happen if you did the drug, Crank. I also like the way the author has it so that the main character, Kristina, has another part to her were she is Bree an alter net ego of herself. Bree is the opposite of Kristina. I liked this book so much I couldn't put it down I read it in two days. I highly recommend this book to teens everywhere.

The story of a high school girl pulled into the dangerous and seductive world of drugs, Crank is a captivating and wonderful read.
Kristina is the perfect daughter until she visits her absent father. Through a boy, she is introduced to Bree. Bree is Kristina; they wear the same face and fall into the same cushy matress at the end of the day. But Bree is everything that Kristina isn't. Bree is completely fearless.

Bree flirts shamelessly and cuts class without worries. But when Bree parties with the monster, she falls in love with the wild ride that it brings her. Will she succeed in conquering Kristina, suppressing her indefinitely? Or is Kristina really less fearful than she thought? Can Kristina find the courage to stop Bree?

The best book I've read in a long time, Crank is a great and important read for teens and adults alike. Kristina's is a tale that speaks to everyone, and one that you'll never forget.

I loved this book; it went in really deep and certainly described everything very well. I got addicted to it, and, though, at the very first pages it may seem boring, it kicks into high gear very quickly. Though I may not as old as the book recommended meto be, I understood it perfectly well. This is a definite book choice to read.

Wow.. I just got this book and wow it took me in like i was there i finish the book in two days i guess i have to get the next book! "Burned" can wait to read that one...

I didn't quite know what to expect. I'd heard very little about it. Crank was, by far, the best book I've read in a LONG while. Sad, but very true to life. The story was so engaging that I couldn't put the book down even once...I stayed up until 2am to finish it.

The storyline: A good girl from Reno goes to visit her bum father in another state. While she's there, she meets and falls in love with a guy who persuades her to try crank. She goes wild and does things she never would've done back home. She names this part of her personality Bree. When she gets back home, everything is the same with the exception of her. Her behavior has changed, as has her demeanor. She flirts shamelessly, finds networking for the drug, and gets herself into different unpleasant situations. She pays for her bad choices.

This is an excellent book. I will, however, warn you of the language, drug use, and sexual things in the book. The poems are blunt. The formatting is fantastic; it really enhances the story. Hope this was helpful.

I read this book about a year ago and I loved it.
It is easy to read for the most part, the book is like one huge poem.

It looks really big but it took me less than 2 hours to read.

If you like stories about sad teens that get involved with drugs, etc, then this is the book for you.

I would say 15 and up should read this

Since I am not a fan of poetry, I must admit that when it arrived from Amazon, I was at first disappointed and thought about returning it. I am really glad that I gave it a chance, as once I began reading, it was almost impossible to put it down. I thought it was fairly accurate in it's portrayal of the middle-class drug world, and how easy it can be to fool parents about what is really going on in ones life. What I find fault with is how in many parts it becomes quite obvious that the story is being told from the mother's point of view. Kids just do not use some of that vocabulary, and who on earth calls cop cars "black and white's" after 1979? Also, the authors constant references to how thin, beautiful, intelligent, and talented Bree sees her mother as were so very unrealistic and narcissistic on the part of Ellen Hopkins. We get it Ellen, we do. You are in no way responsible for your daughters fall (thank god for the convenient, loser ex-husband). You truly aren't the one that caused her to turn to drugs, we just don't need your constant reminders of that. Also, are we really to believe that Bree/Kristina/your daughter got pregnant the first time she had sex, and was of course raped? Although it's a mother's instinct to want to think the best about their kids, it's a writers job to be believable. I hope that when I read "Burned" that I get to see more of the character and less of the author.