I'd like to say that reading books made of poetry wasn't really my thing until a short while ago, then I came across impulse. Besides the red cover screaming at me I decided to open it up and read a few of the pieces but not before long I was hooked. The way Hopkin's poems differ from each perspective so distinctly is amazing and I love how the stories go in unexpected ways. It's a great book and I've read her other books as well, although it's a great book, it is something not everyone will enjoy so those who prefer a high school romance between a girl, a jock and her best friend aren't in the right section.

To be fair I haven't read this author's other works. So this review will be judged basically on first impressions alone.

All in all, this is not a bad book. But it is very predictable. At least for me it is. I figured out how the characters were going to end pretty early on. But that may be intentional, may be not. Anyway what I did enjoy and did not enjoy out of this book was:

1) The style. I took getting used to the poetry style that the three characters use. But it was kind of neat in some parts. The beginning especially works well this sort of style, but it fell a bit flat in the middle and toward the end.

2) The characters, more or less. I liked Connor best to be honest, mainly because he felt the most real to me. Vanessa was fine, but I could take her or leave either way. Tony was the weak link for me though. I just had a hard time connecting with him.

3) The descriptions of the families, was really well done. Vanessa's and Connor's were really well done. Tony's was fine, but it felt a little to melodramatic for my tastes. But a big complaint was when they went home as part of their rehabilitation, the author didn't go into much detail with them about what it was like to be back home. Which is a big problem, especially if they are/were trying to get better from their problems. They need some sort of closure, and I think as a reader so did we with their stories, but I feel a bit robbed that we didn't get that.

All in all, I 'd give this 6 out of 10.

SPOILER AHEAD
I loved this book it was awsome out of all her books this was hands down my favorite. I kind of figured conor whould be the one to kill himself (secreatly i hoped i was wrong) but i always thought it would be when he got home. but i guess this was y the book was named IMPULSE.He was my favorite one in the book.I wish she had written about his funeral and his friends reaction to reading the letter his parents sent.

Ellen Hopkins did a phenomenal job writing the book Impulse. She has such a unique style of writing. I don't know how her writing could keep someone less than eager to keep on reading. Every page is written differently and is formatted in its own unique way. The way Hopkins goes back and fourth between three different troubled teenagers, each with their own problems, is remarkable. She manages to tell each story of each troubled teenager simultaneously. She writes in detail about the problems these kids have in their life, and what problems added up to get them to where they are today. The kids are all on different pages in their life, but they all share one thing. They all share major problems that have resulted with them being in rehabilitation facilities. Hopkins does a wonderful job describing the three kids' difficulties trying to survive after suddenly being dropped into a completely different world. They are separated from reality. They must fight to overcome their problems, and the person they were the day they were admitted in the facility. Hopkins describes it as a journey in life that must be taken in order to change the page. I absolutely loved the book, not only for its content, but as well as Hopkins writing skills. She is one of the most talented authors in my opinion for a couple of reasons. Hopkins has the guts to write about real life problems that most tend to ignore, let alone considered to be written and published about. She has the talent to write about people as if you knew them to be your closest and most cherished friends as a result of her intense details. Lastly, she can have three or more different stories going on at one time. The stories are completely different and have no connections with each other yet somehow, in the end, they are all closely related to one another and that takes talent to accomplish.

I just love reading Ellen Hopkins books. Although Crank and Glass are my favorites, Impulse is a very close third. I love that we get three perspectives in this novel. The way that Ellen is able to reach teenage audiences impresses me every time. I will continue to buy and recommend all her books to my high school students. Thanks Ellen!!

This is a good book because it tells it alot like it is. The writing format I didn't like but the poem at the beginning was inspiring. When I started reading it I was reading it like a poem because of the style but it was still good.

Hopkins is an incredible author! I believe all of her books are brilliant! This is by far my favorite. Must read!