Crank

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Summary: Crank
Review: Crank is the story of a girls downward crank ( crystal meth) induced spiral. Written in free verse poetry, Crank is a quick read, even though it is near 600 hundred pages long, and it follows Kristina through her addiction. The only thing that I did not like about this book, was that it made it appear as though every teenager was addicted to speed, and that every one always had a bit of " toot" on them at all times, which simply isn't true. Crank serves as a cautionary tale, shining light on a subject not often raised. Very well written

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Summary: Good/Fast Read
Review: I love this book a lot. I saw this in the library and I was interested at how different in structure sense it was, since it was all in poetry. It really touches me deep.. and breaks my heart reading it.

I'm gonna buy it soon, too. I will want you to, if you like this kinda stuff.

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Summary: I met the author!
Review: I loved this book. I only bought it because the author was having a book signing and no one was at her table and I felt sorry for her. What a bonus for me. Especially since I live in the same town as the book is set, Reno, Nev. where we are raising our seven year old daughter. Every parent should read this book. I feel so much more aware of the scene out there today and will definitely exercise extreme caution after reading this frightening tale. Another bonus: I thought I would hate the poetry style but I loved it and couldn't read it fast enough.

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Summary: "Crank" Brings Light to Subjects Most Won't Talk About
Review: Kristina is a bright, perfect daughter with good grades, and never does anything wrong. When she goes to visit her estranged father, she is introduced to the "monster" by a boy she meets, named Adam. At this point Kritina is gone and Bree takes over. The "monster" is crank, or crystal meth. When she returns home, nothing is the same. She craves crank and desperately seeks to find it. Through two guys she recieves her crank to keep her high and going. Grades drop, and she reaches a low point where she would do anything for the "monster" that holds her life in such balance. When one of her drug dealers rapes her and she finds out that she is pregnant because of the rape, things change slightly. The pregnancy slows her habit to a bare minimum to spare her baby, but it doesn't stop it. After her son is born, she realizes the consequences of her actions and takes full responsibility for them. The road to recovery isn't an easy one to tread, but with family support it can be easier than going alone.

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Summary: A Compelling Book--no matter what your age
Review: Move over Jane Austen. This is an extremely well written book that pretty well takes your breath away, even if you're over 30, and especially if you have teenagers. Ellen pulls no punches, and the result is an amazing experience. This is one of the top five books that I have ever read.

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Summary: Wow...
Review: This incredibly haunting and enthralling story starts out with an otherwise seemingly straight edge teenage girl, Kristina, who always follows the rules and stays inside the line. This all changes when she meets her father, a drug addict who could care less of her whereabouts when she is with him. This is when the alter-ego emerges. Bree begins to surface and wants to do drugs, party, have sex. She meets a boy who shows her crank and everything that it does. When she goes home, her mother and step-father know she has changed. She befittlingly falls into the wrong crowd, craving more crank and forgetting life without the monster. She meets a nasty, arrogant jock who wouldn't take no for an answer and leaves Kristina regretting some of her former decisions. Later on, she meets Chase, whom she introduces to her parents as a bright, prominent young man. He introduces her to ecstacy. Bree falls deeper and deeper into addiction, and can't go through life without snorting a line every now and then. She finds out she's pregnant, but the actual identity of the father blows her completely off-track and has her considering abortion. The book ends with a still-addicted Kristina, and the fight her mother is trying to make to save her daughter's young life.

This book was an excellent read, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in how debauchery and tempation to a young and straight-edged teenager can turn someone into a complete stranger, not being able to handle life without holding the hand of the monster. I was unable to put this book down and thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Summary: Good Story but sorta Predictable
Review: This is a very nice story of a girl who goes and visits her father and ends up getting addicted to crank. The book is written as a mix of prose and poetry but in a odd form of writing. I enjoyed it but i knew wat would happen and it just didnt seem as good as some other books. I recommend Smack by Melvin Burgess which is AMAZING

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Summary: An Off-Hand Review
Review: When I read the book 'Crank' by Ellen Hopkins about a month ago, I have to admit that it made me cry near the end. The book tells the story of a teenage girl with strong drug problems - problems that could happen to anyone. When she meets up with Adam near the beginning, you'd never even begin to predict what would happen throughout the entire book. What makes me sad though, is toward the end it seems like she can't find anyone to rely on because she's disconnected herself from her family and friends, and instead takes refuge beneath the wings of 'the monster', letting it guide her through, knowing she's strongly addicted. Ellen leaves you with the knowledge that she may never get off her addiction, and partially with the moral of the story: drugs are addictive and harmful. They can really screw you up. That's why I like this book so much... it actually makes you learn a lesson, without knowing anything at all.