Crank | 
 enlarge | Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Category: Book
List Price: $9.99
Buy New: $5.38
You Save: $4.61 (46%)
New (40) Used (29) from $5.31
Avg. Customer Rating:  103 reviews
Sales Rank: 4316
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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| Also Available In:
| • | Library Binding - Crank | | • | School & Library Binding - Crank | | • | Audio CD - Crank | | • | Library Binding - Crank |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
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 98 more reviews...
 Great book for teens! July 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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.
 very intense July 15, 2008
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.
What a use of voice! May 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 AS ADDICTING AS THE DRUG ITS ABOUT! BEST BOOK EVER May 21, 2008
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
CRANK........ April 14, 2008
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!!!!
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