Crank (Crank #1)

Reader reviewed by Crimin


The monster is reaching out, flexing its white claws near your throat.  It wants to take hold of you, to strangle you, to suffocate you with want and need.  But dont allow it to even graze the skin of your neck, dont let it come the close to you.   Dont sacrifice yourself for its deadly kiss.

Too bad no one warned Kristian about the monster or about its addictive destruction.  Too bad no one stood by her to yank her back from its world.   Too bad no one noticed before it was too late, before her other half, Bree, took control.

The Monster, for you who are confused, is Crank.  Cocaine, Glass, Ice -- it has a lot of names, but its always the same white powder.   

Ive always been a fan of Ellen Hopkins, so this was a no-brainer read for me.  I bought it and read it within a day, loving each twist and turn and sour note this book offered to me.  Im just surprised it took me so long to get Crank and its squeal, Glass.   

Trust me, even if you hate poetry, youll love Hopkins.  Go and pick up one of her books, read it, and tell me if I was wrong.

Reader reviewed by Jessica

Ellen Hopkin's beautiful novel in verse "CRANK" details Kristina's life as she slowly begins to fall into the trap that drugs provide for her under the intense situation of her life. She slowly finds that she wishes to be more open and creates a second person within her own body, Bree, who will do all the things that Kristina wishes she could do, all those things that Kristina knows are bad and shouldn't do. Bree is the alter ego who causes the drug addiction, and the bad behavior.

A shocking novel for all teens about the reality of crystal meth, "CRANK" is a novel that should be read again and again in order for the true effect of the words to sink in. Kristina was the ordinary daughter, the good kid, who collapsed under the weight and pressure that drugs offered her. The true underlying power of this book is in the feeling that this could happen to anyone, anywhere, any child who believes they are safe, truly isn't.

Reader reviewed by Expedia

THis book, was very captuvating. IT gives you a sense of what it must be like if you where in someones shoes. I most definately felt for the character.. But most importantly, it let me know how some of my friends feel, and a sense of what they go through.. What i mean by that is that, many of my friends need someone near them and im the one to help them up.. These books give me a better insight on how i should really help them.

Reader reviewed by Chay

I first picked up Crank last summer. I loved it from pretty much day one. It had some prats about her personalitiy that you could just relate to. With that is just pulls you into it. I sat down one night and just started reading it. Adam was a great character that hepls you countinue reading it at the begining. Chase was fun to fallow, as well. i read it with in 4 hours then picked up the next book Glass.

Reader reviewed by ktirrell

Almost all of my friends have read the book Crank. First I read it then I gave it to my friend Jaclyn. I know the three girls that sit next to my in Spanish are reading or have read it. I absolutely recommend that you read this book. It is the kind of book you do not want to put down. When I first started reading it I said well I will read twenty pages and next thing I know I was on page two-hundred and thirty-seven. I could not put the book down. Each page is like a vacuum that keeps sucking you in and you think it would be easy to put the book down but you can not. The book Crank is about a teenage girl that the not so wonderful part of life is happening too. There is distrust, anger, sadness, and overall suffrage in her life. The only time she can achieve some happiness is when she gets high but after that few hours or when she wakes up there are all those feeling putting her back into her depression. It was not always like that though; she used to be a straight A student but that one time she ever stayed with her dad ruined her. If you like poems, and intense stories this book is definitely for you. I could read it over and over until I memorize it. Before I never liked to read and Crank opened up to show me that not all books are boring there are books for everyone. So if you do not like to read try reading Crank and if you do like to read try reading Crank. Crank is that amazing!

Reader reviewed by Tessa

I couldn't put this book down! I needed to stay up all night to finish it. I just had to know how it ended. The author has a certain way with words and describing things that makes you feel like you're the main character. Amazing. I had to read all the books that this author has written because her books are so enticing and make you look at life through another person's possible point of view in life.

Reader reviewed by terry

my daughter got me reading this book after she was done with it and once i started i couldn't put it down. as a parent i really wished that more teens and parents would take the time to read this book to understand how what this drug can do to a person and how easy it is to get hooked on it once it is introduce to you. the ones that are easy target are the ones who have problems dealing with either family or maybe they fill they just don't feel worthy of themselves. but they have to be strong. but they have to say "no" to the "monster" or else!   

Reader reviewed by Erika

Kristina is a good person, up until her senior year. She goes to stay with her dad. She takes on a whole other person, named Bree. She gets involved, with drinking, drugs,boys, and becomes wild. When she goes back home, nothing changes in her quiet little town, with her anyways. Her need for crystal meth (crank) is ongoing.

Reader reviewed by Kate

This story of a teenager who becomes addicted to crank is a book that parents as well as teenagers should read. The sparse poetry conveys the power of the addiction so much more intensely than prose ever could.

As a parent, it was especially scary to see how quickly "the monster" claimed this young girl. The message of this book is so strong because it is never preachy or overdramitized. It comes across very true and real.

I read "Go Ask Alice" when I was a teenager and this book strikes the same emotions.

In Crank raw pain, a deepening addiction, and a crumbling family come together to tell a real, powerful story. I remember when I was younger that quite a few people around me read this book though I never bothered to try. I finally the other day opened it up and was entranced by the poetic nature of Ellen Hopkin’s words.

I rushed through the book enjoying every page of it. It was interesting how poems could tell such a harrowing, intense tale. I did quite enjoy Crank and I think I’ll find time soon to read Glass and continue Kristina’s tale.

And to end, because I don’t want to give anything away in this beautiful masterpiece, two quotes I loved:

What made me despise the girl in the mirror enough to transform her, turn her into a stranger, only not.

You share a toast with me: here's to seasonal madness, to part-time relatives and substitutes for love.