Crank is a cautionary tale by Ellen Hopkins. Although it is a fictional novel, the book is based on events that are similar to that of the author's daughter. This book gets you thinking about the choices you make when under the influence of drugs and shows the dark world of the drug industry. Crank is a page turner that will keep you entertained and curious until the very last page. The format of writing is different each page, and is written with a unique form of poetry. This allows a very fast read and introduces a new form of writing. This novel teaches good life lessons, and shows experiences any teenager can face.
I'm intentionally not going to say much about the plot beyond the obvious meth addiction, because I feel there is more of an effect, a stronger impact if you don't know what's coming beforehand. I respect that Hopkins doesn't pull her punches, and she doesn't sugar coat the truth at all. It is one of the reasons she is so frequently banned, but it is also why her books are able to reach so many people. When Hopkins is talking about Kristina's experiences with the drugs, her highs are high and her lows are low. Too many books skirt around the truth, they try to convince you to stay away from drugs by lying about how good they feel the first few times, and then turning around are trying to hide how detrimental the side effects are, because they don't feel like our young people can handle it. Hopkins does none of that. She tells it like it is and makes no apologies for it.
This book really drives home the fact of how easy it is for a completely normal person to find themselves caught in a downward spiral like what happened to Kristina. The other thing that is really pressed home is how the people who know and love Kristina act. Many of her friends just can't deal with her anymore, so they chose not to. Her mother tries to help, but doesn't have a grip on how much trouble Kristina is in; as a result, Kristina ends up incredibly isolated. Really in the end, the only person who can really help her is herself. Given the subject matter, this is a book for older teens, or maybe a cautionary tale for younger teens. Just be aware that there is some violence, rape, and (of course) lots of drug usage throughout this book.
Overall, the book was a good and fast read. Hopkin's writing style is creative, intriguing, and unique. While I overall enjoyed the story and characters, I felt that at sometimes, the story seemed too banal and predictable, with nothing new to offer to the plate. I felt that this was a cautionary tale about drugs, but I could just watch a p.s.a. to get the same idea: Drugs our bad. I felt that i've known that for the better part of my life. Does this book convince me not to take drugs? Sure, and that is what it was aiming to do, but will I remember Kristina/Bree's struggles? No. So, take it as you will. 7.5/10.
