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Crank (Crank, #1)

Ellen Hopkins

Start date: August 1, 2019

Finish date: August 30, 2019

Discussion: Author's Pick

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by Ellen Hopkins

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What Members Thought

Feb 18, 2018 Kate rated it it was amazing

This is a powerful and engaging book that is written entirely in verse. It chronicles a young girl’s foray into meth and other substances and the spiral her life takes as a result. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!

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Jul 23, 2012 Rose rated it liked it

Shelves: poetry, young-adult, psychological, tough-subjects, realistic-fiction, audiobooks, contemporary, grief

Quick review for a very quick read, in part because this was a novel that was written entirely in verse form. "Crank" is Ellen Hopkins's first novel. I'm reading this *years* after the fact, and I'll admit it had my attention and sentiments for much of the read. I would highly recommend listening to the audiobook version, as Laura Flanagan does a great job of enunciating the emotional resonance and cadence of the poetry of the book (though some parts of this, you couldn't even tell it was poetry Quick review for a very quick read, in part because this was a novel that was written entirely in verse form. "Crank" is Ellen Hopkins's first novel. I'm reading this *years* after the fact, and I'll admit it had my attention and sentiments for much of the read. I would highly recommend listening to the audiobook version, as Laura Flanagan does a great job of enunciating the emotional resonance and cadence of the poetry of the book (though some parts of this, you couldn't even tell it was poetry for the way it comes across. Others, in terms of the sparse, image focused narration, it is more apparent).

The story revolves around Kristina, a girl lost to an addiction to crystal meth. She's already struggling with identity issues and a strained relationship with her family (father an addict himself, mother and her family at a distance), but Kristina's problems take a sharper descent as she becomes hooked on what she refers to as "Crank" or experiencing the "Monster". The book is a very easy/quick read (I finished this audiobook easily in four hours, which is pretty much a lunch break, commuting times and my usual bedtime reading spell for me in terms of a listen). However, the subject matter's quite heavy, dealing with drug use, rape, and other tough subjects addressed within the scheme of Kristina's experiences. I definitely had moments where I felt for this girl, though others made me want to throw the book at her. I think the story had moments of deeper emotional connection, but I don't know if the poetic form really helped delve into some parts of the story, because I felt like there were other details missing here. The story goes by in a flashing blur, probably (interestingly enough) mimicking the highs and lows that Kristina feels as she's experiencing her addiction and projected identity of Bree. That was a good use of narrative emotional juxtaposition, though I wish I could've had a little more from the experience as far as other details and relationships were concerned. I got a glimpse, but I didn't feel like I got the entire story, and by the time I was thinking I'd get more - the novel was over with a very quick resolution that left me somewhat unsatisfied.

I'll definitely read the next novel in Hopkins series to see where Kristina/Bree ends up, and I'm more than intrigued to see how Hopkins other works translate in the poetry/audio narrative form because I think it was an interesting way to delve into some of the tough subjects addressed here, despite some caveats.

Overall score: 3/5 stars ...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Sassy Sarah Reads rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, contemporary, mind-blown-from-the-awesomeness, favorites, books-i-own, young-adult, re-review, books-that-changed-my-life, pregnancies, just-say-no-to-drugs

Crank was the first book that I read by Ellen Hopkins. Crank is the book that got me interested in Ellen Hopkins's writing. Crank is about Kristina who gets addicted to crank (crystal meth) and we watch her down-spiral and start to recover from her addiction. Crank is based on Ellen's daughter's struggle with crystal meth. ...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Poetrygrl rated it it was amazing

I read this book when I was 22. I've never been addicted to drugs or had any thoughts about experimenting, however I still felt the need to read it. The way the words are structured on the page was just as important as the content itself. Addiction is real, and difficult to break. When my brother became addicted to crystal meth and overdosed, strange how this book crossed my mind. I felt that I saw his dilemma and realized his struggle better than most of those in my family. While parents may be ...more

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Jul 26, 2020 Lindsay rated it did not like it

DNF. I made it about 50% before I got bored. I feel that it was too repetitive of a story line. I then skipped to the last 50 pages and read them. I think this could have been shortened a lot.

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