Crank- Ellen Hopkins

Crank
Hopkins, Ellen
ISBN-13 9780689865190
ISBN-10 0689865198
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; Original edition (October 5, 2004)


Genre: Contemporary Difficult Issues Fiction
Reading Level: 6.8
Interest Age: 9th-12th grade

Reader's Annotation:
Kristina was your average girl who was on the track to the perfect future when one day she met the monster. Can anyone come back from the monster's grip? 

Plot Summary:
Ellen Hopkins utilized her personal experiences with her daughter to create a story about a girl named Kristina Snow. Kristina is an all-around good student who has many opportunities ahead of her. One day, Kristina goes to visit her dead beat father and she has her first experience with Crystal Meth. She calls it the "monster" and it soon it takes over her life. She leaves behind her family and old friends to "shake hands with the monster" and spend time with other addicts. Her new personality is one she calls Bree and Bree gets pregnant from one of the other addicts. The novel is written in free verse poems and recounts one girl's struggle to find a balance between who she was and how her actions changed her.

Critical Evaluation:
After releasing Crank in 2004, Ellen Hopkins has written a total of 7 more teen books and one adult novel. All of her books are in free verse poetry which makes the books a unique literary experience. The books read like a journal and bring a perspective to the reader by looking into the narrator's soul. Kristina is the narrator of Crank and her inner struggles are exposed for the reader to see. Hopkins is able to develop characters enough in the poetry that the reader feels bonded to and concerned for Kristina throughout the book. The reader may also feel a bond to Kristina’s mother and a resentment for her father because of the rawness of emotions expressed in the poetry. This book, as well as the others Hopkins has written, brings to life an issue prevalent in today’s society and therefore appeal to many different adolescents. This book would be good to analyze imagery and the different uses of poetry in an English class. As the reader gets farther in the book, the poetry flows just like a regular novel.

About Ellen Hopkins:
Ellen Hopkins was born on March 26, 1955. She was adopted as an infant to an elderly couple who wanted a child. She was raised to love literature and reading and was reading chapter books in Kindergarten. Ellen was a good student and started writing at a very young age. Her first poem was published when she was nine years old.

Ellen did not begin writing for a living until her 30s and did not write her first novel Crank until 2004. Crank is based on the story of one of Ellen's daughters. The child in the book reflects the child Ellen has now adopted from her daughter. Because of this connection, the story feels more real and full of emotion. She now lives in Nevada with her husband and son. She has written 8 young adult books and one adult book and plans to continue writing.

Curriculum Ties:
This book could be pieced up and used in an English class for its poetry. There are good literary pieces in many of the poems such as shape, phrasing and use of words. 

Book Talking:
A news story could be written outlining the events of the story.
A new cover could be designed to generate conversation

Challenging Issues:
This book could be challenged for its content. There is sex, drugs, and foul language in this novel that could be challenged. If challenged, I would give the person a copy of the selection policy and explain the rationale for purchasing Crank for the library.

Why Read this Book:
I included this book in my list because it truly is a unique look into the effects of methamphetamine. This drug has been so popular in the last decade and it is ruining lives every day. I think it is valuable book for teens to read. I also chose it for its format. It is a fast read because of this and may appeal to reluctant readers.