Glass- Ellen Hopkins

Glass
Hopkins, Ellen
ISBN-13  978-1416940913
ISBN-10 141694091X
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books 2009


Genre: Contemporary Difficult Issues Fiction
Reading Level: HL600 Lexile
Interest Age: 15-18

Reader's Annotation:
The monster has her in its clutches. Will Kristina be able to get out and get her life back?

Plot Summary:
Glass picks up the story about Kristina from Crank. Kristina is now back home and pregnant from a raping. She begins to work at the 7-11 and lives with her mother. As she becomes more and more depressed she turns to the monster to make herself feel better. As Kristina continues to spiral out of control her mother finds out and kicks her out of the house. Kristina goes back to the lifestyle with the monster and meets many more addicts. A nasty custody battle ensues over Kristina's baby and eventually her mother wins. This is a tragic story of the hold drugs can have on someone even when they try to quit.

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. Glass picks up right where Crank left off and the reader gets immediately sucked into the story line. New characters come in and out of Kristina's life and each one evokes different feelings from the reader. This is very powerful writing. Hopkins expresses the pain associated with the subject so well that the reader feels they know Kristina or someone like her.

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 Glass 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. This book continues the story of Crank and shows the effects of meth and other drugs.