Crank

Author: Ellen Hopkins
Completed: 8/20/09

This novel, written in verse, is the story of a teenage girl who gets introduced to crystal meth by her father and falls deeply into its grasp. According to the author's notes, it was loosely based on the author's experiences with her own daughter's addiction.

The story starts with the image of a good girl, a junior in high school who never really did anything outrageously bad. She goes to spend time with her estranged father and gets introduced to the drug scene as a whole, mostly through her new boyfriend. After returning to her mother's home, the drug, represented as a monster, becomes more and more irresistible. Additionally, her addiction takes on an identity of its own, causing her to do things she never would have done otherwise. The tale progresses until a baby enters the picture.

As with all of Ms. Hopkins' works, I greatly enjoyed this book. I did sense that this was her first book, especially after reading her other works. Her story-telling matured as she continued to write, though started at a high level to begin with.

10 words or less: Yet another strong showing by the author.