Crank

Reason Book Chosen

It is a bestseller (New York Times bestseller) and part of a popular series of books (Glass, burned, impulse). Also, because it has an interesting poetic structure.

Bibliographic Information

Author: Ellen Hopkins

Publisher: McElderry (October 5, 2004)

ISBN-10: 0689865198

Copyright Date: 2004

Genre

Urban Fiction, Poetry

About the Author

Hopkins’ own daughter become addicted to meth and this is what inspired her to write Crank, and its sequel, Glass, both loosely based on her daughter’s experience. Hopkins has published 20 nonfiction books for children, and writes picture books and short stories.

Reader’s Annotation

When Kristina starts doing Meth, she loses everything -  friends, family, money, ambitions, her mind, and herself. 

Plot Summary

Kristina goes away for the summer to visit the father who was absent most of her life. Instead of kindling some great relationship between them, she meets a guy, creates an alter ego for herself (“Bree”) and gets hooked on drugs. Within the span of what seems like a week, she smokes her first cigarette, smokes weed, and then is doing Meth (which she calls “the monster”). When she returns back to her suburban home with her mother, she finds that her life has changed quite a bit – her relationship with her mother and her friends, her experiences with boys, the way she sees herself. The rest of her summer is spent chasing after and away from boys and drugs, and trying to shake her alter ego. It isn’t easy. The drugs have a strong hold on her and because she  can’t “quit the monster”, she finds herself getting deeper and deeper into trouble.

Critical Analysis

While the structure is playful and does provide a fast paced rhythm that makes you want to turn the page, it feels a little gimmicky. However, the short segments and the strong bolded titles for each section, should appeal to a teen. The big bold headings in conjunction with the the softness of the small, often lowercased text, captures the conflicting emotions many teens feel, as well as the teen psyche, generally speaking. The up and down playful format could, like the monster itself, hook any teen.

One very believable thing about this book is the struggle for identity (good girl vs. bad girl). Also, there are a few important ideas to take from this, such as regret/decision making. Otherwise, the short span in which Kristina gets addicted to drugs is slightly unbelievable, and her character does not evolve very much, which makes it hard to empathize with her. Her actions and behavior change, but her insight and emotional growth seem to be lacking quite a bit.

The story reads like a modern day “Go Ask Alice”, without a surprise ending. While the usage, addictiveness, and consequences of Meth are explored in a lot of detail, other issues such as rape and abortion are introduced without enough exploration or depth. Kristina suddenly gets pregnant and chooses to keep the baby. Yes, she explores abortion, but this whole section feels rushed and I can feel the writer’s agenda and peachiness subtly underneath.

Themes/Issues/Tags

 Identity, Drugs, Abortion, Rape, Virginity, Divorce, Teen/Adult Relationships

Controversial Subject Matters

Abortion (the option to do this is really not explored)

Defense: it is touched upon (even if very briefly)

Drugs will always lead to pregnancy and horrible things (preaching fear to teens about drugs can backfire and not be affective)

Defense: Demonstrate places in plot where Kristina exhibits free will

The book makes drugs seem fun and exciting

Defense: It also shows all (rape, pregnancy, disintegration of relationships) of the bad things that can happen

Booktalking Ideas

Format-Give booktalk in same poetic structure as the book

Character- Dialogue- Christina vs. Bree

Visualization-

 Ask readers to imagine what crank as a monster would look like

Ask readers to imagine a person they know (maybe even themselves) who has “suddenly” changed.

Topic theme- A relationship with a parent that suddenly changes

Curriculum Ties:

Health- Drugs-Addiction

Health-Pregnancy

Health- Self-Esteem

Reading Level

 12+

 Interest Level

 14-17