Module 14: Crank

Book Summary:

Kristina is the perfect teenage daughter. She never gets into trouble and is a gifted student. Then while visiting her absentee father, the real Kristina disappears and Bree emerges. Bree is reckless and fearless where Kristina is cautious and a rule follower. When Bree becomes involved with a boy named Adam, he introduces her to the monster, crank or methamphetamines. When she returns home, she tries to hide her secret from her mom while searching out new sources for her addiction. The world of crank begins to take over Kristina’s/Bree’s life and she is in a struggle to keep it together. Everything gets out of control and she is faced with the most difficult decision of her life as she continues to fight her addiction.

APA Reference of Book:

            Hopkins, E. (2004). Crank. New York, NY: Margaret K.          McElderry Books.

Impressions:  

This was a very interesting story of addiction and relationships. Told in verse through the lense of a teenage girl, the reader is taken through the struggles of drug addiction. I found this book easy to read and very emotional. There are many ups and downs as the main character, Kristina, struggles with her addiction. The author provides insight into the thinking of a teenager on drugs and how she deals with relationships. The reader also gets a view of the dysfunctional relationships so many teenagers deal with and how they might deal with that. I did really appreciate how the author was honest and showed all of the ugly parts that come with addiction.

Professional Review:

Nonfiction author Hopkins pens her first novel, written in verse, introducing 15-year-old narrator Kristina, who reveals how she became addicted to crank, and how the stimulant turned her from straight-A student to drug dealer, and eventually a teen mom. On a court-ordered visit to see her slimy and long-absent dad, she meets—and is instantly attracted to—Adam, who sports a "tawny six pack,/ and a smile." Soon, Adam introduces her to "the monster" (there, she also unleashes a new personality, id-driven Bree). Her addiction grows, as does Bree's control. Readers get a vivid sense of the highs and lows involved with using crank ("I needed food, sleep,/ but the monster denied/ every bit of it"). Her life changes quickly: Soon she's dating two guys, both of whom use crank; says "F--- you" to her mom, can't keep up with school, and loses her old friends. There are plenty of dramatic moments: The first time she does crank, for example, her dad joins her. That same night, she stumbles into a bad area and is almost raped, and Adam's girlfriend tries to kill herself. Later in the book, she does get raped and starts selling the drug for the Mexican Mafia. Readers will appreciate the creative use of form here (some poems, for instance, are written in two columns that can be read separately or together), and although the author is definitely on a mission, she creates a world nearly as consuming and disturbing as the titular drug. Ages 14-up. (Oct.)

Publisher’s Weekly. (2004). [Review of Crank]. Publisher’s Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-689-86519-0.

Library Uses:

Crank could be used in a high school library as a way to support students who might be dealing with drug addiction themselves or know someone who is struggling with addiction. A group could read the book and use that as a springboard for discussion so students don’t have to personal right away. This book is also good for anyone dealing any issues with parents or friends. Mainly I believe that the best way to use this book is to generate discussion on any of the difficult topics addressed in the book.