Release Date: October 5, 2004
Pages: 536 (Paperback)
Publisher: SimonPulse
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+Where I Got It: For review from publisher
Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless. Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life.
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Crank was dark, poetic, and completely grabbing. If you haven't read it yet, you should fix that.
First let me just start out saying that I seriously don't understand why this book has been one of the many to be (or attempted to be) banned. This book is a rough, realistic portrayal of a girl fighting for her life from drugs. It isn't glamorous; it's effing terrifying. I had never even considered doing drugs, but this book made me never ever want to think about thinking about looking the wrong way at drugs. This book should be on shelves. Teens should be reading it nationwide. Issues like this shouldn't be swept under the rug in reading material.
OK, had to get that out. Anyways....
I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy Crank, but I really did. The story completely sucks you in until the very last page...I feel weird saying that. That I enjoyed watching Kristina crumble from a good and normal and drug-free girl into Bree, who is everything but. I guess it was like a car crash you watched through your fingers. A really good car crash.
And could somebody PLEASE tell me why I waited so long to read one of Ellen Hopkin's books? The girl can write. I've read a verse novel before, so the format didn't bother me at all. Although at the very beginning the way she wrote, the long sentences and description, did take a little while to get used to. But once I did, it was just amazing.
I want to revisit this story very soon, which I will be doing with Glass, the sequel. Check this one out if you've had enough fluff for a little while. You won't be disappointed.
Book Report:
Plot: Well-paced, terrified, and grabbing.
Characters: When Chase cleans up, can I marry him?
Writing: OH YEAH.
Ending: Satisfying.
How kid friendly is it? Kids? Not really friendly for kids, as there is a lot of drug use (duh), sex, rape, drinking, blood-sucking...yeah. (But see the second paragraph.)
Should I read it? Totally.
Overall:
This is one I have been seeing for a long time but never had the desire to even read the blurb for some reason. But I wish I had! It sounds crazy good.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I've yet to read an Ellen Hopkins book. I plan to fix that today. Off to the bookstore I go!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of this series or heard much about it until recently. Several people have put up reviews on this and loved it. I'll have to check into it. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI just finished Fallout the other day and it was amazing. You have to catch up.
ReplyDeleteOkay, that's it. I'm going to definitely buy this one next time I go book shopping, because everyone seems to think it's incredible. Wonderful review! :)
ReplyDelete