Author: Ellen Hopkins
Genre: YA Semi-Autobiographic, Trilogy #1
Published: 2004
Personal Rating: 4/5
Yearly Count: 45
Crystal meth (aka - crank, aka - the monster) is a highly addictive drug and Kristina (aka - Bree), a 17-year-old based on Hopkins' daughter, is introduced to "the monster" as Bree. Once the introduction turns into an acquaintance, it's a slippery slope for Kristina - one that is as uncontrollable as speeding down an iced-covered mountain on a round sled.
This was a very scary book. Several times I shouted in my mind, "WHAT!?! What are you doing?", so from that perspective - I was deeply involved and thought it was a great book. However, there were two major issues that prevented it from feeling realistic. One - the mother lets Kristina visit her estranged father and two - the "action" begins with a snap of a finger. Even at other times within the book, I felt like everything just happened so fast! Now that could be the whole point with the drug, but not prior to the drug. Needless to say, this was a very devastating, but informative look into where making poor choices can lead.
That does sound like a scary book. I watched a documentary on crank and it is powerful.
ReplyDeleteI've read a little about this book and it does sound like it tackles some very difficult issues. Drug abuse is a very real part of the people I work and so I know how devastating it can be on a family. Great review, Joy.
ReplyDeleteOh Joy, can I ask your opinion on something? Annie wants us to read this book together...but I've just had the feeling that maybe she's too young for it. Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteBermudaonion ~ I'm just shocked that people would even try it!
ReplyDeleteLiterary Feline ~ Oh my, so you are more familiar with the ramifications of it. :( It's so sad that this truly does happen.
Debi ~ I'll send you my thoughts via e-mail. I've got to get some work done now, so I'll do it during a break. :)
Hi Joy!
ReplyDeleteI just thought I would send a quick note to let you know you won a copy of Also Known as Harper. YAY!! Just email me your mailing address and I'll send it off to the publisher. Thanks for entering...and check back, lots of giveaways next week!
And by the way, Crank scared me too... I couldn't beleive some of the thinks I read on those pages!
Amanda ~ Yee Haa! :) Thank you, Amanda! I'm a happy camper. I'll send my address to you asap.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's kinda what I shared with Debi (above) - lots and lots of stuff going on in that book!
Yikes! I'm not really sure what to make of the subject matter. Crystal meth is such a scary scary and dangerous thing. Semi-autobiographical, huh?
ReplyDeleteTrish ~ It's just plain nasty! Why, oh why, do people even try it, especially knowing how addicting it can be? Yep, semi-autobiographical. It's based on her daughter's experiences.
ReplyDelete