Truly Addicting

I chose this book based off a review from B. Connolly.
Hopkins, Erica.Crank.Simon Pulse,2004.
Title: Crank
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Cost: $9.99 at Borders
Genre: Teen Conflicts
Hearts
Crank, by Ellen Hopkins is a phenomenal story about a girl named Kristina who goes to visit her not-so-great father in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There, she meets this guy, Adam (aka Buddy) who she falls head over heels for. But, for some odd reason she introduces herself as Bree. Buddy and Bree get involved in drugs like marijuana and cocaine and before Kristina/Bree knew it she as walking hand in hand with "the monster", Crank. Crank is slang for methamphetamine that is a highly addictive drug and has great effects on users physically, mentally and emotionally.
Before Kristina knows it, she has to go back home to Reno, with her mom and step-dad leaving Adam behind. But Kristina comes home a changed girl, she tucks Bree away inside of her. Before long Bree is aching to come out. The monster is calling her name and she has to get one more taste of the sticky yellow substance. That one more taste led to two, then three, then she was buying it, then selling it. Newton said once, What goes up must go down, and surly did she go down. Way down. Somewhere along this drug-induced path,she starts liking two boys at once. One the perfect stud. The other a pure bad boy. One she falls in love with and the other she wants revenge.
Can Kristina manage to get rid of her alter ego, Bree? or will Bree lead her down a path that she can't turn back on?
Ellen Hopkins has a unique style of writing that is like a collection of short poems, all linked together to tell a story. It urges readers to turn the page and keep reading. She shapes her words into images on the page, that allows readers to explore their imagination and visualize the characters and surroundings. I recommend Crank from people like a mature young adult to an elder because, they can relate to that experimental time in their life when they were trying to figure out what life had to offer them. This book is based, loosely around a true story. The burdens in Ellen's life really show through. I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly. There is a sequel to it called Glass ( also a slang word for meth). I fully intend on reading it. Ellen Hopkins' works are truly addicting.