Crank Book Review
In the novel Crank by Ellen Hopkins, Ellen uses a very unique writing style in order to
describe the life change of the innocent seventeen-year-old, Kristina Snow. Using
free-verse poetry, Ellen creates a vivid image of Kristina’s adventure and how horrible or
powerful the monster and other people she is introduced to can be. Kristina is introduced
to crank while on a trip to visit her father. While experiencing an unfamiliar and
frightening world, a new personality takes over and Kristina decides to be called “Bree”
because she no longer feels that Kristina is who she really is. Kristina’s alter ego continues
to grow stronger as she meets new people and takes new risks. She is becoming “someone
I never dreamed to be.” After around a month she returns home to her mom and siblings,
but things don’t go back to normal. She has become so addicted to this drug, crank. When
Kristina goes home, things don’t return to normal. Although she tries to recover, she meets
a few boys who cause more pain and even pregnancy. Then, Kristina meets a boy Chase,
who thinks that he can handle her future, but Kristina refuses and continues on her own.
The poems contained in this book are based on the shaping and wording in order to attract
readers to continue reading about Kristina’s falling world. Ellen tries to show how
dangerous this drug can be with her sharp images through poetry. She also shows how
society can put a lot of pressure onto teenagers and once you go down the wrong road, it is
very difficult to turn back. Crank is definitely a book that can’t be put down once started.