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After,
life
was great.
At
least
for a little while.
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 rid turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life.
This is Ellen Hopkins's first published work of fiction. Written in verse, Crank captures readers' attention from the first until the very last.
Flirtin' with the Monster
Life was good
before I
met
the monster.
After,
life
was great.
At
least
for a little while.
Text copyright © 2004 by Ellen Hopkins
Introduction
So you want to know all
about me. Who
I am.
What chance meeting of
brush and canvas painted
the face
you see? What made
me despise the girl
in the mirror
enough to transform her,
turn her into a stranger,
only not.
So you want to hear
the whole story. Why
I swerved
off the high road,
hard left to nowhere,
recklessly
indifferent to those
coughing my dust,
picked up speed
no limits, no top end,
just a high velocity rush
to madness.
Text copyright © 2004 by Ellen Hopkins
Alone
everything changes.
Some might call it distorted reality,
but it's exactly the place I need to be:
no mom,
Marie, ever more distant,
in her midlife quest for fame
no stepfather,
Scott, stern and heavy-handed
with unattainable expectations
no big sister,
Leigh, caught up in a tempest
of uncertain sexuality
no little brother,
Jake, spoiled and shameless
in his thievery of my niche.
Alone,
there is only the person inside.
I've grown to like her better
than the stuck-up husk of me. She's
not quite silent,
shouts obscenities just because
they roll so well off the tongue
not quite straight-A,
but talented in oh-so-many
enviable ways
not quite sanitary,
farts with gusto, picks
her nose, spits like a guy
not quite sane,
sometimes, to tell you the truth,
even I wonder about her.
Alone,
there is no perfect daughter,
no gifted high-school junior,
no Kristina Georgia Snow.
There is only Bree.
Text copyright © 2004 by Ellen Hopkins
On Bree
I suppose
she's always been
there, vague as a soft
copper pulse of moonlight
through blossoming seacoast
fog.
I wonder
when I first noticed
her, slipping in and out
of my pores, hide-and-seek
spider in fieldstone, red-bellied
phantom.
I summon
Bree when dreams
no longer satisfy, when
gentle clouds of monotony
smother thunder, when Kristina
cries.
I remember
the night I first
let her go, opened the
smeared glass, one thin pane,
cellophane between rules and sin,
freed.
Text copyright © 2004 by Ellen Hopkins
A Simon Pulse Guide for Reading Groups
Crank
About the Book
Maybe it wouldn't have happened if she had just stayed in Reno for the summer. Or if her father had turned out to be the man she had wanted him to be instead of the disappointment that she found. Or maybe if Adam hadn't been so beautiful and broken and in need of her love. Maybe then Kristina wouldn't have snorted her first line of crank and maybe then her life wouldn't be spiraling out of control. But maybe doesn't count in the real world, and it certainly won't save Kristina from the monster.
Discussion Questions
• How would you describe Bree? Is this the same way that Kristina would describe her? Where did Bree come from?• For Kristina, what is the lure of crystal meth? What does it provide for her? What does it take away?
• Describe Kristina's mother, father, and stepfather. Are they in any way responsible for her addiction? Do you think that there's anything else they could have — or should have — done to help her?
• Why is Kristina drawn to Adam? To Chase? To Brendan? In what ways are these three similar and in what ways are they different? How does Kristina's relationship with each one affect her? Which boy is most harmful to her?
• Why does Kristina decide to keep her baby? What reasons might she have had for giving it up? Do you think she made the right decision?
• Why does Kristina always call crank "the monster"? How do you think her renaming of the drug affects her attitude toward it and her sense of responsibility regarding it? Are there other things or people in the story that get renamed? How does this affectthe way in which they are regarded?
• Kristina sometimes refers to herself and her life before drugs as boring and worthless, yet at other times she seems to regard it as something very precious. What attitude do you think is closest to her true feelings? Do you think those around her would agree with her assessment?
• The author chose to write this story in verse. Why do you think that she chose this format? What effect does this have on how you feel about the characters and events?
• What is the overall message of this book? Do you think the story will act as a deterrent for teens who are considering drugs?
Activities
• As we can see in Crank, poetry allows us to express ourselves in new and creative ways. Write a poem or series of poems about something that has happened in your life.• Choose a drug — crystal meth or some other drug that you've heard of — and research its effects on the user. Find out exactly what it does in the body, how long the side effects last, how much it typically costs, and any other pertinent facts.
• Kristina has an alter ego who allows her to be more careless and daring. What would your alter ego be like? Choose a name, list all the character traits s/he would have, and list the things that s/he could help you do. Imagine what your life would be like if you acted more like your alter ego.
• Kristina's baby, like many children of addicts, cries a lot and needs to be held more than other babies. Find out if your local hospital will allow you to volunteer to hold babies born addicted. If your community has no such programs, perhaps you could consider volunteering at a local drug clinic or an anti-drug program at your school.
• Write a short story about what you think will happen to Kristina and her baby after the events depicted in the book.
• There are several other books about teenage drug addiction, including Go Ask Alice and Smack. Read one of these other books and compare it to Crank.
About the Author
Ellen Hopkins is a poet, author, and freelance writer. She has published more than 300 articles in local, regional, and national publications and has written 20 nonfiction books for children. Crank is her first published work of fiction. Ellen lives near Carson City, Nevada, where she enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and raising German Shepherds. She is currently at work on her second verse novel for Simon & Schuster.
Crank
By Ellen Hopkins
0-689-86519-8
Simon Pulse
Available wherever books are sold.
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonSaysKids.com
This reading group guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.
Ellen Hopkins has been writing poetry for years. Her first novel, Crank, released in 2004 and quickly became a word-of-mouth sensation, garnering praise from teens and critics alike. Ellen's other bestselling novels include Burned, Impulse, Glass, Identical, Tricks, and the upcoming Fallout, a companion to Crank and Glass. She lives with her family in Carson City, Nevada. Be sure to check out Ellen Hopkins online at ellenhopkins.com and myspace.com/ellenhopkins.
A Simon Pulse Guide for Reading Groups
Crank
About the Book
Maybe it wouldn't have happened if she had just stayed in Reno for the summer. Or if her father had turned out to be the man she had wanted him to be instead of the disappointment that she found. Or maybe if Adam hadn't been so beautiful and broken and in need of her love. Maybe then Kristina wouldn't have snorted her first line of crank and maybe then her life wouldn't be spiraling out of control. But maybe doesn't count in the real world, and it certainly won't save Kristina from the monster.
Discussion Questions
• How would you describe Bree? Is this the same way that Kristina would describe her? Where did Bree come from?• For Kristina, what is the lure of crystal meth? What does it provide for her? What does it take away?
• Describe Kristina's mother, father, and stepfather. Are they in any way responsible for her addiction? Do you think that there's anything else they could have — or should have — done to help her?
• Why is Kristina drawn to Adam? To Chase? To Brendan? In what ways are these three similar and in what ways are they different? How does Kristina's relationship with each one affect her? Which boy is most harmful to her?
• Why does Kristina decide to keep her baby? What reasons might she have had for giving it up? Do you think she made the right decision?
• Why does Kristina always call crank "the monster"? How do you think her renaming of the drug affects her attitude toward it and her sense of responsibility regarding it? Are there other things or people in the story that get renamed? How does this affect the way in which they are regarded?
• Kristina sometimes refers to herself and her life before drugs as boring and worthless, yet at other times she seems to regard it as something very precious. What attitude do you think is closest to her true feelings? Do you think those around her would agree with her assessment?
• The author chose to write this story in verse. Why do you think that she chose this format? What effect does this have on how you feel about the characters and events?
• What is the overall message of this book? Do you think the story will act as a deterrent for teens who are considering drugs?
Activities
• As we can see in Crank, poetry allows us to express ourselves in new and creative ways. Write a poem or series of poems about something that has happened in your life.• Choose a drug — crystal meth or some other drug that you've heard of — and research its effects on the user. Find out exactly what it does in the body, how long the side effects last, how much it typically costs, and any other pertinent facts.
• Kristina has an alter ego who allows her to be more careless and daring. What would your alter ego be like? Choose a name, list all the character traits s/he would have, and list the things that s/he could help you do. Imagine what your life would be like if you acted more like your alter ego.
• Kristina's baby, like many children of addicts, cries a lot and needs to be held more than other babies. Find out if your local hospital will allow you to volunteer to hold babies born addicted. If your community has no such programs, perhaps you could consider volunteering at a local drug clinic or an anti-drug program at your school.
• Write a short story about what you think will happen to Kristina and her baby after the events depicted in the book.
• There are several other books about teenage drug addiction, including Go Ask Alice and Smack. Read one of these other books and compare it to Crank.
About the Author
Ellen Hopkins is a poet, author, and freelance writer. She has published more than 300 articles in local, regional, and national publications and has written 20 nonfiction books for children. Crank is her first published work of fiction. Ellen lives near Carson City, Nevada, where she enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and raising German Shepherds. She is currently at work on her second verse novel for Simon & Schuster.
Crank
By Ellen Hopkins
0-689-86519-8
Simon Pulse
Available wherever books are sold.
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonSaysKids.com
This reading group guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.
Anonymous
Posted Mon Feb 23 00:00:00 EST 2009
I Also Recommend:
it was written so beautifully,and as soon as i read this book,
i couldnt help but finish the other one following this book-glass.
her stories are beautiful and loosely based around her real life,
which makes this read all the more compelling. if you liked go ask alice this is a must have read.ever since i have read this book i have been hooked to her writting style.a great great great book.
28 out of 34 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Jessica_Walker
Posted Sat Feb 27 00:00:00 EST 2010
I Also Recommend:
It's what it grabs when you hear the story of a wonderful girl who trudges down hill thanks to the likes of meth.
The story is fantastic and I may only be a sixteen year old, but when it comes to reading I am extremely picky. I read this book in less then a day. I couldn't put it down. I read it in class, through the halls, on the bus. It followed me everywhere the day I got it from my library.
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.JESSZAMBRANO
Posted Mon Dec 13 00:00:00 EST 2010
There are no words to describe this book.
I think every teenager should read this. It's honest and brutal and really describes the horrors of the addiction without straight up describing it. Through Crank, Ellen Hopkins has created this astoundingly true world that exists right outside my door or yours; almost in a way regardless of age, and there is just no way to truly describe what this book did for me. Even though I've never touched drugs or wanted to, it just seemed to hit. I found myself deeply relating to Kristina, feeling the issues with parents but never saying a word, working to keep that A average, etc. But I also understood the allure of Bree because, no matter how smart a person is, sometimes the desire to just let everything go can start to overpower a person. Even not knowing the feelings and effects in which the drugs instill in Bree, the way Hopkins goes about describing her highs and lows, fall outs and blow ups it makes you feel as if your right in the same state of mind she is in. I also believe that the way in which she actually composed the book, through the short stories/ poems the thickness of the book dissolves much like you do into the pages. The way Hopkins writes about serious subjects like drug abuse and suicide, which make her a frequent target of book banners. One of her most popular books, Crank is based on her own daughter's struggle with drug addiction which leaves more doors open to the thought of "don't drag myself into something like that", rather than opening a door to experimenting.
If nothing else, I will continue reading the sequels and every other book by Ellen Hopkins I can get my hands on. Especially since they're not only wondrous, but very quick reads.
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.KoryPetersen
Posted Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2011
This book was simply amazing. I couldn't put it down till I was finished with it. I was extremely pulled into the book because I felt for what Kristina was going through. Each thing that happened made we want to read more. I started to feel for her and realize the struggles she was going through were far worse than what words can describe. Crank is about a teenage girl that falls into substance addiction. The main character's name is Kristina. She heads over to Albuquerque to visit her dad and meets new friends that show her the wrong path. She becomes more and more addicted to crank. She had a great life during this time but it eventually caught up to her. She struggles to try to go without crank but the not having it eats her alive. This path lead her to a relationship that gave her an unwanted child. When the baby is born she sees how much she really does want her child. Kristina is a seventeen year old girl who is very shy and wasn't all that great with boys. She was a perfect and gifted student, straight A's and everything any parent wants from their child. At first the most important things to Kristina were good grades and perfection, but after her trip to Albuquerque she had some new things that are important to her. The most important thing to her after going to Albuquerque was drugs. Anything that she could use to get high was important to her. Drugs are also the thing that motivated her to do the things she did. While going through all these things she learned a lot. Kristina learned about the "dark side" and changed. Afterwards she tried to get rid of her addiction and tried to get better. She learned a lot of things through this experience and one of the most important things was that drugs affect your life and the lives of the people you know. The book is actually based on a true story. Ellen Hopkins' daughter was addicted to crystal meth and this book portrays the point of view of a teenager addicted to these types of drugs. These drugs not only affect the user but affect everyone around them. Everyone from family, friends, relatives, and just kids you know. This path can lead to serious injury or death in some cases. The theme of this book is that the choices you make not only affect you, but affect everyone around you. Kristina's parents knew what she was going through and it caused them to make different choices as well. The biggest things that Kristina did was having her child. That completely changed her life and her entire family's life. Her parents had to take care of her son because Kristina isn't old enough to know how to. Kristina's story is worth telling to prevent these sorts of things happening to more and more teenagers. Kristina is the perfect example of what happens when you continue down the wrong path and continue to do things that hurt yourself. This book definitely deserved its spot on the bestseller list because of how amazing it is. I could really feel what was happening to Kristina as if I was her. Ellen Hopkins did an amazing job portraying the life of a substance abusing teenager. Crank is beyond words. It tells a touching story, pulls you in, and you can't stop reading it.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Dec 25 00:00:00 EST 2011
Of all the books I have read by Ms Hopkins the Crank Trilogy is my favorite. While reading this I just want to reach in and slap the main character over the head and say snap out of it.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.It was so good.<BR/>I couldn't stop still I finished.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.It took me a while to get used to the writers style of writing. Once I got used to it though, I finished these books pretty quickly. You become attached to the main character, Kristina/Bree, and wish you could stop her before she makes decisions. I'm going to download the 3rd book of this series today. I can't wait to see how it all ends.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BrOwN15
Posted Thu Feb 12 00:00:00 EST 2009
I Also Recommend:
i didnt like it i tried and i just got bored with it.
5 out of 58 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Dec 30 00:00:00 EST 2011
I love her books. I first started reading Crank when i was in sixth grade. It was hard for me to read becoz of how real it felt. Like i was actually part of the book. Like i was Kristina. So i returned the book back to the library. In seventh grade something clicked in me and i had to finish reading it. I had to know what happens to Chase Bree Kristina and Brendan. It drove me crazy. Thats how good the book was. Well i ended up chwcking the book out again. And im glad i did. Im glad i got to experience all that with Kristina. I was super sad when i finished he book but restatic wen i found out there was two more books for Kristinas story. Ellen did a great job with Glass ad Fallout. I wish there were morebooks in the series. Ijust love her books. Thank you ellen. I am in eigh grade now. And i got above average on my readig test. The big stte reading test. Becoz; of you, Kristina, Chase, Hunter, Brendan, And most importantly Bree. I haed reading before your books now i just cant get enouggh. I cant thank you enough.
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I loved this book. One of those types of books where at some parts you find ur mouth friggin drop. its awesome but i certinely wudnt let a lil kid read it lol (:
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Wed Dec 21 00:00:00 EST 2011
Highly recommend this to mature teenagers or adults!!' Worth every penny
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.xogabby97
Posted Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 EDT 2011
I love this writers style of writing. It didn't take me long to read these books because i couldn't put them down. I am reading the last book Fallout right now... I love these books. =]
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I purchased this combo pack of Crank and Glass because someone purchased me Fallout by Ellen Hopkins as a gift. This series is AMAzingly addictive! I read all 1200 pages in 4 days. Recommend to anyone who wants an inside peek into a Meth addict.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Fossilman12
Posted Sun Sep 05 00:00:00 EDT 2010
Kristina is visiting her drug addicted dad's home for three weeks in the summer, when she meets the man of her dreams. His name is Adam, but he calls himself Buddy.Buddy is very similar to the Bree persona. Adam and Kristina go out for a little while, they are already deep in love. Soon, Buddy shows Kristina his secret life of snorting crank, or better known as "meth". Kristina tries some and it turns her entire life upside down once she becomes an addict. Before she leaves, Adam gives Kristina a tattoo on her thigh. when she comes home, her mother sees the tattoo and grounds her. But during the punishment, Bree takes over and meets two new guys for Kristina. Their names are Brendan and Chase. Brendan is the Bree of the two boys. All he wants is sex, but Chase loves Kristina up and down. Brendan eventually manages to sexually defile Kristina, which ends up in Kristna dumping him. Chase and Kristina then fall in a deep romance and Kristina ends up Pregnant. The baby however, is not Chase's son but Brendan's. Kristina's story was not finished because she was still a crank addict but she didn't end the story sorrowfully. She ends up with a healthy baby boy, and a marriage proposal from chase. Crank is a story that i found both suspenseful and somewhat impulsive. I highly suggest this book to those who like fast paced, yet complex reading.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2013
It helps because im addicted to gummy bears once i eat them i cant stop
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.brendonissmexy
Posted Wed Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2012
WHY ARE THE BOOKS IN THISTRILOGY A CRAP LOAD OF MONEY???
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Thu Feb 02 00:00:00 EST 2012
So inappropriate. Has a LOT of launguage. This is not a book for young children. I would not recemand this book if you have young people who will get into this. I started this book and could not finish it, because it was so "bad". I think it had a good outline, but there wasn't enough info throughout the story. I also did not like the way it was written( it was like a poem.)
1 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 EST 2012
Very possibly Ellen Hopkins' best work! It was just......WHOA!!!! I'd recommend these books to anyone because they are absolutely amazing. Can't wait to see what she writes next!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Bri_
Posted Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 EST 2011
These books were over the top and I wish the story would continue on. But all good things must come to an end. These books make you feel evrything that's going on. You go through Kristinas life in Crank and Glass and see how her choices effected the lives of her children. I absolutly love how each book ened,epecially Fallout sayin, "me. me. Me" The monster made them and caused them to be who they are, but inj the end they made their lives worth lioving. (Except for Kristina)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Thu Dec 22 00:00:00 EST 2011
A real look into addiction an uts affect on not only the user but the ones around them. Easy to read an will captivate your attention. Must read
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
before I
met
the monster.
After,
life
was great.
At
least
for a little while.
...