Musical Moments: Book Theme Songs: Glass by Ellen Hopkins

Title: Glass

Series: Crank

Author: Ellen Hopkins

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publication Date: 7 April 2009

Synopsis: From GoodReads

Crank. Glass. Ice. Crystal. Whatever you call it, it's all the same: a monster. And once it's got hold of you, this monster will never let you go.

Kristina thinks she can control it. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong, and before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She needs it to feel alive.

Once again the monster takes over Kristina's life and she will do anything for it, including giving up the one person who gives her the unconditional love she craves -- her baby.

The sequel to Crank, this is the continuing story of Kristina and her descent back to hell. Told in verse, it's a harrowing and disturbing look at addiction and the damage that it inflicts.

REVIEW HERE

Review: Glass by Ellen Hopkins

Title: Glass

Series: Crank

Author: Ellen Hopkins

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publication Date: 7 April 2009

Synopsis: From GoodReads

Crank. Glass. Ice. Crystal. Whatever you call it, it's all the same: a monster. And once it's got hold of you, this monster will never let you go.

Kristina thinks she can control it. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong, and before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She needs it to feel alive.

Once again the monster takes over Kristina's life and she will do anything for it, including giving up the one person who gives her the unconditional love she craves -- her baby.

The sequel to Crank, this is the continuing story of Kristina and her descent back to hell. Told in verse, it's a harrowing and disturbing look at addiction and the damage that it inflicts.

 REVIEW: May contain spoilers as it is Book 2 in the series

This is a very sensitive subject for me as I relate the drug addiction along the same lines as alcohol addiction and the devastation it has on the other people. The person who has the addiction doesn't care; the source of the addiction is the only thing that matters to them. At the cost of everything else in their lives, but it is never the fault of the addiction, any excuse would be preferable to actually admitting that drugs/alcohol is to blame. As you can see I may start to rant - apologies in advance.

There is a powerful recap of the events from the first book Crank (review here) it hits you like a punch in the face.

It always amazes me with verse novels how dramatic the use of white space is, adding to the impact of the story line even to the point of creating pictures with the words on the page. I found that even more so with this book as the structure of the words on the page could be read in two different ways. I shall explain further as it delights me to do so. You can read the right side on its own, which gives a summarised version of the storyline, re-enforcing and clarifying main events.

I did and still do find it hard to understand that Kristina knew what she was doing when she made the decision to start taking drugs again even though she is fully aware of the consequences. The scientific explanation of the affect that drugs of this kind have on the chemical balance of the brain was profoundly insightful. It left me wondering if alcohol has the same effect on brain chemistry - I really must investigate that point further.

The repetition of phrase re-enforces and highlights that particular part of the verse. The chapter headings are included in the verse and should not be over-looked.

I actually think Glass is far scarier than Crank as it shows that once an addiction takes hold it is something that has to be battled forever - it doesn't just stop or go away. Making me think that this book should be forced into the hands of anyone contemplating drug use as a deterrent. The picture the verse paints is brutally honest and realistic. Painfully realistic.

Another thing that really stood out for me ( and unfortunately again I can relate to) is that once an addiction takes hold it is a slippery (and fast) slope and any means necessary is used to pay for that habit even at the detriment of family and friends.

A truly terrifying and unfortunately all too real account of addiction. The stuff parents nightmares are made of. I applaud Ellen Hopkins for writing it and wish I could force all the teens in school to read it.

Everyone should read these books.

Review: Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Synopsis: From Amazon

Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: a gifted student, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is a total opposite to Kristina - she's fearless. Through a boy she meets, Bree is introduced to the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul and, ultimately, her life.



Review:
I pushed this one up to the top of my reading pile after the amazing interview with the author Ellen Hopkins that Jenny at Wondrous Reads did (please click the link to read the interview).

For those of you that aren't aware this is a verse novel, it is visually dynamic with an intense pace and powerful imagery.

Written in 1st person narrative but from a split personality persona. The 1st being the person that is Kristina (without drugs) the 2nd is the person she becomes, Bree (with drugs). I could totally relate to this, I have seen addiction within my own family (alcohol not drugs but I am assuming that addiction is the same no matter the substance) and it really is as if that person has been inhabited by someone else. Generally a much nastier person than the one they are at heart.

It gives a brutally honest depiction of addiction, I could actually feel my stomach tightening as I was reading it, literally my stomach dropped and my heart ached. As a parent this is one of the things that you worry about, for me this was super scary stuff. It showed how easy it is for one 'little' decision to affect/change the rest of your life. I did actually sympathise with Kristina, without the drugs she realised that her father wasn't the person he should be, the grass is not greener on the other side, the decisions her mother made where in the interest of the whole family and not an act of selfishness, and that rules are there for a very good reason. However, the addiction takes hold so quickly that the lucid moments were less frequent, the need for a 'fix' was all consuming.

The portrayal of Kristina's father left me wondering as to whether there is a predisposition to addiction if it is already in the family.

The writing is rhythmic and compelling, it literally makes pictures on the page. I have to admit I didn't actually notice this until about half way through the book as I was too engrossed in the story.

The imagery can be interpreted in a number of ways within the plot adding depth without having to write it out word for word. The plot has multi-layers dealing with some very sensitive subjects (discovering sexuality/rape/drugs/depravity) all with amazing insight and frightening reality.

I found the religious parallel with naming the initial male protagonist Adam and the story of the Garden of Eden with references within the narrative to the book of Genesis truly ingenious. While the amazing use of irony with the reference to The Jerry Springer Show made me LOL.

What really stood out for me is how truly easy it is to become addicted. I think this book should be given to drug/guidance counsellors. I would even go so far as to say that it should be required reading for older teens in order to prevent them even trying drugs. An amazing (if frightening) book that really stays in your mind long after you have closed the pages.