Reviews

This book was heartbreaking. The story of Kristina/Bree just gets worse and worse. I hope the real life versions of each character are living good lives now. I will be reading the next one and I have purchased more of Ellen Hopkins’s work.

sydgracen's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bookber's review

Go to review page

dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think this book was sadder than the first, and that book was devastating.

Glass continues Crank’s accessible insight into addiction and the hold it has on people. It was gut-wrenching to read about how low Kristina was willing to go for her next fix. This is such a sad reality for many people and whilst it is frustrating to read, it is important to understand how drugs can literally take over a person’s entire personality. It’s heartbreaking to think of all the people hurting because of these vile substances and I love that these books raise awareness of this.

Although I’m going to end Kristina’s story here, I would massively recommend these books for anyone wanting to learn more about the risks and long-term effects of addiction. They’re very quick, fast-paced reads because of the poetic format so perfect for younger readers.

jnewman's review against another edition

Go to review page

fast-paced

4.5

midnightpoison13's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

I recently revisited this book, which I first encountered in middle school. The narrative follows Kristina, also known as Bree, as she navigates the challenges of motherhood after giving birth to her son. Despite her efforts to resist, she finds herself drawn back into the clutches of addiction to methamphetamine.

When Kristina's mother discovers her continued drug use, she is kicked out of her home, leading her to seek refuge with her boyfriend's cousin and resort to selling drugs to support herself. This book is a continuation of the events depicted in "Crank" and is inspired by the author's real-life daughter.

While I enjoyed this book and its predecessor in my younger years, revisiting them as an adult has left me feeling disappointed, particularly in the portrayal of the author's daughter. Upon discovering Kristina's (Cristal's) story on YouTube, I was struck by her journey to recovery and her positive relationship with her husband, who in the book is known as Chase. However, I found the author's portrayal of her daughter to be lacking in nuance and empathy.

Furthermore, it was disheartening to learn that many of the author's books draw heavily from the lives of her friends, as recounted by Cristal. This revelation has soured my opinion of the author, and I can no longer support her work knowing the potentially exploitative nature of her storytelling.

Overall, while "Crank" and its sequels may have resonated with me in my youth, I can no longer overlook the ethical concerns surrounding the author's portrayal of real-life individuals in her fiction.

hulahoopes's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

So well written but the content is so painful.

More...