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roguepyre's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cemmalyn12's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
duderun's review against another edition
2.25
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.
bookber's review against another edition
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.
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.
midnightpoison13's review against another edition
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.
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
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.
thesimplereader's review
3.0
Second book of the Crank series, and I loved Crank, so I thought this book would be just as great. It was, but one notch down on the wow scale.
allieskat17's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Another amazing book from Ellen Hopkins. This book once again centers on her character Kristina (modeled after her own daughter) after she has her baby. We see the people she grew up with move on as she’s stuck behind. She once again winds up in the arms of the monster and in the arms of cousins. Unfortunately the story ends with Kristina in prison and pregnant again.
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
We return to Kristina, to the monster, to a heartbreaking account of Kristina's life.
Once again we follow Kristina/Bree as she battles, tries to resist, falls again, fades away with the monster. Unlike the previous book though, I was pretty much out of sympathy for this girl. There were several times I just wanted to shake this girl for the stupid things she did.
It seems like she was doing so well in the beginning of the book. She is off the monster, she is having a happy baby, she seems to have a pretty OK life. But apparently the monster calls hard, calls her fast, and as the days go by we see her being lured back to it. First a few bits here and there, but later on she uses all the time. It was heartbreaking that she went back, but I also found it stupid that she thought she could just casually take the monster. She should know. She should know that if she went back to the mercy of the monster that she wouldn't be able to stop. *sighs* I guess that is addiction for you. You just cannot escape it.
I am also not sure about Kristina's parents. Why didn't they help her out? Why didn't they search her room? Why didn't they get her the help she so needs? Come on, you should have seen the signs that your daughter is back to a downward spiral of doom. She is losing weight, she is stuttering (though we, the reader, don't see that, but we do hear about it), you can see her pupils, you must smell it. Yet, it seems to me that they just pretended everything was OK, until one day it all went wrong. I shouldn't judge, I know that. But I just can't help it. I keep wondering what would have happened if the parents had done something other than get angry at her.
And I guess from that moment I knew that Kristina was screwed, well, even more screwed than she already was. At times we see that Kristina realises this, and that she does try her best to live a normal life (get a job/get a GED), but addiction is dragging her under every time things seem to look up.
I felt sorry for Hunter, such a sweet kid, he deserves a better mom. Then again, maybe Kristina could have been a good mom if she wasn't in such deep poop, and I guess it also didn't help she got him so young. She just wasn't ready for all the responsibility.
We also see Robyn again, and my heart broke for this girl. To end up there, to be so broken.
I wasn't sure how I felt about Trey. At times he seemed like he genuinely cared about Kristina, but at other times I just didn't see the love. It seemed like he was just playing around.
I also didn't like Brad that much. He was sweet and caring, but I just don't like a guy who looks at another's girlfriend and even goes to do that.
Of course, as the ending of the book got closer and closer, I just had a feeling how this one would end. Now, I won't spoil anything, but my feeling was right.
I am still not a fan of verse/poetry, but for some reason it works with this book. I really couldn't stop reading.
All in all, even though I wanted to throw Kristina in a fiery pool of lava at times, it was a good book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Once again we follow Kristina/Bree as she battles, tries to resist, falls again, fades away with the monster. Unlike the previous book though, I was pretty much out of sympathy for this girl. There were several times I just wanted to shake this girl for the stupid things she did.
It seems like she was doing so well in the beginning of the book. She is off the monster, she is having a happy baby, she seems to have a pretty OK life. But apparently the monster calls hard, calls her fast, and as the days go by we see her being lured back to it. First a few bits here and there, but later on she uses all the time. It was heartbreaking that she went back, but I also found it stupid that she thought she could just casually take the monster. She should know. She should know that if she went back to the mercy of the monster that she wouldn't be able to stop. *sighs* I guess that is addiction for you. You just cannot escape it.
I am also not sure about Kristina's parents. Why didn't they help her out? Why didn't they search her room? Why didn't they get her the help she so needs? Come on, you should have seen the signs that your daughter is back to a downward spiral of doom. She is losing weight, she is stuttering (though we, the reader, don't see that, but we do hear about it), you can see her pupils, you must smell it. Yet, it seems to me that they just pretended everything was OK, until one day it all went wrong. I shouldn't judge, I know that. But I just can't help it. I keep wondering what would have happened if the parents had done something other than get angry at her.
And I guess from that moment I knew that Kristina was screwed, well, even more screwed than she already was. At times we see that Kristina realises this, and that she does try her best to live a normal life (get a job/get a GED), but addiction is dragging her under every time things seem to look up.
I felt sorry for Hunter, such a sweet kid, he deserves a better mom. Then again, maybe Kristina could have been a good mom if she wasn't in such deep poop, and I guess it also didn't help she got him so young. She just wasn't ready for all the responsibility.
We also see Robyn again, and my heart broke for this girl. To end up there, to be so broken.
I wasn't sure how I felt about Trey. At times he seemed like he genuinely cared about Kristina, but at other times I just didn't see the love. It seemed like he was just playing around.
I also didn't like Brad that much. He was sweet and caring, but I just don't like a guy who looks at another's girlfriend and even goes to do that.
Of course, as the ending of the book got closer and closer, I just had a feeling how this one would end. Now, I won't spoil anything, but my feeling was right.
I am still not a fan of verse/poetry, but for some reason it works with this book. I really couldn't stop reading.
All in all, even though I wanted to throw Kristina in a fiery pool of lava at times, it was a good book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/