Reviews with content warning for Drug use - Crank

I haven't read this since I was maybe about 13 or 14, but I was thinking about it the other day and decided to re-read it. Why was 13 year old me so obsessed with these?? I used to absolutely DEVOUR all of Hopkins' books that were out at the time through my middle and high school years. The writing hasn't held up (for my tastes) over time. Things I thought were super deep as a 13 year old no longer resonate with me as a 26 year old, aside from the ability to recognize quotes that I used to like. This isn't a bad or poorly written book by any means, but it has plenty of clichés and over-used tropes in it, and honestly the plot was so repetitive that it probably could have been a lot shorter (even with how sparse the writing on some pages is). Despite some of my issues with the book, I felt almost nostalgic reading this. It reminded me of being in middle school and how several friends I had at the time and I would carry these absolute bricks of a book around and read them during free time in class. It was interesting to see what I still remembered about the book and what I had forgotten.

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officiallouise's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

2.75

interesting writing style but sooo incredible weird about the subject matter in some parts. has a weird thing about its depiction of lesbians too. definitely a product of the early 2000s. i don’t really think it succeeds as an anti-drug narrative at all and it’s definitely not a great assigned reading novel for its intended age group

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inp9extra's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective 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

5.0

I’m not usually a fan of dark realistic fiction, but Crank is a beautifully written must-read for teens and parents alike. Written my a mother whose daughter was a meth addict the plot is gripping, chilling, and dangerous. The book is hard to put down as we observe a far too common and relatable collision course.

The biggest complaint I’ve seen about this book is that the characters are unlikable, but that serves to drive the point home. The characters themselves start out normal but due to their circumstances it is easy to see why they make the decisions they make even as they lead themselves down a dark and twisted path. The fact that they come to be unlikable people reinforces a perspective of watching someone you love destroy their life, which is the perspective the author writes from. However, if you’re not a fan of unlikable characters, this book may not be for you.

Please give this book a try especially if you’re in your teens and being faced with real and difficult choices. Even if you don’t like it, the uncomfortable lessons it imparts are invaluable.

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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.0

This just wasn't my cup of tea. While I think it tells an important story and there are teens who will relate to it, there are books that have come out since then that deal more delicately with the issue of drug addiction. I am curious if teens today are still reading this book, though, and if they can find themselves in the story. Also this book has been out for almost 20 years already?? I can still remember when it first came out.

Anyway! The writing didn't exactly capture me, and part of me wonders if verse was the best way to tell Kristina's story. Even though it was in verse, the story still felt too long to me by the end. All I can say is that I likely won't be picking up another book in the series. But it will make some good discussions for book club!

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nalian's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

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bluejeepbaby's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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lmc77's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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amandalorianxo's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Middle / high school version of Amanda really liked this book. Re-reading this 10/ 15 ish years later and I don’t find this as engaging as I assumed I did when I was younger. The verse format felt unnecessary. There was no honest intention with this format, just grabbing at what was “popular” and or “different” for a 2010 book. In spite of the pitiful attempt at having a lesbian and gay character in this book, the quotes surrounding homosexuality were pitiful. I also found it impossible to believe that these parents of Kristina had NO IDEA their daughter was doing drugs. Shouldn’t the signs have all been there in her behavior? Also, I strongly did not like the ending. How ludicrous to think a baby would make someone’s life better - especially a 17 year old hard drug addict. Unfortunately we all know that baby is going to be addicted and someone should have sat her down and told her straight up the options / the real risks of taking care of a baby.

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