Crank

The first novel of Ellen Hopkins’s Crank trilogy, Crank (2004) tells the story of how one summer using the drug crystal meth changes the course of protagonist Kristina Snow’s life. Written in hypnotic, broken verse, the YA novel is loosely based on the addiction struggles of Hopkins’s own daughter. The novel uses minimal words and granular details to immerse the reader in the psyche of a teenager dealing with drug addiction. Honors student Kristina is only 16 when she first uses meth, a drug she dubs “the monster,” showing that addiction can strike any person or family. Filled with visceral descriptions and strong language, the book has invited praise and censure in equal measure. A New York Times bestseller, Crank has also regularly featured on banned-book lists because of its depictions of addiction and sex.

At the end of Crank, Kristina is at a crossroads in her life, but her struggles with addiction continue. Hopkins believes this is a clear-eyed and honest portrayal of addiction, which rarely offers neat resolutions. Since the Crank trilogy, Hopkins has become a powerful advocate for youths and families dealing with addiction. Hopkins lives and writes in Reno, Nevada.

This study guide references the First Simon Pulse Edition, New York, 2004.