Crank

I finally got around to reading the first of Ellen Hopkins' YA novels-in-poetry, Crank. Honestly, I had been putting off reading this because frankly a novel in poetry for a YA audience about drug use sounded a little pretentious to me. Mea culpa to the max! I poured through this book in one evening. And it ensnared me with its bravery, honesty and the amazing construction of its writing. I thought the poetry would distance me from the "plot" of the story which is based on Hopkins' own daughter's struggle with drugs. It's raw and powerful and I kept thinking of words like "significant" and "important" to describe the book as I was reading it. This is not a story to take lightly. I'm a parent of three and the subject matter is frankly eye-opening, depressing, and terrifying. But it's also real. It brings the issue of how easy it is for teens to get their hands on these drugs into stark focus, and of how easy it is for them to become addicted, a battle that can last - and can destroy - their entire lives, and potentially the lives of those around them. Even though the book deals with important issues, the main character who tells the story, based on Hopkins' daughter, is well rounded and easy to relate to. I couldn't stop thinking "there but for the grace of God go I - or my children". This is not a book you "enjoy" so much as possibly "need to read", particularly if you have tween or teen children. It's sold as a YA book, and I'm sure that teenagers will be able to relate to it, but it's definitely a book for adults as well, particularly parents. I'm sorry I put off reading it, although I'm sure I'll need to take a breath and compose myself before reading more of Hopkins' YA books.

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