While these books could definitely read as anti-drug propaganda, Hopkins really does a good job of balancing the 'drugs are bad' message with story, characters, and her great verse. Kristina is kicked out of her home, away from her baby, all because she can't shake the addiction.

Overall, though, it's a very well-done story (once again, in wonderful verse format) about the dangers of heavy addiction and the ruining effects it can have on your life. Confusing! It had been a few years between the two books that she wrote them, but those kinds of plot holes always niggle at me. Hopkins seems to have forgotten a major plot point about Hunter's parentage-she seems to have decided in this book that the real father doesn't know, but in the last book it was clearly stated that he did know. Definitely not a pleasant story, and I'm a bit surprised to see the publisher intended these books for ages 14+! More drug dealing, with a stop-off at a whore house, as well.

This round is a whole lot grittier than the first one-heavier drug use, a ton more swearing, and a ton more sex. I actually found this one to be a bit more believable in terms of the way her addiction played out, and while it could have been just the same plot re-hashed, it definitely didn't feel that way to me. This is the follow-up to Crank and I was a bit skeptical as to how it would play out, since at the end of the first she had supposedly quit the habit. I've never read anything like this before and I am hooked. The tale is disturbingly beautiful, emotionally jarring, and elaborately constructed. She's able to construct a linear narrative out of a series of concrete poems where readers become entangled in all of Kristina'a dilemmas. Readers can't help sympathizing with her regardless of all of the messed up choices she's made.Īs with the first book, I was mesmerized at Hopkins' narrative. The story is sad she becomes embroiled in dealing meth and and contemplates prostitution. Juggling several 'boyfriends' at a time, Kristina recognizes that what she's doing in wrong, but is reactive as opposed to being proactive in terms of her addiction. After being kicked out of her house and denied access to her son, she finds herself at the mercy of the monster. In this follow-up to Kristina's sordid tale, she continues to chronicle her life with the monster (crystal meth). After I finished Crank, I practically sped my way to Barnes and Noble go get this book, the second in the series.

Hopkins glass book