Hooked: When Addiction Hits Home

by Chloe Shantz-Hilkes, DECODE, Robert Munsch (Introduction)

Jenny dealt with the stress by forgiving her mom—over and over and over again. This collection of ten true stories is based on interviews with people who, in their youth, lived with an addicted parent or sibling. The subjects speak honestly about what it was like to grow up with a family member addicted to alcohol, drugs, food, pills, or gambling. While describing how they managed to cope, interviewees explore the full range of situations and emotions they experienced—from denial, anger, and confusion to acceptance and forgiveness. Their maturity, sensitivity, and even their sense of humor will give teens going through similar situations the important realization that there are many ways to break free from the chains of others’ addictions.

Genres: Nonfiction, Addiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 5, 2012

Reviews

[Kristina Mathioudakis · Rating 2 out of 5]

The introduction to this novel was written by children's author, Robert Munsch and it was quite surprising. This is an author I grew up reading, and I attribute my love of stories to. Reading that he struggled with drug and alcohol addictions struck closer to me than any of the other stories because it felt close to home in a way.

This was a short and very quick read, bringing together ten different stories of people who had family struggle with addiction. There was a strong topic displayed, but not much of a resolution. I didn't feel any great epiphany or come away from this feeling like I gained something. Each story ended up blending into the next and just ended up getting very repetitive.

Overall, this was alright. If you are looking for something with a darker tone, but also has a "Chicken Soup for the Soul Vibe" this might work for you.

[Gabrielle Prendergast · Rating 3 out of 5]

HOOKED is a good demonstration of why non writers shouldn’t write books. While the subject matter (young people dealing with an addicted family member) is interesting and important, the way the stories are told in this is so pedestrian that it takes away from the impact. It’s clear that the people featured in this book wrote their own chapters with only minimal editing ny Shantz-Hilkes. I’m not expecting poetry; an unpretentious voice is appropriate for this material. But I would have liked to be a bit more drawn into each story. They were awkwardly expressed, almost cold and clinical. I think this was a missed opportunity to create a really readable collection on this issue. As it is, it reads almost like a case study textbook. Since this is a book designed for teens a little more thought on how it was put together would have improved it.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jermaine the main character started the book when he had to kick his father out of the house because he was a crack addict. He then followed when Nicola and her brother Pierre both tried drugs and Nicola had to witness that her brother got addicted fast and kept doing drugs and Pierre's mom was also a alcohol addict and drank all the time. The book is filled with a bunch of different families that have to deal with their siblings or parents that addicted to drugs and their life trying to figure out how to stop their addiction or watching them die because of these addictions. These problems follow up with them doing interviews with different families trying to figure out what was wrong and how to stop this drug addiction in these families. The book is humors and also difficult to read when you hear these stories of these families struggling of addiction. Read the book to find out how these families deal with these drug addictions and how they interfere with their personal life along with jobs and school.

I would recommend this book to people that like true stories, and also to people that like interesting stories because this book is full of information that you might need to know in the future. This book is very interesting to me because i like true, sad stories and i love reading about true things.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A book where teens and young adults tell their stories of having addicted family members. It also has little tidbits of info about addiction within the stories and in q&a format at the end. It was definitely geared towards a younger audience, like middle and high schoolers. However, what got to me was the clear structure the writers must have been prompted with, because all of the stories ended with hope and strengths because or in spite of their family member's addictions, and it just didn't sit right with me. Still worth a read if you want stories of what it's like growing up with family who has substance abuse issues. I read it for my Addictions Counseling class.

[Amanda Kingswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick read. The book contains true stories about children who have dealt with parents or siblings who have had addictions. I like how the book breaks it down in different topics like "How Did you Cope?" It also goes on to ask them how they are doing now. It was like a Chicken Soup for the Soul kind of book except you didn't have different topics it was all dealing with addiction. I know in the area that I live in addiction is something that we hear constantly about. I would recommend this for my teens.

[Madison Scheer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for my addiction counseling class!! It’s a combination of personal stories of people who have been affected by addiction in their families. Lots of personal and professional application to draw from. Addiction is stigmatized and criminalized, but it is also something that individuals feel they must *will* their way through. In reality, recognizing a need for help and having the willingness to accept it is the first step to recovery. Also, we need better resources for those supporting individuals with addiction.

[Madelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really helpful for children and youth of addicted parent(s). While not too informative, the book is still relatable by sharing the personal stories of other people as they struggled with their parent(s) addiction as a child or teen. I would recommend this book for a child or teen struggling with the affects of their parent(s)' addiction so that they feel less alone.

[Beth A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find the subject matter of this book to be extremely important, especially in today's society. However, the stories were a bit disappointing. I found them cold and somewhat lacking in detail. They left me wanting more information. In my opinion the questions and answers at the end were the best part of the book.

[Ardie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The introduction by Robert Munsch and the Q & A and help resources at the end were the best and most helpful part of this book. I found the 10 personal stories to be not as engaging or as helpful as I hoped they would be.

[Frank Chirico · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a painful read with the stories. Wish there were more addictions within the book. I wish there were more helping strategies within the book. I felt I was just a fly on the wall. My question was, "What was the point and purpose of writing this book?"

[spookwrite · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a lot of complexities within these stories that made each one stand out. It showed how varied addiction is in all types of forms. However, I wish the stories were less cold and factual. They lost the emotional impact and begin to feel repetitive.

[Infrastructure Logistics · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children survive addicted parents, sometimes even thriving in the end. Interesting stories.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brief, surface level stories of addiction. It was very basic.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good. It had a bunch of different stories and experiences from different children of addicted parents. I used this book for my speech. It was powerful.

[Zelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Important subject but not well executed

[Olivia Lamphere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I had to read this book for a class, I really enjoyed it. Reading the experiences of individuals that have experienced loved one’s addictions is eye opening.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

(nb: I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley)

"Hooked: When Addiction Hits Home," edited by Chloe Shantz-Hilkes, is not intended to entertain teens like "The Hunger Games" or the latest YA series. What it does is provide clear, stark, unflinching recollections from ten survivors, all of whom grew up with addicted family members.

One boy's dad was an angry drunk, a powerful weightlifter who nearly pushed him through a glass window. One girl's brother started smoking weed in ninth grade, and by graduation was paranoid and hooked on OxyContin. Another girl's mother was addicted to gambling, an addiction that can tear apart a family just like alcoholism.

Each of these essays is fearless in describing what its author went through during their years living with an addict. Some of the survivors ended up moody and depressed, and they failed to excel in school. Others went the other way, obsessively throwing themselves into their schoolwork, because that was the one thing in their lives they could control.

Interspersed among these survivors' stories are bits of information or explanation: what an enabler is, for example, or notes that children of addicts are more likely to suffer from depression.

The media love to focus attention on addicts. From tabloid reports of the latest star going to a posh clinic, to shows like "Celebrity Rehab," addicts' stories are common. It's widely espoused that addiction is a disease, requiring treatment just like any other. The media rarely focus on the damaged or destroyed families addicts leave in their wakes. It's just not something we think about.

Once, a friend asked me to accompany her to a support group for families of alcoholics and addicts. I'd had experience with addiction, but this was the first time I'd heard how hellish addicts can make life for those around them. It was gut-wrenching.

The introduction for "Hooked" is an addiction testimonial from noted children's author, Robert Munsch. His personal story of alcoholism and drug addiction might seem out of character for somebody in his field, but it shows this disease can affect anyone.

Following the essays are two helpful resources. One is a Q&A section with addiction expert Dr. Dennis Kimberley. The other is a listing of resources where a young person with an addict parent--or one dealing with his or her own addictions--can find confidential help, 24/7.

"Hooked: When Addiction Hits Home" should be in every middle school and high school library, guidance counselor's office, even as part of drug and alcohol education units in health classes. One in five families is touched by addiction. Being exposed to this book--with its stories and information--could help young people in equally dire situations find reassurance that they aren't alone, as well as resources for them to get the help they need.

[╟ ♫ Tima ♪ ╣ ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on March 5, 2013 for your reading pleasure.

As with many people, I have personal experience with addicts and even more so as a child with addict adults surrounding them. So, I was very intrigued to get my grubby hands on this book and see what it had to offer.

I couldn't tell if the book was intended to be marketed to actual youth or if it was for adults. Either way, it had its shortcomings. The essays felt very choppy and very forced. I'd be curious to find out if they were done interview-style and edited down to fit in the style of the book better. To be honest, I thought the book was comprised of younger amateur authors (under 21) telling their stories. It wasn't until I got to the end of an essay that I found out it was adult reflections. It's hard to explain, there was just no emotion contained in the writing, which is almost impossible to do with such an emotional topic being discussed.

There were also minor editing errors that could use a once-over before it gets released. Since it comes out in under 2 weeks, I have a feeling it won't quite make it.

The great part about these stiff essays were the truth in them. I think this would make a great book to distribute to Alateen and guidance counselors everywhere to help kids/teens realize they aren't as alone as they feel. The feeling of isolation can be suffocating, trying to take the burden of everything alone can do more damage than the addict themselves. Even though I would have rebelliously scoffed at this book as a teenager, I know I would've read it in secret and soaked it in. Living with an addict is a lonely world especially when you fear that something bad may happen to you or the addict if you speak up.

With a little finessing, I think this could be a great educational tool. The writing was just a little bit too disjointed and choppy to really pack the punch that it could.

Quotes that stood out:

“I was a really smart kid too, so I think maybe I realized that if you did what people told you to, it would save you a lot of time and trouble. But sometimes it also meant that your dad sat on you for two hours when he was stoned” - Jermaine

“Most of all, I lost the opportunity to feel like I was a lovable human being. For the longest time I felt as if nobody any reason to like me”. - Greg

"“Why, for that matter, did Kevin do drugs when I didn't? We were more or less dealt the same hand of cards […] but I always knew where to draw the line.” - Nicola

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of Hooked: When Addiction Hits Home from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and Annick Press.

Hooked is a collection of short stories told from the viewpoint of a young family member who was a witness to another family member's addiction. Most of the accounts are from a child of the substance abuser, the exception being one story about a girl who's brother was addicted. I was interested in Hooked because of my own past and the possibility of what the future could have become had I not gotten control of my life.

My main problem with this book is that it lacked emotion. Of course anyone reading Hooked would feel for these kids simply because of the situation they were in, but I would have preferred a more emotional connection to what these kids were feeling as opposed to just hearing a step by step account of what their family member had put them through. I wouldn't have minded the book being longer if the stories were more in-depth.

For my own reasons, the story about the girl who's brother was addicted to heroin was the one that I found the most interesting and impacted me the most. I have thought about the 2 questions she asked quite often, the first one being how can two people who were raised in the same family become so completely different in adulthood - one taking the road to success, with the other stalling out and getting stuck in such an unhealthy, dangerous, painful cycle of addiction? And why can one person experiment with recreational drugs and be able to put them down and walk away, while the other becomes addicted almost immediately and never seems to be able to quit?

Regardless of how I felt about this book, I think there is definitely a good book to have on YA library shelves and even in schools because reading it could make a kid understand that they are not alone and it is not their fault, no matter what their parent may try to tell them. I think it could be especially valuable and would definitely recommend it to younger children of addicts, like late elementary to early or mid-middle school years.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I first found out that my dad was addicted to crack cocaine because he told me. He didn't tell my mom, he didn't tell anyone else, he told me. At the time I was only seven or eight" - Jermaine

Hooked is a collection of ten true stories based on interviews with children of addicts about how addiction has impacted their lives. The types of addiction vary - alcohol, food, drugs, work, gambling - yet it is remarkable how similarly each child was affected. They were isolated, embarrassed, lonely and sometimes angry with their parent, but loved them even though they did not always feel loved by them. They assumed responsibility beyond their years and strove for perfection in other areas of their lives both to establish some control over their lives and to gain the attention of their parents. That said, the book does not suggest that this is the uniform experience of every child with an addicted parent, indeed the book also includes reference to siblings who took the opposite path in an attempt to gain attention. The stories paint a grim picture of childhood, but are ultimately hopeful.

Each story has sidebar tips on how to recognise signs of addiction and suggestions on handling difficult situations that others may encounter. There is a Q&A section at the back of the book which covers important questions such as "is my parent's addiction my fault" and "what will people think of us if my family member's addiction is discovered", answered by Dr Dennis Kimberly, a professor of social work at Memorial University. More importantly still, it lists resources available to children in these situations at the end of the book.

The honesty of these stories is a testament to the strength of these children and the information resources provided make this book a worthwhile read for any teenager living with family members with addiction.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

With an introduction from Robert Munsch, where he talks briefly about his experience with alcohol and drug addiction, Hooked: When Addiction Hits Home offers the stories of several young people who grew up in homes where addiction ruled. Some of the stories depict mothers and fathers who are addicted to drugs or who suffer from alcoholism. Others tell of young men and women who grew up in homes with gambling addicts, workaholics, bulimics, overeaters, or parents addicted to a number of substances and/or behaviors. In one case, it was the young woman's older brother's addiction to oxycontin that affected her life.

Regardless of the addictive substances or behaviors that controlled their family members lives, there are several similarities that pop up again and again in most, if not all, of the narrators' experiences. Feelings of shame, embarrassment, and anger are often present and sometimes confused by the narrators equal amounts of love for their addicted family member. Questions about why the addicted family member can't change or why a non-addicted parent might leave them under the care of the former, might not act in anyway to protect their children, or may enable the addicted family member come up again and again. Occasionally, a story depicts an experience where the young person seemed more resilient, who understood that their parent's addiction had nothing to do with them, but more often than not, this is an understanding that only comes much later. These stories are real, authentic, and will certainly help other teens with addicted family members realize that they aren't alone in their suffering, and thus, Hooked is highly recommended.

[Rene · Rating 3 out of 5]

High praise for the brave young people who were willing to share their powerful, painful and generally raw stories of the destructive addictions that have shaped and shattered their lives. These stories written in the voices of the children who lived through them are heartbreaking, partly due to the visceral nature of the family secrets retold and partly because readers know these secrets are true. As a tool for other youth facing similar situations in their families, this book has some extremely candid moments to offer.

That being said, a reader of such stories needs to feel some sense of recovery afterwards. The stories shared by these young people as part of their recovery offer no real recovery for readers and in many cases the take-away is very negative. In his introduction, Munsch describes for readers his own addiction and offers only that "addiction is a disease and not a child's fault." This may be true, but if you are going to ask readers to invest in a book, there needs to be some element of it that is for the reader - not just therapeutic for the writer. Some sort of insight, either from a professional in the area of addiction recovery or from youth counselors who have something to offer towards breaking the cycle of addiction in families. There is a lot of regret and damage in these stories. If readers cannot find hope for recovery then it will leave them wondering if any of these young people ever found that hope in their lives.

(Note: I received an advance review copy from the publisher via NetGalley)

[AshleyiSee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t usually cover non-fiction, but I was interested when this title became available on Netgalley.

This is a moving collection from teenagers that grew up with a family member suffering from an addiction. Covering alcoholism, drug abuse and even workaholics, the fearless stories don’t shame their family but show the negatives of their situation. Not every story has a hopeful ending but the truthfulness is courageous.

Much like the Chicken Soup for the Soul books of the ‘90’s, Hooked is an excellent source of comfort for teens of today that need to know they are not alone. Well put together and executed right for its market, Hooked has been well worth the read.

Many thanks to the publisher Annick Press for the copy of the book, Chloe Shantz-Hilkes for doing a great editing job and to the authors that contributed powerful yet difficult stories. It takes a lot of guts to write about something so personal and painful.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review; Hooked was published on March 5th, 2013.

[Stephanie (the nerdy princess) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received this ARC free in exchange for an honest review.

Like many kids in the world today, I was one of them that grew up with an addict and with addicts surrounding me. This is why the book caught my attention and I had to see what it was all about.

This book is complied with 10 essays written by people who grew up with parents, siblings, and family members being addicted to drugs, alcohol, pills, gambling, etc. It documents how they felt growing up with these people and how they had to care for themselves and younger siblings.

To me the book felt very choppy and I could not tell who the attended audience was supposed to be, young adult or adult. There was very little emotion contained in the writing.

I feel the best thing about these essays is how true they how and how people can relate so well with them. It shows that they are not alone and many people actually do go through the same thing.

I do feel that middle school/high school should have this book on there shelf in the library for education purposes.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Although I am perhaps not the target audience, that being a teen with a loved one with some form of addiction, I am nevertheless very interested in these issues.

For me this book didn't really hit the nail on the head. The individual stories were so formulaic they seemed clinical and textbook rather than real people. I found myself learning very little about these teens because I felt like they were telling their stories in a timeline or in the same template as each other which very much made them blend into one. Not sure whether this is down to editing or the way the interviews were conducted. I also felt that there could have been a little more variation as almost all of the stories were based on teens with alcoholic parents and only a couple mentioned other issues.

I did like the addition of a Q and A at the back but overall feel the artificial way the texts read would not so much fulfil the outline of making these teens realise they are not alone.

[Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Hooked by Chloe Shantz-Hilkes is about all different stories of different kids' lives and how one or both of their parents are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Each chapter is about a different story and a different family. In some of the stories it talks about how the oldest basically raises his or her siblings. Some of them have one parent that is addicted and one parent that is not, but others have both parents addicted and it is really hard for the kids.

I would recommend this book to whoever likes books that have more than one story in one book. My favorite part of the book is how she set up the book. She put more than one story into one book. If you don’t like books with different story lines then you shouldn’t read this book. I liked this book and I would recommend you reading it too.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really quick and easy read. It was heart wrenching to read what some of these children, now adults, had to go through. The weight that was put on their shoulders at such a young age, is pure insanity. As a Prekindergarten teacher to children between the ages of 4 and 5, to read some of these stories of children in this age group hits home. It saddens me to think that some of my children deal with situations like this on a daily basis. Pushed to grow up so fast and miss out on an actual childhood experience. But I really like how each person overcame the obstacles that they encountered and most are living happy healthy lives. I picked up this book and read it in 3 hours. I really enjoyed it and I give it 5 stars. Great read!! :)

[Bryce Keeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me, this was a good book, I really liked it. While the grammar may be off here and there due to the stories only being edited by the author, it was indeed a good read. It didn't matter if it were to be perfectly written out or expanded long, because it made a meaningful connection to me with some of its examples and I'm sure it does to several others out there. It is a book written into 10 small short stories with a brief introduction of each story. In the end of the book, it includes a section of questions and answers available to anyone who is searching for an answer to their relative's or their own addictions. This book may be short, but it packs a lot of helpful information and does touch the reader. It is an excellent book to read for a humanitarian issue.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers who live and die for that tiny genre I call True Misery - addiction memoirs, A Child Called It, etc - will speed through this collection of true teen stories about growing up with an addicted family member. Brothers, mothers, fathers - gambling, alcohol, crack, it's all here. The stories are searingly honest, told with a survivor's perspective that analyzes causes and effects. Many of these kids report trust issues and difficulty with relationships going forward, but some also mention that they feel unusually capable due to having to fend for themselves or care for others at a young age. A "How I Coped" section in each story is invaluable, as are lists of resources and a FAQ in the back.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the popularity of books about overcoming obstacles such as addiction or a troubled childhood, I was excited to find this small book of short stories. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my excitement. The stories are very short, which is a plus for kids who are looking for a quick read. However, I found the stories very dry, and for the most part unemotional. I think this probably comes from being true stories, written by those who lived through it, and have come to acceptance on the other side. They are telling the facts. They are not creating the story that someone writing a longer book does. This book still might find it's place, but I don't think it will hold up to books like A Child Called It.