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Crank #2
Glass
Crank. Glass. Ice. Crystal. Whatever you call it, it's all the a monster. And once it's got hold of you, this monster will never let you go.
Kristina thinks she can control it. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong, and before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She needs it to feel alive.
Once again the monster takes over Kristina's life and she will do anything for it, including giving up the one person who gives her the unconditional love she craves -- her baby.
The sequel to Crank, this is the continuing story of Kristina and her descent back to hell. Told in verse, it's a harrowing and disturbing look at addiction and the damage that it inflicts.
Kristina thinks she can control it. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong, and before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She needs it to feel alive.
Once again the monster takes over Kristina's life and she will do anything for it, including giving up the one person who gives her the unconditional love she craves -- her baby.
The sequel to Crank, this is the continuing story of Kristina and her descent back to hell. Told in verse, it's a harrowing and disturbing look at addiction and the damage that it inflicts.
679 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2007
1628 people are currently reading
37187 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Hopkins
34 books19.2k followersEllen Hopkins is the New York Times bestselling author of Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, Identical, Tricks, Fallout, Perfect, Triangles, Tilt, and Collateral. She lives in Carson City, Nevada, with her husband and son. Hopkin's Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest pages get thousands of hits from teens who claim Hopkins is the "only one who understands me", and she can be visited at ellenhopkins.com.
Like most of you here, books are my life. Reading is a passion, but writing is the biggest part of me. Balance is my greatest challenge, as I love my family, friends, animals and home, but also love traveling to meet my readers. Hope I meet many of you soon!
Like most of you here, books are my life. Reading is a passion, but writing is the biggest part of me. Balance is my greatest challenge, as I love my family, friends, animals and home, but also love traveling to meet my readers. Hope I meet many of you soon!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,182 reviews
January 14, 2014
I have never wanted to slap a protagonist in the face as much as in this book! I also liked Ellen's mention of banned books and how all it's doing is hiding reality we should be learning from. Kids reading this book might actually get the crap scared out of them enough to stay the heck away from drugs! Yet, some prefer to make sure their kids are blind to the realities of our society? I rather read this to my child than have them star in their own story like this because they don't know better.
May 25, 2012
After I finished Crank, I practically sped my way to Barnes and Noble go get this book, the second in the series. In this follow-up to Kristina's sordid tale, she continues to chronicle her life with the monster (crystal meth). After being kicked out of her house and denied access to her son, she finds herself at the mercy of the monster.
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. The story is sad; she becomes embroiled in dealing meth and and contemplates prostitution. Readers can't help sympathizing with her regardless of all of the messed up choices she's made.
As with the first book, I was mesmerized at Hopkins' narrative. 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. The tale is disturbingly beautiful, emotionally jarring, and elaborately constructed. I've never read anything like this before and I am hooked. Can't wait to read the third book!
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. The story is sad; she becomes embroiled in dealing meth and and contemplates prostitution. Readers can't help sympathizing with her regardless of all of the messed up choices she's made.
As with the first book, I was mesmerized at Hopkins' narrative. 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. The tale is disturbingly beautiful, emotionally jarring, and elaborately constructed. I've never read anything like this before and I am hooked. Can't wait to read the third book!
November 25, 2008
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 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 round is a whole lot grittier than the first one--heavier drug use, a ton more swearing, and a ton more sex. More drug dealing, with a stop-off at a whore house, as well. Definitely not a pleasant story, and I'm a bit surprised to see the publisher intended these books for ages 14+!
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. 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.
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. Kristina is kicked out of her home, away from her baby, all because she can't shake the addiction. 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. Definitely one that got under my skin as I obsessively read it!
This round is a whole lot grittier than the first one--heavier drug use, a ton more swearing, and a ton more sex. More drug dealing, with a stop-off at a whore house, as well. Definitely not a pleasant story, and I'm a bit surprised to see the publisher intended these books for ages 14+!
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. 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.
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. Kristina is kicked out of her home, away from her baby, all because she can't shake the addiction. 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. Definitely one that got under my skin as I obsessively read it!
April 26, 2023
In one of the episodes of the Simpsons, Bart had to take care of Maggie for the day, can't recall why. At first he was wary because she's just a baby, but they ended up bonding and having lots of fun together. Or was it Homer? I don't remember, there are like a million of these episodes. Probably Bart, anyway so they made this cardboard cutout of an angel and they lowered it through the window on strings, to mess with Ned Flanders's twins. So they were messing with the twins making the angel float around and William H Macy animated alter-ego's sons were going like; we are not worthy, we are not worthy, bowing and such. It was so funny.
The point is, this is a worthy sequel to Crank. It's so good. The subject matter is as horrifying as ever, continuing on from the first novel, but the book is poetic, so poetic and not just because of its poetic prose. Notwist it is, it truly is.
You know, it is no small feat making up likable characters that people would actually care about. As I was reading this, I realized I have missed these monsters; selfish or otherwise. How I love these people.
Another thing, if you are going through a reading slump, a term I personally dislike and do not accept, much like how religious/conservatives do not accept climate change, then read this novel. It will ease you back into the wonderful truth that is the reading habit, despite its bleakness. Gosh, the moon is lovely tonight. Just look out the window.
This is a very well written novel, but be warned it is dark and twisty. So, if you are going through hard times, going through something too tough to deal with, then I suggest you might wanna steer clear of this book.
What's scary here is that in the midst of all the bad, there are glimpses of good in it, and that's more frightening than any monster. This book is pretty much like a car wreck, you watch as our MC heads toward certain disasters and is basically disastrous in nature. You cringe, you wanna wring her neck but as she goes on, you can't help but be fascinated by her. And you can't help but wonder how much of the daughter here is the real daughter she is based on. But the author is, if not remarkable then an understanding mother. And that's remarkable.
This is a harrowing read, but it ends right, and like I always say, but don't say it enough. It's all about the endings.
November 7, 2021
Don't make the mistake of going into this book and expecting some sort of atonement for the events that occur in the first book. If anything, Kristina's situation gets worse in this book due to decisions that she makes while attempting to battle her addiction. Also, be aware of the numerous content warnings which include drug use, child endangerment, and more. 3.5 Stars.
Glass ultimately picks up where Crank left off. Kristina is now a mother battling to stay clean. It appears to be everyone's hope that she will overcome her addiction for the sake of her child. However, as with any addiction it's clear that even with a child present it's a force to be reckoned with. For a lot of readers, it will be hard to connect with Kristina or feel empathy for her circumstances. Time and time again she will readily choose her addiction over her family and her child. She enters toxic relationships seeking validation. She experiences homelessness and even willingly puts her child in danger in an attempt to prove that she's a fit mother. Without having overcome addiction or being directly affected by a close friend or family member battling addiction, Kristina's actions won't make much sense. In fact, she's infuriating. Readers will become frustrated by her antics, her inability to want to change her life. The "monster," as she calls it, overpowers her every single time. It's hard to understand how someone could allow a substance to control their very fabric of their being. Nevertheless, Hopkins uses this frustration inside the reader to illustrate the very nature of addiction. It doesn't always make sense. What makes sense to those of us not battling addiction is not always clear to those who are in the deepest pits of their battle.
As frustrated as felt by Kristina's actions, her unwillingness to see the disconnect that she had with her mother and son, I knew that for the most part her addiction was in control. However, I think that what I wanted a little more of was familial intervention to help get her treatment. At this point, Kristina's family was actively aware that she was battling addiction, but it felt like they threw in the towel so quickly. I can't imagine how draining it can be for those individuals who are trying to act as a support system, but I don't think readers really get to see that with this story.
Overall, this was another deep, dark installment in the series. This is the last book in the series from Kristina's perspective so it'll be interesting to so where the story goes from here.
Glass ultimately picks up where Crank left off. Kristina is now a mother battling to stay clean. It appears to be everyone's hope that she will overcome her addiction for the sake of her child. However, as with any addiction it's clear that even with a child present it's a force to be reckoned with. For a lot of readers, it will be hard to connect with Kristina or feel empathy for her circumstances. Time and time again she will readily choose her addiction over her family and her child. She enters toxic relationships seeking validation. She experiences homelessness and even willingly puts her child in danger in an attempt to prove that she's a fit mother. Without having overcome addiction or being directly affected by a close friend or family member battling addiction, Kristina's actions won't make much sense. In fact, she's infuriating. Readers will become frustrated by her antics, her inability to want to change her life. The "monster," as she calls it, overpowers her every single time. It's hard to understand how someone could allow a substance to control their very fabric of their being. Nevertheless, Hopkins uses this frustration inside the reader to illustrate the very nature of addiction. It doesn't always make sense. What makes sense to those of us not battling addiction is not always clear to those who are in the deepest pits of their battle.
As frustrated as felt by Kristina's actions, her unwillingness to see the disconnect that she had with her mother and son, I knew that for the most part her addiction was in control. However, I think that what I wanted a little more of was familial intervention to help get her treatment. At this point, Kristina's family was actively aware that she was battling addiction, but it felt like they threw in the towel so quickly. I can't imagine how draining it can be for those individuals who are trying to act as a support system, but I don't think readers really get to see that with this story.
Overall, this was another deep, dark installment in the series. This is the last book in the series from Kristina's perspective so it'll be interesting to so where the story goes from here.
May 4, 2021
Wow, this girl's life is all sorts of messed up and she just keeps making worse and worse decisions. Is that the addiction? There is one more book in the series. I don't know if it will end well. It could really go either way at this point. These books are a wild ride.
June 23, 2017
3 stars
This was not nearly as good as her first book Crank. I felt like the writing wasn't as passionate as it'd been in the first book, and I could no longer feel badly for Kristina/Bree. In this book, Kristina made her life a living hell, whereas in the first book I felt like her father played a huge role in her fall - which is why I had felt badly for her. However, not so much with this one.
Really, what bothered me was how it seemed everyone was doing drugs and that no one seemed to noticed - except for the other druggies. For example, Kristina always made up excuses for her whereabouts and her mother didn't seem to mind at all. If I was Kristina's mother, I would make sure she was at home and watching Hunter. But that's just me.
Also, why did it seem like Kristina was always with a guy? I swear, how did she find all these guys who did drugs and liked her? Seems unlikely.
Overall, I don't think I'll be picking up the second book because this one left me feeling drained and just tired.
This was not nearly as good as her first book Crank. I felt like the writing wasn't as passionate as it'd been in the first book, and I could no longer feel badly for Kristina/Bree. In this book, Kristina made her life a living hell, whereas in the first book I felt like her father played a huge role in her fall - which is why I had felt badly for her. However, not so much with this one.
Really, what bothered me was how it seemed everyone was doing drugs and that no one seemed to noticed - except for the other druggies. For example, Kristina always made up excuses for her whereabouts and her mother didn't seem to mind at all. If I was Kristina's mother, I would make sure she was at home and watching Hunter. But that's just me.
Also, why did it seem like Kristina was always with a guy? I swear, how did she find all these guys who did drugs and liked her? Seems unlikely.
Overall, I don't think I'll be picking up the second book because this one left me feeling drained and just tired.
May 25, 2015
Initial reaction: I'll have to think about how I'm going to write the review for this book, but it'll be a sizable one.
I have a hard time saying that this book was a favorite of mine - because the topic it chose to cover - on multiple levels - isn't one that's easy to read or anything that I could say you could "love" per se. This book is like watching a car crash you can't stop until it's too late to reverse, no matter how much you want to yell at the driver "For the love of all that's holy, please STOP." Only thing I can say was that watching Kristina's descent was heartbreaking, and probably for more than one angle of it all.
4.5 stars overall though. Laura Flanagan's reading of the audiobook was fantastic, and as difficult of a read as it was, it gave me so much to think about in the end of it all.
Full review:
"You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over."
- "Somebody That I Used to Know" - Gotye
Thought it was appropriate to quote these lines from this song since it was in my head as I started meditating over my thoughts about "Glass."
I'm still shaking and a bit misty eyed even in the aftermath of reading this because - watching someone fall this hard while in a seemingly endless cycle of addiction to drugs is not easy in any measure, whether in fiction or in real life. I think Ellen Hopkins captured the emotional journey rather well, on more levels than one.
"Glass", the second book in the "Crank" series, is still very much Kristina's story, though I'll admit I liked being able to have a dimensional viewpoint of how Kristina's actions/decisions affected others around her and being able to see that in the context of Kristina's voice and mental bargaining. When we last left her, she'd endured quite a bit in her addiction to the "Monster," made and broken many connections in the process, but had started coming to terms with the aftermath of events and her initial addiction in some capacity. But if the last book had something of hopeful note in certain considerations, this book completely blew that possibility out of the water with its revelation of events.
What made this journey most powerful for me was how well this novel provided several dimensional views of Kristina's psyche. On one hand - we see the irresponsible, yet insecure 17 turning 18 year old that she is - having survived several series of ordeals from "Crank" and navigating a measure where she's searching for...something. Whether it's love, acceptance, a life, a future - possibly all four. These views of her character are rare in the narrative, but they provide a really potent insight on the tug-of-war that's going on in her head as well as a humanizing of her character that's honestly rare in comparison to other narratives that would try to profit off the emotional baggage the conflict entailed.
On another, Kristina is seriously hard to follow and sympathize with because of her actions - between the increasing distance she puts between herself and her family, her irresponsibility around children (whether her own child or others, and that was one of the things that made me angry as I read this - more on that in a little bit), her addictions, her quickening temper/recklessness, and just the overarching moral descent where she'd do anything to get her next "hit" or establish her life where it's just coasting the surface for the moment - nothing permanent, mostly temporary gratification.
I said in my initial notes that reading this book was like watching a car crash where you can't do anything but watch it as it unfolds. I knew that either Kristina would have to stop herself or something/someone would stop her eventually, and the aftermath would be a bitter pill to swallow. I'm not going to spoil which route the story takes in case people want to read this series for themselves, but while I was surprised by how it reached that point, I wasn't surprised that it'd go the route it did. Too many times people who are addicted to something tell themselves they will stop only to get lost in the clutches of it, to the point where desperation takes over and they'd do anything within it.
Hopkins's prose not only weighs Kristina's perspective, but the reactions of the people who were around her - which broke my heart. I mean, watching Kristina's family endure one too many tests of patience with her was one thing - particularly with the increasing deception and upsetting justifications that Kristina employed. Her increasing distance from her baby was another difficult measure, with the precarious situations she put him in as well as other children (she ended up being a sitter to one of her guys who was dealing/using with her - those scenes were very hard to read).
While Bree's mention wasn't as frequent as the previous novel, Kristina's bold and crude alter-ego was still very front and center, taking the reins and showing the darker parts of Kristina's personality and increasing need for the more potent drugs she's come across. This book also deals with unresolved conflicts Kristina has from the previous novel in her relationships (reunion with the father of her child, etc.)
I was left with much to think about at the end of this novel - long story short. The poetic styling of this wasn't as easy for me to tell as the last book, but I thought Laura Flanagan did an excellent job on the audiobook reading, particularly with the inflections of emotion and enunciation she gave in the process. It was ultimately why I ended up liking the listening experience as much as I did.
This book touches on several tough conflicts, including drug use, rape, sexuality (incl. GLBT relationships, though it's not a prime focus of the book and I did have some issues with the character's inner voice for some assumptions there). I appreciated some of the unflinching insights in the narrative. The ending has something of a similar tone as the first book, and it does leave the possibility of another expansion on the storyline. I will say that certainly this is not a light read by any means. It hurt to watch, but I felt with the way the characterizations, interactions, and events were portrayed, it immersed me in the story and gave me so much to think about in its aftermath. Stories like this happen all the time, probably more often than people realize. Not everyone can get the help they need, the relationships that are in one's addiction are fragmented, messy, and complex, and I respect the fact that the portrayal was raw and very real.
I'm definitely looking into more of Hopkins' writing, and I did appreciate and respect the insight of this read.
Overall: 4.5/5 stars
I have a hard time saying that this book was a favorite of mine - because the topic it chose to cover - on multiple levels - isn't one that's easy to read or anything that I could say you could "love" per se. This book is like watching a car crash you can't stop until it's too late to reverse, no matter how much you want to yell at the driver "For the love of all that's holy, please STOP." Only thing I can say was that watching Kristina's descent was heartbreaking, and probably for more than one angle of it all.
4.5 stars overall though. Laura Flanagan's reading of the audiobook was fantastic, and as difficult of a read as it was, it gave me so much to think about in the end of it all.
Full review:
"You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over."
- "Somebody That I Used to Know" - Gotye
Thought it was appropriate to quote these lines from this song since it was in my head as I started meditating over my thoughts about "Glass."
I'm still shaking and a bit misty eyed even in the aftermath of reading this because - watching someone fall this hard while in a seemingly endless cycle of addiction to drugs is not easy in any measure, whether in fiction or in real life. I think Ellen Hopkins captured the emotional journey rather well, on more levels than one.
"Glass", the second book in the "Crank" series, is still very much Kristina's story, though I'll admit I liked being able to have a dimensional viewpoint of how Kristina's actions/decisions affected others around her and being able to see that in the context of Kristina's voice and mental bargaining. When we last left her, she'd endured quite a bit in her addiction to the "Monster," made and broken many connections in the process, but had started coming to terms with the aftermath of events and her initial addiction in some capacity. But if the last book had something of hopeful note in certain considerations, this book completely blew that possibility out of the water with its revelation of events.
What made this journey most powerful for me was how well this novel provided several dimensional views of Kristina's psyche. On one hand - we see the irresponsible, yet insecure 17 turning 18 year old that she is - having survived several series of ordeals from "Crank" and navigating a measure where she's searching for...something. Whether it's love, acceptance, a life, a future - possibly all four. These views of her character are rare in the narrative, but they provide a really potent insight on the tug-of-war that's going on in her head as well as a humanizing of her character that's honestly rare in comparison to other narratives that would try to profit off the emotional baggage the conflict entailed.
On another, Kristina is seriously hard to follow and sympathize with because of her actions - between the increasing distance she puts between herself and her family, her irresponsibility around children (whether her own child or others, and that was one of the things that made me angry as I read this - more on that in a little bit), her addictions, her quickening temper/recklessness, and just the overarching moral descent where she'd do anything to get her next "hit" or establish her life where it's just coasting the surface for the moment - nothing permanent, mostly temporary gratification.
I said in my initial notes that reading this book was like watching a car crash where you can't do anything but watch it as it unfolds. I knew that either Kristina would have to stop herself or something/someone would stop her eventually, and the aftermath would be a bitter pill to swallow. I'm not going to spoil which route the story takes in case people want to read this series for themselves, but while I was surprised by how it reached that point, I wasn't surprised that it'd go the route it did. Too many times people who are addicted to something tell themselves they will stop only to get lost in the clutches of it, to the point where desperation takes over and they'd do anything within it.
Hopkins's prose not only weighs Kristina's perspective, but the reactions of the people who were around her - which broke my heart. I mean, watching Kristina's family endure one too many tests of patience with her was one thing - particularly with the increasing deception and upsetting justifications that Kristina employed. Her increasing distance from her baby was another difficult measure, with the precarious situations she put him in as well as other children (she ended up being a sitter to one of her guys who was dealing/using with her - those scenes were very hard to read).
While Bree's mention wasn't as frequent as the previous novel, Kristina's bold and crude alter-ego was still very front and center, taking the reins and showing the darker parts of Kristina's personality and increasing need for the more potent drugs she's come across. This book also deals with unresolved conflicts Kristina has from the previous novel in her relationships (reunion with the father of her child, etc.)
I was left with much to think about at the end of this novel - long story short. The poetic styling of this wasn't as easy for me to tell as the last book, but I thought Laura Flanagan did an excellent job on the audiobook reading, particularly with the inflections of emotion and enunciation she gave in the process. It was ultimately why I ended up liking the listening experience as much as I did.
This book touches on several tough conflicts, including drug use, rape, sexuality (incl. GLBT relationships, though it's not a prime focus of the book and I did have some issues with the character's inner voice for some assumptions there). I appreciated some of the unflinching insights in the narrative. The ending has something of a similar tone as the first book, and it does leave the possibility of another expansion on the storyline. I will say that certainly this is not a light read by any means. It hurt to watch, but I felt with the way the characterizations, interactions, and events were portrayed, it immersed me in the story and gave me so much to think about in its aftermath. Stories like this happen all the time, probably more often than people realize. Not everyone can get the help they need, the relationships that are in one's addiction are fragmented, messy, and complex, and I respect the fact that the portrayal was raw and very real.
I'm definitely looking into more of Hopkins' writing, and I did appreciate and respect the insight of this read.
Overall: 4.5/5 stars
June 22, 2018
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3.5/5 Stars
Sequel to Crank which follows Kristina's downward spiral with crystal meth after the birth of her son, Hunter.
I definitely didn't enjoy this one as much as Crank. It was hard to feel sorry for Kristina based on the decisions she made... I'm assuming that these decisions are because she is an addict, although I must admit that I don't know how the mind works while taking meth. It just annoyed me that no one around her seemed to be trying that hard to help her. I found that the book just became very repetitive after awhile with nothing really happening in the end.
This is a loose telling of Hopkins daughter's life which I found intriguing. I am interested in reading the third book as it follows Kristina's children.
3.5/5 Stars
Sequel to Crank which follows Kristina's downward spiral with crystal meth after the birth of her son, Hunter.
I definitely didn't enjoy this one as much as Crank. It was hard to feel sorry for Kristina based on the decisions she made... I'm assuming that these decisions are because she is an addict, although I must admit that I don't know how the mind works while taking meth. It just annoyed me that no one around her seemed to be trying that hard to help her. I found that the book just became very repetitive after awhile with nothing really happening in the end.
This is a loose telling of Hopkins daughter's life which I found intriguing. I am interested in reading the third book as it follows Kristina's children.
January 17, 2008
Pardon the awful use of wordplay, but I was addicted to this book about a teenage girl's continued journey through the frightening realm of meth use. I plowed through it in less than two days. Glass is the sequel to Hopkins's first novel, Crank, in which Kristina, a former honors student, experiments with tobacco, alcohol, and meth while visiting her lowlife dad for the summer. Raped by a fellow meth user in Crank, Kristina, now almost 18, is living at home in Reno and raising her newborn son Hunter. Clean for a couple months, she starts craving "The Monster" and looking for ways to get it. The path back to glass also leads to dealing, a new love named Trey, and ultimately major trouble with her family and the law. Written in verse, Glass is a sad, poignant, and guiltily fascinating depiction of a "normal" girl unraveling her "normal" life, and descending into a truly dark, crazy, and perhaps inescapable world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2019
"Crank. Glass. Ice. Crystal. Whatever you call it, it's all the same: a monster. And once it's got hold of you, this monster will never let you go.
Kristina thinks she can control it. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong, and before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She needs it to feel alive.
Once again the monster takes over Kristina's life and she will do anything for it, including giving up the one person who gives her the unconditional love she craves -- her baby.
The sequel to Crank, this is the continuing story of Kristina and her descent back to hell. Told in verse, it's a harrowing and disturbing look at addiction and the damage that it inflicts."
Kristina thinks she can control it. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong, and before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She needs it to feel alive.
Once again the monster takes over Kristina's life and she will do anything for it, including giving up the one person who gives her the unconditional love she craves -- her baby.
The sequel to Crank, this is the continuing story of Kristina and her descent back to hell. Told in verse, it's a harrowing and disturbing look at addiction and the damage that it inflicts."
March 2, 2015
These books are, excuse the pun, but so addicting. They are depressing and stress-inducing. You will be so mad at the characters and yet, you love them and are rooting for them to find a way. Major triggers for any kind of addiction, particularly drugs. Masterfully written and brutally honest... I need a minute to process! I didn't quite love this one as much as the first, but it was a fantastic sequel and I will be reading the final installment, Fallout, right away!
February 23, 2018
3.5/5
This is the sequel to the book, Crank. It explores the aftermath of Kristina’s life after her son, Hunter, is born. I found it to be a bit slower and less engaging than the first.
This is the sequel to the book, Crank. It explores the aftermath of Kristina’s life after her son, Hunter, is born. I found it to be a bit slower and less engaging than the first.
February 10, 2024
When I read these, I can't help but read them from the POV of a mom. And it hurts. I want to save Kristina from herself.
Ellen Hopkins writes adolescence from a thriller-reality perspective. She is taking on the role of Kristina's life as her drug addiction evolves from street-grade Crank to the higher-quality Glass.
At the end of the first book: CRANK, Kristina finds out she is pregnant. So now she is dealing with the obligations of being a 17/18-year-old, motherhood, and addiction.
The format of these books are wonderfully done. While there was less "crazy" to this installment in the series, it was still well-done. If readers think that some of these jacked-up situations are overly embellished, then they have never been involved in or on the peripheries of a drug addict. These messed up situations happen when someone loses themselves and their logical reasoning to addiction. The survival instinct becomes entwined with the addiction and does not provide much sound decision-making ability outside of its tie to addiction.
I will definitely be reading the final book of this trilogy, but I'm a little apprehensive of what luck is left for Kristina. Ellen Hopkins is an enjoyable author to read, and I will also check out her other work.
4 Stars for me.
Ellen Hopkins writes adolescence from a thriller-reality perspective. She is taking on the role of Kristina's life as her drug addiction evolves from street-grade Crank to the higher-quality Glass.
At the end of the first book: CRANK, Kristina finds out she is pregnant. So now she is dealing with the obligations of being a 17/18-year-old, motherhood, and addiction.
The format of these books are wonderfully done. While there was less "crazy" to this installment in the series, it was still well-done. If readers think that some of these jacked-up situations are overly embellished, then they have never been involved in or on the peripheries of a drug addict. These messed up situations happen when someone loses themselves and their logical reasoning to addiction. The survival instinct becomes entwined with the addiction and does not provide much sound decision-making ability outside of its tie to addiction.
I will definitely be reading the final book of this trilogy, but I'm a little apprehensive of what luck is left for Kristina. Ellen Hopkins is an enjoyable author to read, and I will also check out her other work.
4 Stars for me.
November 1, 2015
Sequel to Crank.. In Crank we left Kristina having a baby, watching her mom cuddle with her baby as Kristina walks out the door to go do crank/ crack/ meth whatever.
WELCOME TO GLASS........
"Crank, glass, ice, crystal. Whatever you call it, it's all the same, a monster! And once it's got ahold of you, this monster will never let go."
Kristina/ Bree her evil split personality, hooks up with old partying loser friends to score of course and she meets Trey. A new hot guy/ supplier. Starts a new job at 7-eleven where she finds another supplier and can work to get cash to buy yes you guessed it more crank.
So this sequel is mostly about Kristina/Bree spinning completely out of control AGAIN! Shit I was really hoping after having her baby she would clean up. But she doesn't and apparently she hasn't hit rock bottom yet.
She does a whole bunch of grade A glass/crank whatever and eventually gets kicked out of her house. Goes to live with Treys cousin. Who has a endless supply of crank! Yaaaa good choice... NOT! Then Treys cousin decides to quit drugs and introduces Kristina to the Mexican Drug cartel. NOT GOOD! She and Trey end up in a shit whole weekly motel, run out of money, steal blank checks from her mom, score tons of crank and tells Mexican Mafia she is good for it. And she bounces. Tries to flee out of town and heads for California with Trey. Cops find them sleeping in their car in a Mcdonalds parking lot with a ton of drugs, warrant for arrest. BOOM.... You go straight to jail. And guess what??? Oh yes it gets even worse!! She's pregnant AGAIN! And yes folks this book is fucked up. Moral of the story.... DONT DO DRUGS! It's that simple.
Well this author did it again. This book is so addicting even though it is so messed up and traumatic to read. I could not stop reading it. Looking forward to the final book in this messed up trilogy.
WELCOME TO GLASS........
"Crank, glass, ice, crystal. Whatever you call it, it's all the same, a monster! And once it's got ahold of you, this monster will never let go."
Kristina/ Bree her evil split personality, hooks up with old partying loser friends to score of course and she meets Trey. A new hot guy/ supplier. Starts a new job at 7-eleven where she finds another supplier and can work to get cash to buy yes you guessed it more crank.
So this sequel is mostly about Kristina/Bree spinning completely out of control AGAIN! Shit I was really hoping after having her baby she would clean up. But she doesn't and apparently she hasn't hit rock bottom yet.
She does a whole bunch of grade A glass/crank whatever and eventually gets kicked out of her house. Goes to live with Treys cousin. Who has a endless supply of crank! Yaaaa good choice... NOT! Then Treys cousin decides to quit drugs and introduces Kristina to the Mexican Drug cartel. NOT GOOD! She and Trey end up in a shit whole weekly motel, run out of money, steal blank checks from her mom, score tons of crank and tells Mexican Mafia she is good for it. And she bounces. Tries to flee out of town and heads for California with Trey. Cops find them sleeping in their car in a Mcdonalds parking lot with a ton of drugs, warrant for arrest. BOOM.... You go straight to jail. And guess what??? Oh yes it gets even worse!! She's pregnant AGAIN! And yes folks this book is fucked up. Moral of the story.... DONT DO DRUGS! It's that simple.
Well this author did it again. This book is so addicting even though it is so messed up and traumatic to read. I could not stop reading it. Looking forward to the final book in this messed up trilogy.
October 25, 2015
“Life was radical right after I met the monster.
Later, life became harder, complicated.
Ultimately, a living hell, like swimming against a riptide,
Walking the wrong direction in the fast lane of the freeway,
Waking from sweetest dreams to find yourself in the middle of a nightmare.”
_______________________________
One word: Fantastic
(Sidenote: This is essentially going to be a re-review of Crank, because I don't want to spoil you. Thus, it will also be very brief.)
It's a common thing for books to have what is dubbed as "second book syndrome". Glass is the complete opposite of a book with second book syndrome. With a plot that builds upon the first that inexplicably draws you in to check in with Kristina and the monster, Glass is an experience to read, as it's predecessor Crank was. Both of them (and all of her books) have outstanding writing and a roller-coaster like plot.
1) The Plot
As this is the second book in a trilogy, and if you're like me and a spoiler magnet and someone who detests spoilers, I will not go deep into the synopsis. If you
The first book Crank was about someone who had the perfect life getting destroyed by her newfound addiction to crank and her eventual downfall. And as stated in the previous review, Ellen's daughter also had an addiction to crystal meth so Ellen really understands things.
2) The Main Character
As also stated in the previous review, Kristina/Bree is the main character. Just to clarify, she's not schizophrenic; it's just a facade she wears when the monster gets in her system. And I pictured her as Taissa Farmiga.
3) The Writing
You should know by now how much I love her writing, but if you don't, I LOVE her writing.
-“But how do you tell your heart, “No, don't swell with magic, you'll only burst?” How do you tell it to clamp itself off from possibilities? God knows I don't need more pain in life. Why did I invite it in? Do I have to feel pain to believe I feel anything at all?”
-“Six months since we met up
again we are inseparable,
an intricate weave.
No longer do I believe
this is a temporary fling.
More like total commitment.
More like I have walked
down the aisle, holding
hands with the monster.”
-“I have to tell him how much I miss him when he's not here. So I snug my face against his pulse in his neck. "I love you" I wait, barely about to breathe. He tightens his arms around me. "I know, and how lucky that makes me." I watch him go, wondering just what the fuck that meant to me.”
4) Overall Thoughts
She's a goddess.
★★★★★/5 stars!
November 10, 2016
This book made me sob, blow a fuse, and laugh all at the same time! Man, what a great book. This book was the second installment of the Crank series, and I can say it did not disappoint.
It follows Kristina as she spirals into the depths of a meth addiction. And it paints a pretty accurate picture of what addiction can do, and the horrible impact it have on an individual and the people they love. Kristina's serial has the reader often times wishing they could knock some sense into her, and help her get back on the right path. Man... Do I just want to give her a hug.
The plot and the pacing of the book is pretty slow, but the reader gets hooked because they want to know what happens. And believe me, I will pick up the 3rd book and finish this series.
This book broke my heart and broke my soul. This book is not a light read. It is full of drug use and full of themes that are for very mature audiences. None the less, I hope people will read this book and take the message to heart, and see the harm drugs can do. Because this book nails it.
It follows Kristina as she spirals into the depths of a meth addiction. And it paints a pretty accurate picture of what addiction can do, and the horrible impact it have on an individual and the people they love. Kristina's serial has the reader often times wishing they could knock some sense into her, and help her get back on the right path. Man... Do I just want to give her a hug.
The plot and the pacing of the book is pretty slow, but the reader gets hooked because they want to know what happens. And believe me, I will pick up the 3rd book and finish this series.
This book broke my heart and broke my soul. This book is not a light read. It is full of drug use and full of themes that are for very mature audiences. None the less, I hope people will read this book and take the message to heart, and see the harm drugs can do. Because this book nails it.
September 30, 2016
Wow. I don't know what else to say about this sequel to Crank, another favorite of mine. Ellen Hopkins has once again managed to blow me away. There were so many unexpected twists and turns in Glass, and I can honestly say that every single page held my complete attention. Glass is without a doubt one of my favorite books I have ever read.
Read
April 25, 2020My 3rd Ellen Hopkins book finished :)
The very well written second book in the crank series.
This one pretty much picks right up after the ending of crank.
And at first I was excited to be around the cast of characters again.
But to be honest I was not pleased with the character.
We weren't around the OG characters that much, and instead got to hang around a whole new one.
They also felt very real, and I know for a fact that those characters really resemble real life people with drug problems.
But the thing I was least pleased about was Kristina. Damn she was .. just fucking up her life.
She was like "oh damn I should not do this, its bad and selfish"
and then totally does the thing she's telling herself not to do.
And you know, the thing is that this is how is goes in real life.
But she wasn't really like that in the first book at all.
But in overall I liked this book. It's just a very importend one.
I am really looking forward to the last book in the series. (just read when it takes place, and damnn)
This book was longer then the first one. But I felt like it was needed. Still read it in one day (verse written book)
I liked the first one more, but this is a good sequel .
i have so much respect for Ellen Hopkins. I will read all of her book, and I mean that.
The very well written second book in the crank series.
This one pretty much picks right up after the ending of crank.
And at first I was excited to be around the cast of characters again.
But to be honest I was not pleased with the character.
We weren't around the OG characters that much, and instead got to hang around a whole new one.
They also felt very real, and I know for a fact that those characters really resemble real life people with drug problems.
But the thing I was least pleased about was Kristina. Damn she was .. just fucking up her life.
She was like "oh damn I should not do this, its bad and selfish"
and then totally does the thing she's telling herself not to do.
And you know, the thing is that this is how is goes in real life.
But she wasn't really like that in the first book at all.
But in overall I liked this book. It's just a very importend one.
I am really looking forward to the last book in the series. (just read when it takes place, and damnn)
This book was longer then the first one. But I felt like it was needed. Still read it in one day (verse written book)
I liked the first one more, but this is a good sequel .
i have so much respect for Ellen Hopkins. I will read all of her book, and I mean that.
January 2, 2018
Perhaps this is why I don't like trilogies: Been there, done that...in other words, I never find the second as riveting as the first. Ellen Hopkins is a very, very talented writer. I loved Crank because it was difficult (and easy) to read, because it was jarring and shocking, because it was captivating and (dare I say...I'm sure others have...) addictive. The writing style was new to me, unique, and utterly flawless. How can you follow that?!? I would have believed in a second that she herself was a meth addict simply because the writing felt that authentic. I found it tremendously sad that these books were born of her daughters personal struggle.
Glass was the continuation of the same story but for me it felt less poetic. I still admired the structure of the book but it felt different than the first. The story was much grittier, very believable. I will most likely try the final book and if I finish the series, that will be a first for me. 3.5
Glass was the continuation of the same story but for me it felt less poetic. I still admired the structure of the book but it felt different than the first. The story was much grittier, very believable. I will most likely try the final book and if I finish the series, that will be a first for me. 3.5
May 28, 2008
After I was done with Crank, I learned that there was a sequel to it. The name is Glass. I was disappointed with this book compared to, Crank but it still was an awesome book.
Glass picks up right off where Crank ended. This girl is still all messed up on drugs and has many other problems to go along with that. She keeps driving her family further and further away. Later she gets so bad that instead of buying it and using it, she is now dealing it. This tends to get her into a lot of trouble. She loses her child; she gets raped multiple times, and has not had contact with her family in over a year. It always seems like she gets into a situation every time she makes a deal.
This book is similar to Crank, along the lines of what you learn from the story. If your wondering what drugs are out there and how they mess you up, this series of Ellen Hopkins books are for you.
Glass picks up right off where Crank ended. This girl is still all messed up on drugs and has many other problems to go along with that. She keeps driving her family further and further away. Later she gets so bad that instead of buying it and using it, she is now dealing it. This tends to get her into a lot of trouble. She loses her child; she gets raped multiple times, and has not had contact with her family in over a year. It always seems like she gets into a situation every time she makes a deal.
This book is similar to Crank, along the lines of what you learn from the story. If your wondering what drugs are out there and how they mess you up, this series of Ellen Hopkins books are for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2014
I am almost at a loss for words because of the end of this book. And to be honest, the entire series, so far, has me either speechless, or emotional. Or a mixture of both. This is the second book in the Crank trilogy, and I am torn between feeling a sadness at finishing the trilogy, happy I'm starting a new book, dying to know what happens, but at the same time, not wanting to know what happens to Kristina.
This is a series which has had me feeling every emotion possible, and even some emotions which I feel guilty about feeling, but I can't help it, though. The first book, Crank, had me feeling just sad, all-around sad, because of Kristina's new friend and life. But also the circumstance which got her into this new life and her new friend, The Monster. I was angry, as well, because of that circumstance. Up until Glass, I didn't really blame Kristina, and felt like her problems were not really her fault. But now....
I want to slap this girl. I want to slap her so hard, she gets kicked out of her addiction. The ENTIRE time I read Glass, (Well, the first few pages are an exception), I blamed Kristina and angry with her, and NOT the person I blamed before in Crank. This time, the responsibility of her drug addiction is completely her own. It is amazing (I don't mean this in a good way), how much drugs can change someone. And change them for the worse. When you think it's gotten bad, it can get a WHOLE lot worse, and it does for Kristina.
I feel like her mom, Marie, has gotten a bit stronger, and I really liked she has kind of taken a bit more control. Especially with something happening towards the end, I felt as though her mom grew to be a bit more respectable in my eyes. In the first book, Crank, I didn't have any respect for her. There are times where I felt like she enabled Kristina a bit, but in the end, for me, the story in Glass was all Kristina's fault. In the beginning, I really thought she had a great chance to recover, to change, and live a better life. Apparently, I was way wrong. So wrong in fact, it shocked me a bit to see the lengths Kristina went to feed her addiction.
I feel like I've learned a lot about the awful effects drug addiction has on someone. I could never imagine not caring about myself, my family, my friends, losing my family and friends, and just the whole scheme of it. I could never imagine not caring about what I put into my body, when meth is such a toxic, dangerous drug. What I've learned, has scared me. Scared me for the people who are hooked on it, scared me for the people who will become addicted to meth, and scared me for the children of those people. This story, these books, make me feel lucky I didn't get mixed up with the wrong people. They make me feel lucky I have people who care enough about me to push me towards the right paths, instead of the wrong ones. I feel lucky I have a good head on my shoulders and know better. I did come from a broken home, and with my mother not around, I could see how someone like myself could have gotten mixed up with drugs. But Kristina's story makes me grateful I am me and not her.
This is a series which has had me feeling every emotion possible, and even some emotions which I feel guilty about feeling, but I can't help it, though. The first book, Crank, had me feeling just sad, all-around sad, because of Kristina's new friend and life. But also the circumstance which got her into this new life and her new friend, The Monster. I was angry, as well, because of that circumstance. Up until Glass, I didn't really blame Kristina, and felt like her problems were not really her fault. But now....
I want to slap this girl. I want to slap her so hard, she gets kicked out of her addiction. The ENTIRE time I read Glass, (Well, the first few pages are an exception), I blamed Kristina and angry with her, and NOT the person I blamed before in Crank. This time, the responsibility of her drug addiction is completely her own. It is amazing (I don't mean this in a good way), how much drugs can change someone. And change them for the worse. When you think it's gotten bad, it can get a WHOLE lot worse, and it does for Kristina.
I feel like her mom, Marie, has gotten a bit stronger, and I really liked she has kind of taken a bit more control. Especially with something happening towards the end, I felt as though her mom grew to be a bit more respectable in my eyes. In the first book, Crank, I didn't have any respect for her. There are times where I felt like she enabled Kristina a bit, but in the end, for me, the story in Glass was all Kristina's fault. In the beginning, I really thought she had a great chance to recover, to change, and live a better life. Apparently, I was way wrong. So wrong in fact, it shocked me a bit to see the lengths Kristina went to feed her addiction.
I feel like I've learned a lot about the awful effects drug addiction has on someone. I could never imagine not caring about myself, my family, my friends, losing my family and friends, and just the whole scheme of it. I could never imagine not caring about what I put into my body, when meth is such a toxic, dangerous drug. What I've learned, has scared me. Scared me for the people who are hooked on it, scared me for the people who will become addicted to meth, and scared me for the children of those people. This story, these books, make me feel lucky I didn't get mixed up with the wrong people. They make me feel lucky I have people who care enough about me to push me towards the right paths, instead of the wrong ones. I feel lucky I have a good head on my shoulders and know better. I did come from a broken home, and with my mother not around, I could see how someone like myself could have gotten mixed up with drugs. But Kristina's story makes me grateful I am me and not her.
November 22, 2009
There has to be a third book, because this girl needs to die. I will not be satisfied until that selfish, dirty, deceitful bitch dies. The way she treated her son made me want to cry, and in no way was I sad for her. I was sad for her poor, helpless baby. Stuck under a chair, sucking on a bleeding lip, and crawling on the floor among ashes and meth. Are we supposed to feel sorry for the pathetic, worthless piece of shit that is his mother? I need there to be another book that includes her death, just so I can be satisfied with the time I've wasted on reading the first two.
October 10, 2025
The downward spiral of the character Kristina Georgia Snow, begun in Crank, continues in this second novel, 'Glass', written by Ellen Hopkins. Now only eighteen years old, Kristina's irresistible addiction to Meth makes the probability of her seeing a nineteenth birthday less certain....
Excerpt from 'Glass':
"Mom can't have a clue
About what we just did [stole her mother's money, jewelry and checks],
Where we just came from [breaking into her mother's house].
But she definitely knows we're high.
She gives Hunter [Kristina's baby] to Scott [Kristina's stepfather], pulls me down
the steps, behind the bleachers.
Trey [Kristina's dealer/lover] stays behind
Mom puts her hands on my
cheeks, squeezes as she looks
into my eyes. I can imagine how they look.
God, Kristina. Look at you. If you keep
this up, you're going to die.
Are you trying to die?
I can't look that bad, can
I? (You can. Do. But play
the game. Deny.) "What do you mean?"
Concern becomes anger. You know what
I mean. Jesus. How stupid
do you think I am? I know
fucked up when I see it, and
you're fucked up every time
I see you. You've got to stop. Or die.
"Don't you get it, Mom? I really don't
give a shit if I die. What,
exactly, is there to live for?"
Holy crap. Did I just say
that? And did I mean it?
Damn, maybe I really did.
Mom's eyes tear up. There's not a lot
more to say, is there?
I'm your mother, and
I'll always love you. But
I can't watch this any
more. Clean up. Or don't call again."
Ellen Hopkins, the author of this trilogy, watched her real-life daughter not only destroy herself, but also severely affect the lives of her real-life three children and her birth family and siblings by her addiction to methamphetamine, otherwise known as Meth.
From Wikipedia:
"In low to moderate doses, methamphetamine can elevate mood, increase alertness, concentration and energy in fatigued individuals, reduce appetite, and promote weight loss. At very high doses, it can induce psychosis, breakdown of skeletal muscle, seizures and bleeding in the brain. Chronic high-dose use can precipitate unpredictable and rapid mood swings, stimulant psychosis (e.g., paranoia, hallucinations, delirium, and delusions) and violent behavior. Recreationally, methamphetamine's ability to increase energy has been reported to lift mood and increase sexual desire to such an extent that users are able to engage in sexual activity continuously for several days.
Methamphetamine is known to possess a high addiction liability (i.e., a high likelihood that long-term or high dose use will lead to compulsive drug use) and high dependence liability (i.e. a high likelihood that withdrawal symptoms will occur when methamphetamine use ceases). Heavy recreational use of methamphetamine may lead to a post-acute-withdrawal syndrome, which can persist for months beyond the typical withdrawal period. Unlike amphetamine, methamphetamine is neurotoxic to human midbrain dopaminergic neurons.
It has also been shown to damage serotonin neurons in the CNS. This damage includes adverse changes in brain structure and function, such as reductions in grey matter volume in several brain regions and adverse changes in markers of metabolic integrity."
If you feel you do not want to read the novel 'Glass' by Ellen Hopkins or any of the other books in this fascinating semi-autobiographical trilogy about drug addiction, gentle reader, then I suggest watching this interesting YouTube video, which is a short memoir about being addicted to meth:
https://youtu.be/dQVb6Cd-w8s
Also, another video, Faces of meth:
https://youtu.be/iBnDzNaLdy8
A science-oriented video:
https://youtu.be/oI7IfB13DT8
Many of us do not have much experience with this kind of apocalyptic addiction. My addictions to books, reading, and smoking cigarettes for ten years before I quit forty years ago, did and does not affect me in such an immediately destructive manner.
I suffer from mild asthma from smoking at this point. It affects me to a slight degree. The inhalers are expensive, but at this point, going without does not mean cravings or withdrawal. Inhalers are covered partially by health insurance if you have insurance. Neither an asthma attack (mild, as I mentioned) nor the inhalers cause me immediate brain damage or cell alteration as far as I can tell. Shut up.
I quit smoking when a pack of cigarettes (20 cigarettes a pack) cost 75 cents and a carton (20 packs) was $20, which was only a small dent in maintaining my financial condition at the time. Cigarettes were legal and sold openly everywhere. As I was young and beautiful and cool (shut up) the effects of smoking were not visible on my skin or eyes - yet (wrinkles, shut up).
The possible damage to my body from smoking cigarettes takes forty-sixty years to show itself. Up until the seventh year of smoking, I wasn't ostracized socially anywhere for smoking. Smoking for eleven years never caused me once to be emotionally unstable, psychotic or too physically high to go to work (although quitting made of me a class-one bitch for awhile, like for only a month, right? Shut up.).
Nicotine did not cause tunnel vision (except that first inhalation in the morning after waking up. Shut up). I saw the filth that occasionally accumulated in my abode, enough to impel cleaning my house once a week. Ok, maybe twice a month. I budgeted and planned for expenses (or buying books), and buying cigarettes did not damage me or my family financially.
Many of us have mild or moderate addictions. (I am dying for a cup of coffee right now. Shut up.) Many of us have experienced withdrawals (how long has it been since you picked up your cell phone to see what has happened since the last time you checked it, hmmmm?).
But no addiction is as terrible or horrific as that of being addicted to these hardcore drugs - opioids, heroin, meth, cocaine. It is amazing to me now that many of my peers, and yes, me to some degree, back in the 1960's and 1970's, flirted with Death and addiction so casually at parties when we swallowed unknown pills and smoked unknown substances at the insistence of peer pressure and wanting acceptance from 'friends' we barely knew. (Do you know very many 'friends' last names whom you meet at parties? Where they live? Know if they are lying about marital status, jobs, schools?) I know I judged people when I was young by their slender bodies, cool clothes and stylish haircuts more than any other criteria.
Sigh. So stupid.
I was lucky. I hope, gentle reader, so were you.
Excerpt from 'Glass':
"Mom can't have a clue
About what we just did [stole her mother's money, jewelry and checks],
Where we just came from [breaking into her mother's house].
But she definitely knows we're high.
She gives Hunter [Kristina's baby] to Scott [Kristina's stepfather], pulls me down
the steps, behind the bleachers.
Trey [Kristina's dealer/lover] stays behind
Mom puts her hands on my
cheeks, squeezes as she looks
into my eyes. I can imagine how they look.
God, Kristina. Look at you. If you keep
this up, you're going to die.
Are you trying to die?
I can't look that bad, can
I? (You can. Do. But play
the game. Deny.) "What do you mean?"
Concern becomes anger. You know what
I mean. Jesus. How stupid
do you think I am? I know
fucked up when I see it, and
you're fucked up every time
I see you. You've got to stop. Or die.
"Don't you get it, Mom? I really don't
give a shit if I die. What,
exactly, is there to live for?"
Holy crap. Did I just say
that? And did I mean it?
Damn, maybe I really did.
Mom's eyes tear up. There's not a lot
more to say, is there?
I'm your mother, and
I'll always love you. But
I can't watch this any
more. Clean up. Or don't call again."
Ellen Hopkins, the author of this trilogy, watched her real-life daughter not only destroy herself, but also severely affect the lives of her real-life three children and her birth family and siblings by her addiction to methamphetamine, otherwise known as Meth.
From Wikipedia:
"In low to moderate doses, methamphetamine can elevate mood, increase alertness, concentration and energy in fatigued individuals, reduce appetite, and promote weight loss. At very high doses, it can induce psychosis, breakdown of skeletal muscle, seizures and bleeding in the brain. Chronic high-dose use can precipitate unpredictable and rapid mood swings, stimulant psychosis (e.g., paranoia, hallucinations, delirium, and delusions) and violent behavior. Recreationally, methamphetamine's ability to increase energy has been reported to lift mood and increase sexual desire to such an extent that users are able to engage in sexual activity continuously for several days.
Methamphetamine is known to possess a high addiction liability (i.e., a high likelihood that long-term or high dose use will lead to compulsive drug use) and high dependence liability (i.e. a high likelihood that withdrawal symptoms will occur when methamphetamine use ceases). Heavy recreational use of methamphetamine may lead to a post-acute-withdrawal syndrome, which can persist for months beyond the typical withdrawal period. Unlike amphetamine, methamphetamine is neurotoxic to human midbrain dopaminergic neurons.
It has also been shown to damage serotonin neurons in the CNS. This damage includes adverse changes in brain structure and function, such as reductions in grey matter volume in several brain regions and adverse changes in markers of metabolic integrity."
If you feel you do not want to read the novel 'Glass' by Ellen Hopkins or any of the other books in this fascinating semi-autobiographical trilogy about drug addiction, gentle reader, then I suggest watching this interesting YouTube video, which is a short memoir about being addicted to meth:
https://youtu.be/dQVb6Cd-w8s
Also, another video, Faces of meth:
https://youtu.be/iBnDzNaLdy8
A science-oriented video:
https://youtu.be/oI7IfB13DT8
Many of us do not have much experience with this kind of apocalyptic addiction. My addictions to books, reading, and smoking cigarettes for ten years before I quit forty years ago, did and does not affect me in such an immediately destructive manner.
I suffer from mild asthma from smoking at this point. It affects me to a slight degree. The inhalers are expensive, but at this point, going without does not mean cravings or withdrawal. Inhalers are covered partially by health insurance if you have insurance. Neither an asthma attack (mild, as I mentioned) nor the inhalers cause me immediate brain damage or cell alteration as far as I can tell. Shut up.
I quit smoking when a pack of cigarettes (20 cigarettes a pack) cost 75 cents and a carton (20 packs) was $20, which was only a small dent in maintaining my financial condition at the time. Cigarettes were legal and sold openly everywhere. As I was young and beautiful and cool (shut up) the effects of smoking were not visible on my skin or eyes - yet (wrinkles, shut up).
The possible damage to my body from smoking cigarettes takes forty-sixty years to show itself. Up until the seventh year of smoking, I wasn't ostracized socially anywhere for smoking. Smoking for eleven years never caused me once to be emotionally unstable, psychotic or too physically high to go to work (although quitting made of me a class-one bitch for awhile, like for only a month, right? Shut up.).
Nicotine did not cause tunnel vision (except that first inhalation in the morning after waking up. Shut up). I saw the filth that occasionally accumulated in my abode, enough to impel cleaning my house once a week. Ok, maybe twice a month. I budgeted and planned for expenses (or buying books), and buying cigarettes did not damage me or my family financially.
Many of us have mild or moderate addictions. (I am dying for a cup of coffee right now. Shut up.) Many of us have experienced withdrawals (how long has it been since you picked up your cell phone to see what has happened since the last time you checked it, hmmmm?).
But no addiction is as terrible or horrific as that of being addicted to these hardcore drugs - opioids, heroin, meth, cocaine. It is amazing to me now that many of my peers, and yes, me to some degree, back in the 1960's and 1970's, flirted with Death and addiction so casually at parties when we swallowed unknown pills and smoked unknown substances at the insistence of peer pressure and wanting acceptance from 'friends' we barely knew. (Do you know very many 'friends' last names whom you meet at parties? Where they live? Know if they are lying about marital status, jobs, schools?) I know I judged people when I was young by their slender bodies, cool clothes and stylish haircuts more than any other criteria.
Sigh. So stupid.
I was lucky. I hope, gentle reader, so were you.
November 17, 2018
Check out this review and others on my blog: https://thriftybibliophile.com
Glass by Ellen Hopkins picks up where Crank left off. Kristina, now saddled with a baby, can't shake the firm hold of the monster. Drug addiction is ugly, and Kristina will do anything for the monster, including parting with her family and leaving her baby behind.
This book was intense! I know, I know, I'm about 10 years behind on this trilogy, but I'm really enjoying it now that I've picked it it up. Like Crank, Glass provided an intimate look inside the ugliness and horrors of meth addiction. Someone on bookish Twitter tipped me off that the Crank trilogy is based off of the life of Ellen's daughter. That makes the books so much sadder and startling. If you want to know the real story, head over to Ellen Hopkin's author page. She talks about it in detail there.
With the monster nipping at Kristina's heels, the book soared in pace. It was well-written and easy to read. As someone who understands the horrors of meth firsthand (I have family members who are addicts), I think this book provided an accurate window into this world. Meth is ugly, and the book doesn't hold back sharing its repulsiveness. Kristina wanted to break free of the monster in Glass, and yet she couldn't get away from it. She craved it as much as she despised it. The emotional contrasts made Glass a fascinating read.
I think Glass was sadder than Crank simply because Kristina's child, Hunter, was involved. Kristina wanted to do right by Hunter but was incapable of being a good mother. Fortunately, Hunter had amazing grandparents willing to step up to the plate to care for him.
The book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. I'll definitely be picking up the next audiobook to see what happens next.
The characters in Glass were all thoughtfully constructed. Kristina was never painted as a bad person--the monster was bad, and the monster controlled her. The monster really becomes a character in itself in the books, which I like. The monster is the "bad guy."
I listened to this book on audiobook format, which was awesome. These books are well-suited to audio, and the narrator does a wonderful job.
If you're like me and never read these books when they first came out, I highly recommend you check them out!
Glass by Ellen Hopkins picks up where Crank left off. Kristina, now saddled with a baby, can't shake the firm hold of the monster. Drug addiction is ugly, and Kristina will do anything for the monster, including parting with her family and leaving her baby behind.
This book was intense! I know, I know, I'm about 10 years behind on this trilogy, but I'm really enjoying it now that I've picked it it up. Like Crank, Glass provided an intimate look inside the ugliness and horrors of meth addiction. Someone on bookish Twitter tipped me off that the Crank trilogy is based off of the life of Ellen's daughter. That makes the books so much sadder and startling. If you want to know the real story, head over to Ellen Hopkin's author page. She talks about it in detail there.
With the monster nipping at Kristina's heels, the book soared in pace. It was well-written and easy to read. As someone who understands the horrors of meth firsthand (I have family members who are addicts), I think this book provided an accurate window into this world. Meth is ugly, and the book doesn't hold back sharing its repulsiveness. Kristina wanted to break free of the monster in Glass, and yet she couldn't get away from it. She craved it as much as she despised it. The emotional contrasts made Glass a fascinating read.
I think Glass was sadder than Crank simply because Kristina's child, Hunter, was involved. Kristina wanted to do right by Hunter but was incapable of being a good mother. Fortunately, Hunter had amazing grandparents willing to step up to the plate to care for him.
The book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. I'll definitely be picking up the next audiobook to see what happens next.
The characters in Glass were all thoughtfully constructed. Kristina was never painted as a bad person--the monster was bad, and the monster controlled her. The monster really becomes a character in itself in the books, which I like. The monster is the "bad guy."
I listened to this book on audiobook format, which was awesome. These books are well-suited to audio, and the narrator does a wonderful job.
If you're like me and never read these books when they first came out, I highly recommend you check them out!
February 14, 2023
i’ve never wanted to slap a character more than i do right now. kristina must be thinking “let’s make the worst choices possible!! that’s sounds like a good idea!”
May 10, 2024
This was okay. Definitely stand by it being so compelling and interesting when I was a teen, but as an adult there’s kind of a lot of homophobia and also it does NOT seem to be written by someone who has actually experienced addiction, just someone who has watched someone else have one.
June 28, 2016
Basic Info
Format: Audio
Pages/Length: n/a
Genre: Young Adult; Verse
Reason For Reading: Keep reading the series.
At A Glance
Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsession?: No.
Cliff Hanger: eh
Triggers: Drug Abuse.
Rating: 3 stars.
Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 8
Plot: 7
Characters: 7
World Building: 7
Flow: 7
Series Congruity: 8
Writing: 8
Ending: 7
Total: 7
In Dept
Best Part: The baby is happy.
Worst Part: I want to kill the B.
Thoughts Had: You dense mother trucker.
Conclusion
Continuing the Series: Yes
Recommending: Yes
Short Review: Right after i finished this, i gave it a 2 star rating, i have since bumped it to 3. I think i was so pissed at the MC, it clouded my mind and i rated wrongly. I liked the book. It kept well with the first book. I just can't be happy with the MC. Stop taking the damn drugs and take care of your damn child. I am so glad her mother took the baby. I am getting mad again just writing about it. Gosh. Drugs are bad kids. Her mother needs to step up thou really, put the MC into rehab or admit her for her own good at the police station to force her through withdraw.
Misc.
Book Boyfriend: Pass.
Best Friend Material: Pass
February 23, 2011
Despite many recommendations from my classmates, I really don't like this series that much. It's not the kind of thing I obsess over. It's not that it's not a good series, it's just not my type of book. I can see why it can be appealing to so readers(it's based on real events in the author's life, a lot of teens can relate to it, and it is incredibly sad), but I can't seem to sympathize with the main character at all.
One of the worst parts of this book was that it dragged and was slightly boring. Also, she was making such bad decisions, it was even obvious to her, and she barely even tried to change her ways. She just kept relapsing, and hurting the ones she loved. She couldn't even clean herself up for the sake of her son. She let "Bree" (her inner self who got her into this situation) take over and chose to get addicted to meth again instead of taking responsibility. Despite hating her incredibly stupid decisions, I didn't hate this book. It wasn't terrible. It can be an interesting read for some people, including me. It gives you an insight on how terrible that lifestyle can be. Plus, it's not a hard read because it's written in free-verse, so the book goes by fast, and it's written like how the author thought a teenager's mind would sound.
There is a LOT of cursing, and it is a little graphic at times, so I wouldn't recommend this to some. To those who can handle it, and enjoy genres like this, I say try it. You might get more out of it than I did.
One of the worst parts of this book was that it dragged and was slightly boring. Also, she was making such bad decisions, it was even obvious to her, and she barely even tried to change her ways. She just kept relapsing, and hurting the ones she loved. She couldn't even clean herself up for the sake of her son. She let "Bree" (her inner self who got her into this situation) take over and chose to get addicted to meth again instead of taking responsibility. Despite hating her incredibly stupid decisions, I didn't hate this book. It wasn't terrible. It can be an interesting read for some people, including me. It gives you an insight on how terrible that lifestyle can be. Plus, it's not a hard read because it's written in free-verse, so the book goes by fast, and it's written like how the author thought a teenager's mind would sound.
There is a LOT of cursing, and it is a little graphic at times, so I wouldn't recommend this to some. To those who can handle it, and enjoy genres like this, I say try it. You might get more out of it than I did.
February 14, 2025
it took me forever to finish because of school BUT I finished like 75% of it in two days. This was an amazing book, it helped me to understand many sides to addiction, and the ups and downs that come with it. This book, at many times, made me frustrated, but that’s how I know it’s a good book. Make sure you read the few poems past the ending, it really hits hard. I may have cried a bit. I’d really recommend this, especially to someone who may have a similar family member or friend. It’s hard to read, but Ellen did a phenomenal job with making it accurate, or at least seem that way.
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