Travus actually gave me this book. It wasn’t his favorite, but he thought I would enjoy it, and he wasn’t wrong.
Written by Ellen Hopkins, told in free verse, this novel follows the story of a high school student who struggles with a difficult family life and issues of self-esteem. Her life takes a drastic turn when she visits her father.
While with her father, she is introduced to “Crank” (a street name for meth) which as expected becomes a destructive force in her life. What begins as a way to escape her pain and find excitement transforms into an uncontrollable addiction that drastically changes her personality, relationships, and life.
She loses control, and her once-normal life unravels. Her relationships with her family, friends, and potential love interests become strained, and she faces a downward spiral of dangerous decisions.
The novel portrays the struggle of addiction and its consequences, showcasing the painful transformation an addict undergoes as they become consumed by the drug.
As a recovering addict now and at the time I first read this, I have to say this was written so beautifully. I devoured this book so fast. There are a few more she wrote after this that I have not read yet, but they are on my TBR.
“The monster is me.”
