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Book Review: Glass by Ellen Hopkins
December 9th, 2010
Ellen Hopkins is fast becoming a favorite author for me. Even though I don’t normally like novels told in verse, I do really enjoy hers. After reading Crank, I had to pick up Glass right away and find out what came next for Kristina in her fight against the ‘monster’ (crank – crystal meth). I’ve been completely taken by Kristina’s life and struggles with her drug addiction. At times I am horrified by her behavior but you have to stop and think it’s the drug causing her actions. It’s such a highly addictive drug and lifestyle once you’ve been sucked into it.
Kristina has been doing pretty good where the crank is concerned. She’s trying to take care of her son Hunter while living at home with her mother and working at the local 7-11. The only thing is she’s feeling pretty unattractive after having the baby and she thinks, what can it hurt? Just a little here and there will help her lose weight and give her more energy to care for her son. This time though things fall into place much easier for Kristina. She finds it much easier to get the drugs and a better quality drug at that. In no time at all she is completely immersed in the ‘life’ again with no regard for her life and more importantly for her son’s life.
While Kristina has been assuming that nobody knows she’s back on the crank, she is surprised to find out that her mom and Scott knew all along. At one point Kristina puts her son Hunter in danger and her mother finally blows up. She tells Kristina to go and get her life together; that she can’t have Hunter until she is capable of properly caring for a baby. So Kristina leaves vowing she’ll get herself together and get her son back one day.
She ends up living with the cousin of her latest boyfriend and life turns into one continuous loop of drugs and sex. She knows she’s heading down a bad path but she hasn’t the power to stop it and just lives day to day – hit to hit. Selling drugs seems to be the best and easiest way to survive but that never leads to a good end. This installment leaves us knowing that there is more to come and that’s what we get with Fallout, which is available now.
As with Crank, Glass drags us full tilt into the world of a drug addict with first class seats. You can feel the hopelessness in the pages of Kristina’s life. I found Glass even more disturbing than Crank except for being relieved that her son was being taken care of. The life Kristina is living is horrific. There is no care for anything that we, as human beings, normally care about like a clean place to sleep, a job, food and proper care for our kids. She doesn’t care (the drug doesn’t let her/can’t let her) – she only cares about getting her drugs. Such is the life of a drug addict.
I already have Fallout and plan on reading it as soon as I can. I’m definitely anxious to find out how it will all end for Kristina. Will she get off the drugs? Will she get her son back? Will she rebuild her life? Or will she just sink deeper into the life of drugs?
Again, I think these are good books for teens to read but I would still recommend a parent reading them first. Not all parents are appreciative of the blunt directness with which Ellen Hopkins writes. As an adult, I was shocked by some of it but then again this is not a life I’m in any way familiar with. Glass by Ellen Hopkins is another great novel well worth reading and I’m glad I took Staci’s advice and gave both Crank and Glass a read.
© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
My copy of Glass by Ellen Hopkins was purchased by yours truly.
Filed under 2010 Book Reviews, 2010 Chunkster Challenge, 2010 eBook Challenge, 2010 YA Challenge, 2010-100+ Challenge | Comments (17)
Sounds like a compelling series, Dar. I'm glad it lived up to your hopes!
It is hard to imagine life getting so far out of control tha tyou endanger your children's lives but I know it happens everyday. While these reads aren't pleasant, they are important. Great review. I can't wait to hear about the third one!
Cannot. Wait. To. Read. Fallout.
*sigh*
I have to get it from the library stat.
And yes, I agree with your previous post/comment back to me – these books would have been great if read with someone. I have no hardcore reading buddies IRL. I'm looking forward to a couple of RaLs in 2011 so I can at least chat with by book bloggers about the book while reading it!
Afraid you lost me at the word 'verse'.
I was waiting for this review to see if this book would be as good as the last one, and am happy to hear that it is! I think I am going to wait for your third review in this series before I buy the book, but they are all going on my wish list right now. Thanks for an excellent and very enticing set of reviews, Dar!
I haven't heard of this author, but I do like novels in verse when they're done well. Sounds like a heavy book, but I'll keep it in mind.
I really enjoyed the story in Crank but didn't love the story in Verse. You have convinced me to carry on with the series though.
I think Lisa Schroeder is the best at Verse Novels but I think I will try Ellen Hopkins again.
Great detailed review
In response to:
Sandy Nawrot on December 9, 2010 4:49 AM said…
It is hard to imagine life getting so far out of control tha tyou endanger your children's lives but I know it happens everyday. While these reads aren't pleasant, they are important. Great review. I can't wait to hear about the third one!
Sandy, I agree but you see it on the news all the time. I wouldn't endanger my puppy let alone my children if I had them so for me this is one of the hardest parts of these books to read.
Great review. I can't even imagine that kind of life, but I'm not sure I want to read about it either. I hope she gets a happy ending in the last one.
In response to:
christina on December 9, 2010 4:58 AM said…
Cannot. Wait. To. Read. Fallout.
Christina, we should think about reading it together.
In response to:
Marce on December 9, 2010 11:08 AM said…
I really enjoyed the story in Crank but didn't love the story in Verse. You have convinced me to carry on with the series though.
I think Lisa Schroeder is the best at Verse Novels but I think I will try Ellen Hopkins again.
Great detailed review
Marce, I've never liked books written in verse and I was sucked into Hopkins. I've never heard of Lisa Schroeder but I'd be willing to give her books a try as well. Thanks so much.
Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful review. I do not think it is a book for me though, I have one of those days, can't seem to find a book I would enjoy. All are so dark
This does sound intense, I'd have to be in the mood for it.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
In response to:
Blodeuedd on December 9, 2010 1:45 PM said…
Wonderful review. I do not think it is a book for me though, I have one of those days, can't seem to find a book I would enjoy. All are so dark
I agree Linda. Sometimes it does seem like all the descriptions you read are about something dark. That's when it's time to turn to some fluffy reading for a break.
In response to:
naida on December 10, 2010 11:35 AM said…
This does sound intense, I'd have to be in the mood for it.
Naida, I do think this is a book you need to be in a certain mood for. I read them both after Buddy and I think they definitely fit my mood.
Another excellent review!! I'm glad she's grabbed your attention. Her other books are great too!