Watching a horror movie, nothing makes it more scary than seeing the words “Based off of a true story” right before the film begins. The film all of a sudden becomes terrifying from those six small words. Similarly, this still rings true when opening a book about a meth addicted 16 year old girl. The plot piques most people’s interest, but the knowledge of the truthfulness behind it is what makes them fully aware of the story. The realization that this could happen to a neighbor, a friend, or even the reader themselves is alarming. Reading about something as serious as addiction, it is important to know the book’s stance on drugs, but, Crank by Ellen Hopkins should not be banned, because the controversial subject matter of drug use, sex, and
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While the subject matter is intense, this book is based off of not just one, but many true stories. “Nothing in this story is impossible. Much of it happened to us, or to families like ours. Many of the characters are composites of real people” (Hopkins Author’s Note). This situation is happening all around america. “. . . or that they have a seriously warped view of the contemporary teen experience. Unfortunately, few enough young adults live healthy, scrubbed lives. And what' might be deemed ‘inappropriate’ for them is necessary for many others” (Ellen Hopkins Interview). Many kids go through hardship with someone who is struggling with addiction, and this book may be a saving grace of understandment. “If this story speaks out to you, I have accomplished what I setout to do” (Hopkins Author’s Note). The book is intense and emotional, especially as it is written in poetry format, but it gives a good ground for discussion in a classroom, even providing questions at the end of the book to prompt readers to talk about this phenomenon. Intensity is not a bad thing for a young adult book. Banning it from a school library will only make kids want to read it more, only without a teacher or librarian to discuss the novel. Topics like these are present in society and it is important to bring it into the
While the subject matter is intense, this book is based off of not just one, but many true stories. “Nothing in this story is impossible. Much of it happened to us, or to families like ours. Many of the characters are composites of real people” (Hopkins Author’s Note). This situation is happening all around america. “. . . or that they have a seriously warped view of the contemporary teen experience. Unfortunately, few enough young adults live healthy, scrubbed lives. And what' might be deemed ‘inappropriate’ for them is necessary for many others” (Ellen Hopkins Interview). Many kids go through hardship with someone who is struggling with addiction, and this book may be a saving grace of understandment. “If this story speaks out to you, I have accomplished what I setout to do” (Hopkins Author’s Note). The book is intense and emotional, especially as it is written in poetry format, but it gives a good ground for discussion in a classroom, even providing questions at the end of the book to prompt readers to talk about this phenomenon. Intensity is not a bad thing for a young adult book. Banning it from a school library will only make kids want to read it more, only without a teacher or librarian to discuss the novel. Topics like these are present in society and it is important to bring it into the