Glass (Hardcover)

by Ellen Hopkins (Author)
Key Phrases: college fair, Linda Sue, Red Rock, Pastor Keith (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up—Kristina Snow was a 17-year-old with high grades and a loving family. In Crank (S & S, 2004), one summer in California with a meth-addicted boyfriend destroys her life. Addicted, she's raped, and goes back home to Reno pregnant. Glass picks up a year later. She lives with her mother and works at a 7–11. Depressed about her post-baby figure, she goes back on speed to lose weight. Her mother kicks her out and gains custody of the baby. She continues to spiral to the last page, which sets readers up for a third novel. Glass is even more terrifying than Crank in its utter hopelessness; meth's power is permanent and Kristina is an addict whether she uses or not. Though her recount of events in the first book is dry and self-indulgent, the pace snowballs as soon as she takes her first toke of rock meth, and one desperate, horrifying measure or decision follows another. Like Crank, this title is written in verse, but certainly not poetry. Hopkins's writing is smooth and incisive, but her fondness for seemingly random forms is distracting and adds little to the power of the narrative. Minor characters are flat, and Kristina's overblown self-pity elicits little empathy. The author tries but fails to present meth itself as a character; her descriptions of "the monster" are precious and overwritten. Kristina's story is terrible, and even when she's high, the narrative voice and mood are sobering. Teens, including reluctant readers, may appreciate the spare style and realism of Kristina's unhappy second chapter.—Johanna Lewis, New York Public Library
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Review
“Flanagan is flawless in her performance.” (Klaitt ) --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 688 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (August 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416940901
• ISBN-13: 978-1416940906
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.5 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #152,076 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #68 in	Books > Children's Books > Issues > Drugs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, August 22, 2007

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

Ellen Hopkins has once again taken readers into the world of meth and the chaos it creates. GLASS is the sequel to her first novel about Kristina called Crank.

Just several months after giving birth to her son, Hunter, Kristina is drawn back to "the monster." She thinks a little snort could help her lose some weight and get her through the late-night feedings and day-to-day drudgery of constant baby needs. Surprised at how easy it is to score and how much the product has improved, it doesn't take long for Kristina to remember how great the stuff makes her feel.

For awhile the teen mom is able to take care of Hunter, hold down a low paying job, and keep herself cranked just enough to pretend her life isn't all that bad. Despite what Kristina may think, her mother and stepfather, Scott, are not really fooled into thinking all is well. They give her just enough space to eventually crash and burn. After falling asleep and putting the baby in danger, Kristina's mother throws her out of the house. She says she'll take care of Hunter, and Kristina should take care of herself.

Like most addicts, Kristina fools herself into believing she can have it all. She manages to keep her job and find a place to live with the cousin of her latest love interest. Once again her life is filled with drugs, sex, and whatever she has to do to survive. At times there is hope of reconnecting with family, but each time Kristina can't cope with their expectations and ends up with less and less of their love and support.

For readers who followed Kristina's painful journey in Crank, this next book will illustrate the power of meth to completely change and destroy a life and the lives of anyone connected with the addict. Hopkins speaks from personal experience, which creates a powerful, heart-wrenching, and all too real quality to her verse. As they say, it's a life you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not really so great, September 24, 2007

By	T. D. "A teacher and reader." (Reno, NV USA) - See all my reviews

It is clear that Ms. Hopkins has found an audience who loves and admires her story telling. With no slight to them, this just isn't all that good a book. It isn't up to par with "Burned" or "Impulse" and on its own, "Glass" is a pain. I slogged through it because it will be so popular with students at the high school where I teach that I needed to be familiar with it. I'm not certain it is anything more than a 680 page "Crank" re-tread. It takes us along with Kristina as she descends into hell, a journey that yields no revelations, no insights, just banal depravity. I do hope that fans of Hopkins will seek out other books that offer richer feasts.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Emotionally Touching, October 24, 2008

By	Reading Hannah "Read - a - holic" (MN, USA) - See all my reviews

The sequel to the popular novel "Crank" definetly strikes your heart. I found myself constantly doing things that books normally do not make me do. For instance I found myself yelling at the characters and raging on about what was and wasn't fair. The characters hit me with full force and now I'm more attached to them than ever.

All though "Glass" can be quite depressing it truly unleashes the truth about the drug meth or as Kristina/Bree calls it - the monster. This monster comes in different forms but the outcome is always the same - it will ruin you.

Something to note is that all of Ellen Hopkin's novels are written in poetry format. I was very surprised after reading her first book at how talented she is. The format is original and even though there aren't as many words as a normal book, it still puts a lot of things into those few words.

Kristina used to be a good girl - used to have real friends - until she met the monster. In this second book crank/glass/the monster has officially taken over her life. While trying to raise her baby boy, Hunter while dealing with her deadly drug addiction, life is rough as ever. Soon even a loving family and friends becomes scarce. But of course do you really need a friend while you're having such a blast with glass? Bree says no but Kristina says yes.

Bree is the part of Kristina that's wild, wreckless, and not well. Kristina is the side that is good, has common sense, wants to stop. Will this girl do what's right or will her bad decisions lead her into even more trouble?