Kristina has an alter ego who allows her to be more careless and daring. Find out exactly what it does in the body, how long the side effects last, how much it typically costs, and any other pertinent facts. Write a poem or series of poems about something that has happened in your lifeĬhoose a drug-crystal meth or some other drug that you’ve heard of-and research its effects on the user. What is the overall message of this book? Do you think the story will act as a deterrent for teens who are considering drugs?Īs we can see in Crank, poetry allows us to express ourselves in new and creative ways. Why do you think that she chose this format? What effect does this have on how you feel about the characters and events? The author chose to write this story in verse. What attitude do you think is closest to her true feelings? Do you think those around her would agree with her assessment? Kristina sometimes refers to herself and her life before drugs as boring and worthless, yet at other times she seems to regard it as something very precious.

Why does Kristina always call crank “the monster”? How do you think her renaming of the drug affects her attitude toward it and her sense of responsibility regarding it? Are there other things or people in the story that get renamed? How does this affect the way in which they are regarded? Why does Kristina decide to keep her baby? What reasons might she have had for giving it up? Do you think she made the right decision? Why is Kristina drawn to Adam? To Chase? To Brendan? In what ways are these three similar and in what ways are they different? How does Kristina’s relationship with each one affect her? Are they in any way responsible for her addiction? Do you think that there’s anything else they could have-or should have-done to help her? How would you describe Bree? Is this the same way that Kristina would describe her? Where did Bree come from?įor Kristina, what is the lure of crystal meth? What does it provide for her? What does it take away?ĭescribe Kristina’s mother, father, and stepfather. But maybe doesn’t count in the real world, and it certainly won’t save Kristina from the monster. Maybe then Kristina wouldn’t have snorted her first line of crank and maybe then her life wouldn’t be spiraling out of control. Or maybe if Adam hadn’t been so beautiful and broken and in need of her love. Or if her father had turned out to be the man she had wanted him to be instead of the disappointment that she found. Maybe it wouldn’t have happened if she had just stayed in Reno for the summer. What scars might drug addiction leave for generations to come?Ī Reading Group Guide to Crank by Ellen Hopkins How might drug addiction impact a family? Why might teens begin using drugs like meth even though they know the dangers? Overall pre-reading questions for the series: