Ellen Hopkins' Crank (2004) was based in part on the real-life struggles of the author's daughter, who has struggled with addiction to crystal meth for much of her life. Although it is a work of fiction, Hopkins estimated that "60%" of the novel is true.
Crank tells the story of Kristina, a junior in high school and an honors student. Her parents are separated, and Kristina decides to take a trip to visit her father for three weeks. While there, she meets a young man named Adam, who eventually convinces her to try crystal meth. At first, she doesn't like the drug and runs away (especially after seeing the horribly violent things people do on it). However, after returning home to her mother, she realizes that she is addicted. The novel then explores the lengths Kristina goes to in order to get more drugs—including sex, theft, and lies. Eventually, she is sent to juvenile hall, but she continues to use and sell drugs after she leaves. When she finds out that she is pregnant, however, things dramatically change for her. She decides to keep the baby and starts actively trying to stop taking drugs.
When it was published, Crank became a New York Times bestseller and received a litany of awards. Kirkus Reviews, for instance, called the novel "hypnotic." However, the novel has been subject to quite a bit of controversy from parents and other interest groups who argue that the book is too mature for children. Still, the novel is required reading for students across the United States so students learn about the dangers of drugs.
