Well I'm thirteen and I've read more hardcore stuff then this, but I absolutely loved the book. I read it at age 11 or 12 or so, but I suppose it just depends on the person's maturity level, and what they're exposed to, and what they can be influenced by.
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Impulse
(2007, Fiction - Coming of Age, Written by Ellen Hopkins)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Free verse makes heavy book an easier read.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 15–18
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Impulse
Parents need to know that each of the main characters has tried to commit suicide, and each has suffered abuse (sexual, emotional and physical). There is lots of gritty language and plotting: One character murdered his abuser as a child, another had sex with a teacher, and the third watched her mentally ill mother die. Plus, there's cutting, abortion, bi-polar disorder, over-achieving, and a character who thinks he's gay. In the end, one of the protagonists dies a rather violent death. Since the free verse makes this a quicker read, it'll make it easier for parents to preview the content ahead of their mature teens.
Read our full review by Kate Pavao
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about Hopkins' free-verse writing style. What do you think of it? Were you able to read this book more quickly than other books? Do you think it would be easy or difficult to write this way? What might some of the limitations be? Does reading Hopkins' work inspire you to want to give it a try?
Our Members Say
See all 56 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Educational
Depends on maturity of the kid, I suppose
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
I think this is a very good book. It is very educational and I think some one can learn alot form this book.
- I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
For The Mature Teen
Personally, this was not my favourite book by Ellen Hopkins. This is because the way she does the layout of the text, they are secret messages that intrigue the reader, but there were few in this particular book. On the other hand, I find her books to be very intelligetly written, in the fact that she knows how to go into detail with certain things (feelings,etc) and is very careful to be brief about others and still kind of give the reader what they want (i.e. sexual encounters).
- I rate this title on for age 16 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
Great for teenagers 16 and up!
I love this book. For teens who may be pondering in psychology this is an inside look to what you will have to deal with. This also shows effects of how people deal with things, and how some people are unfourtunantly not strong enough to cope alone.
- I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My highlights are:
Great book
LOVE IT! This book isn't as bad as it seems, the suicide isn't a big deal in the book. It's about getting better and making friends and learning to be yourself.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it's educational |
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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