Fallout

thaa shizz;)

I just finnished "Crank", which was the first book in this series- the one about the mother. In this intense, beautifully written novel, a teenager named Kristina decides to get to know her father- who turns out to be a bum living in a filth-ridden shack. While she's visiting him, she falls for Adam, a charming neighbor. Adam introduces her to "the monster"- a substance he calls "crank" (meth). Kristina tells him her name is Bree. She seperates Bree's persona from her own, thinking of the girl who made all her mistakes, who submitted to the monster, as somebody different from herself. She writes, "Hers is the face I wear treading the riptide, fathomless oceans where good girls drown." Kristina returns home a brokenhearted meth addict. Adam quickly leaves her. She finds herself with two new boys- Brendan, Bree's boyfriend, and Chase, Kristina's. After Brendan rapes her, she admits to Chase everything that has happened. He holds her close and tells her things will be okay- that's before she finds out she's pregnant with Brendan's baby. And that the child will likely be deformed due to the meth. Chase leaves for collage, because she refuses to hold him back, and she's left alone with a baby and two Monsters- one that she put inside of herself, and one that grew there along the way. This sequal is about the baby Kristina had when Brendan raped her, and two after that. I haven't read it, but "Crank" isn't on the site for some reason. Due to the nature of the books, there is a lot of drugs. There is mild violence in "Crank", and a lot of sexual content. But it is certainly a worthwhile read with knowledge that children need, in order to stay above water treading that riptide, the one Kristina seems so convinced drowned the good girl inside of her.

Fallout is amazing, real, stunning, sad, disturbing, moving tale that ends the story of Kristina and her unfair game with the monster. (meth) Fallout was better than Glass and Crank combined. I feel that Fallout was the book that Hopkins meant to write. The ending poem gave me goosebumps, pitch-perfect. The writing is flawless, the voices new and different, the plot terrifying, which end up being tied together beautifully. I've never had a connection with a book before, but this one spoke to me. I walked through the halls of this book like my own life. This book changed me, not only does it tell how meth attacks family, it talks about children who never know there own parents (like me), or how teen aren't fit to be parents, because there life had just started. That life is beautiful, people deserve second chances, and anyone can change not only there life, but there family's by just saying no - or yes, its your choice. This book should be required reading. The novel is stunning, and I can't wait to read more by Hopkins. Parents, don't be afraid of your child reading this book, in- fact, read it with them, talk it over, this novel is perfect for a parent to teen talk. Some parts may be very raw, but your child can handle more than you can think. That being said, know your child, but also understand that everything in this novel is not new, and your teen knows everything in this book already. Teens aren't walking the streets now without hearing language, sex, drugs ect. Its part of the world, part of life. Falling down, picking yourself up, learning about sex, drugs, ect. At the heart of this book it tells teens to make the right choice, no to drugs. This book is beautiful. The violence isn't anything new from a Hopkins' book, a rape almost happens, one character is abused, one has O.C.D, and is sometimes made fun of for that, (her gaurdian messes things up in her room.) The sex includes talk of periods, one girl gets pregnant- on purpose, intense talks about sex. The drug use is constant, and even the children of Kristina battle there own demons. They also so drink. I reccomend this book for anyone, that is older than 14, that is. Enjoy.