Reading Response 

               As you begin to reach your teen years and you receive more responsibilities, having control over your life and the decisions you make is very important. The main character of the novel Crank by Ellen Hopkins is a very good portrayal of someone who is beginning to lose control over her own life. After visiting her Dad in Albuquerque, Kristina starts to come into counter with things that she has never had to deal with before and from there struggles to obtain the power in her own life. 

              One example of something that has power over Kristina is drugs. During her visit with her Dad, Kristina falls for a boy that gets her into drugs, and from there, she can't stop. In the text, Kristina states, "Contentment turned into repetition. But now nothing felt right, seemed proper, but getting away, getting crazy, getting high." This quote shows how drugs have changed Kristina's values and how every drugs she takes only leads her to wanting more. Another example from the text is that after finding her Mom's new credit card, Kristina states, "I did think twice about using that Visa...but it was so easy, like fate had directly mailed it to me...Roberto (a drug dealer) wouldn't deal less than half-ounce quantities. That much was relatively cheap. And visa payed for it all.' This quote shows me how Kristina's drug abuse has even brought her to stealing her mother credit card because the need for drugs was so urgent. 

               Another example of something that controls Kristina is Bree. Bree is an alternative persona that Kristina has created for herself. Bree is the risk taker, the brave, the fearless girl who isn't afraid to make a move when Kristina can't. For example, "It seems to Kristina, you gotta be crazy. To open your windows, invite in the demons, call Bree." Kristina also states, "Kristina crumbled. I called for Bree." These two quotes show that when Kristina is in times of trouble, or needs to get wild and risky, Bree is called into the picture to do things that Kristina wouldn't normally be capable of. From there, Bree is in control and makes her own decisions for Kristina's life. 

               My last example something that has power of Kristina's life is boys. After Kristina visits her Dad and meets a boy, she begins to take on a few more of her own boys at home, but sometimes she lets them get the better of her. For example, "My shirt tore open 'Wait.' (Kristina said) 'I've waited for weeks, so put up and shut up!' (Brendan said) Kisses segued to bites. Bruises. Pain rippled through my body. 'Brendan, please stop!' (Kristina said) 'No, you promised! You damn little tease!' (Brendan said)" This quote showed that on only the second date between Kristina and Brendan, Brendan is taking control of Kristina's life and trying to take something very valuable away from her, but she doesn't have the power to stop it from happening. 

              As you can see from Kristina's own experiences, there are many things that one can run into while growing up that can start to take control of them unwillingly. This book has taught that to keep this from happening, you should always surround yourself with a good group of people who will influence you in a positive way and not make you give into peer pressure or other activities that make you uncomfortable.