In the book "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins, we are introduced to Kristina. She is just a normal kid. She lives in Reno, has a moderate social life, and is a very intelligent student. As many other kids, her parents are also divorced, which leads to some problems. Her father is a drug addict living in Albuquerque, whom she decides to visit after quite a few years of not seeing him. Doing so is most likely the most important decision she has made in her life so far (although she might not know it when she made the decision). When she is in Albuquerque she discovers her alter-ego, Bree. Bree is the wild and crazed person Kristina never really gave much thought to. Since they are so different, I believe that instead of it being Kristina discovering a new side of her, it is a whole different person living alongside Kristina, like someone with a double personality.
On page 52, after Kristina refers to herself as Bree she says "Bree? Who was she? And where did that name come from? I'd probably heard it once in my life!" This is when Bree first exists. She doesn't have any power whatsoever yet, but it comes gradually. Kristina first realizes Bree is actually there later on in the text, though. Bree really gains power at the bowling alley. Since its Bree's first time really being free, she tries whatever she can. This includes marijuana, alcohol, and crystal meth (crank). Then, afterwards until now, it seems on and off between Kristina and Bree. It seems that Kristina is still in power, and can control when she wants Bree there or when she wants Kristina there. This double personality issue is very hard to understand, but it will probably become more complex as the book goes on.
So, in all, "Crank" may be one the the hardest books to understand that I've read. The double personality makes it very difficult from the start, and the way the book is formatted doesn't really help. But that is what make this book so good. It is a challenge, a very interesting challenge. One that is definitely worth looking into, I am extremely interested in how this double personality issue will turn out to be. I, personally, think that Bree will eventually gain enough power to take over Kristina, and it will screw up her life. I am very interested on how this book will end up, it seems to be full of surprises.
It is really confusing because the book is about Kristina, yet I feel like I know this other girl, or alter ego, Bree way more than I even know the real Kristina. On page 5 in the book, she says "There is only Bree." This is sort of how I feel reading this book sometimes, Bree is always there, and when Kristina tries to think or make decisions, Bree takes over. So maybe by the end of the book there will only be Bree, or maybe Kristina will find a way to defeat Bree.
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