Commitment and Loyalty

Rape. Pregnancy. Drugs. Police. The book Crank by Ellen Hopkins deals with it all in telling the story of Kristina. Kristina is a teenager who is looking to branch away from her comfort zone and start a new personality-- one she has named Bree. Unfortunately, Bree makes all the wrong decisions, and Kristina has to pay the price. Smoking weed, snorting meth, and taking ecstasy pills help her cope with her confusion, satisfy her never-ending hunger from when a 'friend' named Adam introduced her to them. While sorting through her life there is always just one person that has truly been there for Kristina, and that is Chase.

The reason this character stands out to me the most, is because he is one of those individuals that is almost "too good to be true". He is loyal, supportive, committed, and caring. Out of the three boys Kristina dated in the time span of less than a month-- he is the only one who treated her respectably. Brendan illegally forced Kristina into doing something she wasn't comfortable with, as did Adam. In addition, he felt they had an open relationship, even though it broke Kristina's heart. 

When Kristina called Chase and told him she was feeling upset, he came to comfort her. And when she told him that Brendan had raped her the night before, he was more mad at himself than he was at Brendan, for not being there to protect Kristina. This showed that his love for Kristina wasn't about competing with other guys, but it was being there for one another. "I should have been there for you" he sobbed as they embraced. His tears portrayed sincerity and sorrow, and implies that he truly cares for Kristina.

Towards the end of the story, Kristina tells Chase she is pregnant. Now in most cases, one would assume that a relationship would end there. But Chases was one of the few that stood by her. And, he wanted to keep and raise the child, even when he found out that the child wasn't his. In one of her moments of doubt, Chase assures her that he will support her and she says, "Chase likewise promised to care for us, work two jobs if need be." Promising to work two jobs, is showing a great deal of commitment.

And finally, he asks to marry her.

He has proved to Kristina that he is ready to take on the responsibility that has been laid out before him.

Realistically, if a girl gets pregnant in her teen years, she has to raise a child without the help of a father. Brendan, the true father, was reluctant to give Kristina cash. In some cases, the family will stop supporting the girl as well. So I found Kristina incredibly lucky to have a family that supported her decision not to abort her child, and to have Chase who loved her and was willing to do anything to help.

Overall, Crank took the reader through some very dark topics and if I'm correct, based off the author's daughter. Ellen didn't write this novel randomly, but because it is a story that people can actually relate to. Kristina's life went downhill at a very rapid pace, but Chase helped her slow down--hopefully later to help her up again.