Crank, toot, the white stuff, glass, the monster—how many names can a drug have? When you're imprisoned by addiction, it doesn't seem to matter what meth's called as long as you get your hands on it. Kristina may begin the story as a straight-A student and all around Miss Perfect, but it takes only one hit of meth to change all of that. If there's one thing Crank really drives home it's that desire for drugs can drive a person's action and completely alter their character. In Kristina's case, we also see how far someone can fall before realizing addiction has an iron grip on their lives.
Questions About Drugs and Alcohol
- Look up some real life stories of people who have survived meth addiction. What do these stories have in common with Kristina's?
- If Kristina has no interest in drugs at the beginning of the book, why does she turn to them? What changes her mind?
- Crank devastates Kristina's life in a number of ways, affecting everything from he relationships to the way she thinks. Which of these effects do you think has the most severe impact?
- What do you think happens at the end of the book? Does Kristina give into the urge to get high again, or does she suppress it and go back in the house? Why do you think this? Turn to the text to support your claim.
Chew on This
Being away from her family's high standards and in the midst of her dad's shady lifestyle opens the door for Kristina to rebel by experimenting with drugs.
Once Kristina's on the road to addiction, there's nothing anybody could possibly due to make her stop—not even being pregnant keeps her clean.