Crank Family Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Poem Title, Stanza)

Quote #1

She was right. And I still hadn't forgiven her. Maybe he wasn't perfect. But he was still my dad. (The Screaming.5)

You might call Kristina's loyalty to her dad misplaced—after all, her mom is the one who has always been there for her, while her dad bowed out early in her life and has shown no interest in her for years. Nonetheless, she wants the chance to spend time with him. It's also possible that some of Kristina's anger toward her mom propels her to rebel against her by wanting to see him.

Quote #2

I didn't understand the terminology of words like infidelity. Nor the implications of my father's sundry addictions. I only knew my wicked mother took us far away, kept us far apart. (Of Course, When I Was Little.1-3)

There's a lot more to why Kristina's parents broke up than she was able to understand at the time of the divorce, and it's possible that she never had the situation fully explained to her. As a result, her trip to Albuquerque is what gives her clear evidence of her dad's numerous issues and the reasons why the marriage ended.

Quote #3

Jake was a late addition, one the workout queen accepted and loved despite killer stretch marks and sure-to-sag-even-more boobs. As for Dad, well, truth be told, his love of drugs surpassed his love of family. (Okay, Over the Last Few Years.2-4)

While Kristina's dad's drug use clearly played a major role in the downfall of his marriage, it's pretty clear that both he and Kristina's mom have badly misplaced priorities. Is it possible that the two of them combined were just too selfish to be married?