Glass

Glass follows Kristina, a young mother struggling with methamphetamine addiction, as she attempts to balance caring for her newborn son with her escalating drug use. The novel is written in verse format, making the raw emotional experiences more immediate and visceral. After vowing to quit drugs for her baby's sake, Kristina finds herself drawn back into the dangerous world of meth through new relationships and old contacts. Her life becomes increasingly complicated as she navigates work, family obligations, and a new romance while trying to hide her growing dependence on an even more potent form of methamphetamine. Through Kristina's choices and their consequences, Glass examines addiction's power to destroy family bonds and erode personal values. The book stands as an unflinching portrait of how substance abuse affects not only the addict but also everyone in their orbit.

Readers consider Glass a raw and unflinching look at drug addiction that builds on the events of Crank. The verse format helps convey the protagonist's descent into methamphetamine addiction. Readers appreciated: - The realistic portrayal of addiction's impact on families - The poetic writing style that mirrors the character's mental state - The cautionary message about drug use - The emotional depth of the mother-daughter relationship Common criticisms: - More repetitive than Crank - Some found the verse format difficult to follow - Several readers felt the ending was rushed - Content too intense for younger teens Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (96,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (800+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.6/5 (300+ ratings) Reader quote: "The format perfectly captures the scattered thoughts and paranoia of addiction" - Goodreads reviewer Critical quote: "Sometimes feels like it's trying too hard to shock" - Amazon reviewer

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🔹 "Glass" was published in 2007 and is the second book in Hopkins' bestselling "Crank" trilogy, inspired by her own daughter's battle with crystal meth addiction. 🔹 The entire novel is written in free verse poetry, with words arranged on the page in shapes and patterns that visually enhance their meaning. 🔹 Crystal meth causes severe damage to the brain's dopamine system, with some studies showing it can take up to two years for the brain to recover even after stopping use. 🔹 Ellen Hopkins has written over 14 novels in verse, with her books having sold more than 3 million copies collectively. 🔹 Despite frequent challenges and banned book lists, "Glass" and other books in Hopkins' series are used in some addiction recovery programs to help people understand the progression of addiction.