Ellen Hopkins

    I could talk about Ellen Hopkins YA novels and now adult novels all day if you let me. I found Ellen by chance... walking down the book aisle of the "ghetto Wal*Mart" of Jacksonville, NC. I saw a book called Crank. Any book that is beautifully written about someone spiraling into the drug realm catches my attention. It's drama, yet not sappy. Then when I opened the black paperback up I noticed all of it written in poetry...

   Biography!
   That link will take you right to Ellen's biography. She is awesome. Read it.

  Some days, I say to myself, I can only imagine trying to go through certain things in life. We step back and judge people around us. They don't know our whole story. We certainly do not know theirs. And we're all nosy, especially with the social networking of today's generation. Well these books dive right into that itch we need to scratch and leaves us with a lesson.

  Ellen makes it possible for all of us to experience probably every emotion that exists to us, there has to be a word for that. If there is I can not think of it. And if there isn't maybe we should make one up. Well I am going to give a quick "critic" of all the YA novels she has that I have read so far... Although none of them have been bad because I have yet to be disappointed but for all you avid readers out there I want to push you closer and closer to going and buying her books!

CRANK - Kristina, or sometimes "Bree" takes us down a rollercoaster of a ride as we take each step deeper into her addiction to Crank. Who once was a good daughter and student, now a junkie. The topic is raw and addresses issue that more and more teens deal with today... addiction. The pages are written beautifully. When Kristina is down, we feel down. And when Bree is up, we certainly feel up. This book almost has a "Go Ask Alice" feel.

GLASS - We continue our journey with Kristina as the drugs she uses gets harder. As she gets farther from her family and less of herself, she's given birth to a baby who she can't even keep her act together for. Not only is she using but she begins dealing. Think she has her hands full? You should definitely should find out. Her poetry form gets more interesting. The story gets more intense.

FALLOUT - Addictions effect everything around them. We are no longer following Kristina but her three oldest children and the possible outcomes of their lives. Does the apple fall far from the tree? Is it genetic? Follow them on their paths as they near adulthood and see if the decisions they make are right. This was the first book of Ellen's that was a multiple point of view. I love multiple point of view, not only can she create an amazing story but she pulls each and every emotional string

BURNED - Movies and books have yet to capture such a rivid story of the perfect home and family standing outside the white picket fence. This story takes us inside, through the doors. It uncovers the dirt and the grim. Unpeels the facade and shows us the truth. We experience love and hate, and most expecially discovery of Pattyn, a teenage Mormon. This is a must read, and after reading the interview below... I am super stoked for the sequel "Smoke."

IDENTICAL - I would have to say that this is my favorite novel of Ellen Hopkins that I have read so far! Kaeleigh and Raeanne, identical twins face an absent mother and a sexually abusive father. This novel reaches out and touches the lives who have spoken up and haven't. The revelational ending was more than shocking, it was completely unexpected.

TRICKS - Sometimes an act, a word, can be thrown around. Does it lose it's meaning? Will it ever be the same to them again? Follow five teens as love and sex quickly turns into turning tricks. This novel captures teen prostitution as close to reality as it can and opened my eyes to the real horror it can be. Watch as these lively teens turn into zombies of their lifestyles and the outcomes their lives hold.

IMPULSE - Teen suicide unfortunately is a growing problem with cyber bullying and increase of bullying inside our schools although not the soul reasons. Impulse travels through three teenagers recovery in a psych ward. Can they overcome the horrors in their lives to a better place? You'll have to read to find out.

   Like I said up above... It's An Awesome Interview! with Ellen Hopkins, you get to learn so much more about her thought process!

  My life has been no walk in the park. Everyday I am faced with new hills to climb. But each and every one of Ellen's books have touched my life and soul. Each book has reminded me that no matter how big or small, things can be overcome. I am working on reading "Triangles" now, her first adult novel. I am eager to share a blog on that. Then I have to read "Perfect" before she releases anymore amazing books!

  Share them with your friends, share them with your teachers, your classmates, and your family. They are too good not too. As for now hold tight for my blog next week on "One Day" ... both the novel and the movie.

  And Ellen, if you ever read this... Meeting you is definitely on my bucket list. Please come to Northern (and I certainly do mean NORTHERN) NY!