Argumentative Essay On Crank

After Kristina comes to the shocking realization that the rape left her not only physically and emotionally scarred, but pregnant, too, she confesses that she “was raped because [she] would have done anything for just one more taste of the monster” (Hopkins 502). This disturbing affirmation proves that Kristina’s addiction to meth completely dominated and consumed her entire being, and she put herself in dangerous situations, including unwanted and unprotected sexual encounters, if it meant being able to snort another line. Explicit accounts of drug use and unplanned teen pregnancy make Crank a controversial novel that adults want to shield adolescents from.

After reading Crank, parents and educators spoke out against the novel, claiming it

One mother commented, “I have really enjoyed reading this book but I would not recommend this for my teenage children to read. The reason behind my hesitation is because the way the ‘monster’ makes [Kristina] feel is almost enticing rather than revolting” ("All Member Reviews for Crank”). If mothers and fathers are working toward keeping their children away from drugs as they grow up, they certainly do not want a character like Kristina threatening the effectiveness of their parenting. Since Kristina describes herself as “the perfect daughter” and a “gifted high school junior” at the beginning of the novel, many young adult readers can identify with her, which also implies that any young adult, regardless of their perfect GPA or involvement in numerous after school activities, can

Since Kristina’s mother and stepfather raise her baby, she is free to go about her life as a carefree teenager, and continues to snort, smoke, and inject crank, even though she has a newborn at home, which does not teach readers that she is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions (Hopkins, 536-537). Clearly, many parents have problems with the larger themes and messages in Crank, and YA literature in general, because of its mature and explicit content. Adults want to protect their child(ren) from the dangers of the outside world for as long as possible and novels like Crank threaten to subvert that desire, and expose adolescents to the dark, unpleasant, and disturbing side of life beyond soccer practice, dance class, and student council meetings. Because the entire novel, beginning with the first page and ending with the last, centers on Kristina’s drug use, and the havoc that unleashes after her addiction