Other books by Ellen Hopkins, Crank, Burned, Glass, Impulse, Identical, and Tricks (published 8/25/09).

Kristina wants to be in control and take care of her baby, but the drugs control her life and she may even lose her baby.

Kristina Snow was a 17-year-old with high grades and a loving family. In "Crank" (S & S, 2004), one summer in California with a meth-addicted boyfriend destoys her life. Addicted, she's raped, and goes back home to Reno pregnant. "Glass" picks up a year later. She lives with her mother and works at a 7-11. Depressed about her post-baby figure, she goes back on speed to lose weight. Her other kicks her out and gains custody of the baby. She continues to spiral to the last page, which sets readers up for a third novel. "Glass" is even more terrifying than "Crank" inits utter hopelessness; meth's power is permanent and Kristina is an addict whether she uses or not. Thought her recount of events in the first book is dry and self-indulgent, the pace snowballs as soon as she takes her first toke of rock meth, and one desperate, horrifying measure or decision follows another. Like "Crank", this title is written in verse, but certainly not poetry. Hopkin's writing is smooth and incisive, but her fondness for seemingly random forms is distracting and adds little to the power of the narrative. Minor characters are flat, and Kristina's overblown self-pity elicits little empathy. The author tries but fails to present meth itself as a character; her description of "the monster" are precious and overwritten. Kristina's story is terrible, and even when she's high, the narrative voice and mood are sobergin. Geens, including reluctant readers, may appreciate the spare style and realism of Kristina's unhappy second chapter.--Johanna Lewis, New York Public Library.