YA
Hopkins, Ellen. 2007. GLASS. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN 9781416940906
PLOT SUMMARY - ANALYSIS
This mature, poetry novel is based on the author’s experience with her own daughter’s drug addiction. The poetry is written in a very blunt, desperate, and often childish language that takes a distorted look at the way an addict thinks they can fight an addition to drugs on their own.
Kristina is living at home with her mom and step-father and is on the right track to go to college, when she visits her drug using father on a summer trip, is introduced to drugs, cannot break the cycle, and changes her life forever.
Kristina has named her split personality “Bree” who is much stronger and takes risks without thinking through the consequences. In a state of perpetual searching and scheming to get a taste of crank which Bree calls “the monster,” Kristina wrecks her life, first getting pregnant in a blur of a drug induced rape and then making poor choices which eventually lead to her loosing custody of her child, Hunter, and being arrested for drug possession.
Kristina’s infatuation with boys and relationships becomes her downfall into making really poor decisions about her life and the life of her child. As she leaves her child with her mother for a date with Trey, Hopkins writes “I’ve got to be hot for Trey. I’m in love with him. That scares the hell out of me. Love is the first step toward breaking up” (page 321).
“The tragic push-pull also plays out in Kristina’s relationships with two men, both users, with whom she experiences (explicitly described) sex, love, and abuse.” Booklist (October 1, 2007 (Vol. 104, No. 3))She has quick and flippant relationships with so many boys in the book from Brendan , the father of her baby to Brad, a drug dealer with two young girls and finally Trey, who is the largest part of her demise. She mentally and physically suffers from her lack of self worth.
Her mother plays a stabilizing role in the life of Hunter, and tries to administer hard love to Kristina, but fails when she sees Kristina as her father’s daughter as in the birthday all-nighter that happens in a casino. The setting of Reno plays an important role in that there was a casino for Kristina’s birthday trip with her father and the availability of fake IDs and proximity to drug dealing from Mexico.
This book is a long fall for Kristina. The reader cannot believe that her life could keep getting worse, but it does. This novel keeps spiraling out of control until final an arrest puts a stop to her life, relationships, and future. Kristina admits that “No longer will Trey and I share an apartment, a car, a bed,. Won’t share a pipe. A cigarette. A kiss. Won’t share promises. Dreams. Vows” (page 672).
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Booklist 10/01/07
Publishers Weekly 08/13/07
Kirkus Review 07/15/07
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 08/01/07
CONNECTIONS
Ratcliffe, Jane. 2001. THE FREE FALL. New York: Henry Holt & Co.
ISBN9780805066678
· Partner this book as another teen fighting addiction
Hopkins, Ellen. 2004. CRANK. New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN 9780689865190
· Partner this as a prequel to Glass
McCaffrey, Kate. 2009. IN ECSTASY. Toronto: Annick Press. ISBN 9781554511754
· Partner this book as a look at another first time addict
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