Glass

By: Ellen Hopkins

Narrated by: Laura Flanagan

Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Crank. Glass. Ice. Crystal. Whatever you call it, it's all the same: a monster. And once it's got hold of you, this monster will never let you go.

A sequel to Crank, this harrowing and disturbing look at addiction finds protagonist Kristina Snow thinking she can use drugs yet control the consequences. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong and, before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She will do anything for it, including giving up the only thing that makes her truly happy.

Listen to the first book, Crank.

©2007 Ellen Hopkins (P)2008 HighBridge Company

A Wonderful followup to "Crank"

My granddaughter loaned me "Crank" the prequel to this book. The prose writing style is, at times, is difficult to track when reading, but is much easier when listening to. The book is written in such a way that you do not need to read "Crank." The central character and a brief recount of her experiences are reported in the beginning. We have seen those TV commercials where the kids becomes addicted to Meth and someone says "I will only do this once. I won't be be like that guy!" This book is that commercial and it shows what they will do to get their fix of Meth or "The Monster" as Meth is referred to in the book. These books are excellent reads to understand the teenager who does drugs and what they experience. It also re-enforces the needs for parents and teenagers to talk and listen to each other on a frequent basis.

Good Read

I love Ellen Hopkins and I have read all of her books multiple times. Having her books on Audible is a blessing.

This is a gut-wrenching story based around the author's own daughter. Well worth the read.

My only slight complaint is how the narrator uses a scratchy voice for all male characters, but that's easy enough to get past.

One of my fav books of all time

I cannot tell you how many times I have listened to this book . It’s one of the best books by Ellen Hopkins in my opinion. It is just as good if not better than the first book in this series (crank) I would recommend this book to everyone looking for an addictive read to get lost in . And Laura Flanagan is an amazing talented narrator. The way she gives every character their own voice makes it so easy to get sucked in and feel emotions as if you knew these characters in real life !!!

Not your usual cautionary tale…buckle up!

Like other books by Hopkins, this book is unique because it does not shy away taboo aspects of addiction, such as the instant intimacy, heightened sensory and sexual arousal produced by stimulant drugs. This is especially important for teens or adults who have never frankly discussed these issues with someone who understands. Books that don’t address this leave readers in addiction and recovery (like me) feeling isolated, ashamed, and/or indignant that adults or non-users just don’t understand the pull. It leaves non-addicted readers wondering why anyone repeats use, in the first place. This candor is balanced by an in-depth portrayal of the mental confusion, paranoia, psychosis, dopamine and serotonin depletion, and awareness of being suspended on the brink of death. Books that gloss over negative aspects run the risk of glamorizing use, but I wouldn’t worry about my kids reading this book. It shows both sides of the coin. I would want to discuss the fact that the main character, and a few others, come from a caring family and privileged background, which is why it’s plausible she is able to remain as functional as she is for as long as she does. This was the only somewhat alienating thing about the book, for me. In my experience of addiction and poverty, consequences are swift and severe. That any of the users would have the money to pay a full-time babysitter, and enjoy some relatively normal relationships and circumstances, seems a little far-fetched to me. At the same time, I read this book as a youth who had not experienced addiction, in the past, and wondered if the severity of the downward spiral wasn’t a bit exaggerated. To get through to young people who are not used to the streets or squatter life, I can see the wisdom of not shattering their entire world at once. Most users I’ve known have even more divergent lives when with their families, vs. among others in their addiction. Still, I have known some young, initially healthy adults who are able to keep up a semblance of normalcy on meth, and that’s all the characters do is almost pass for normal with people they don’t interact with regularly. The complete derailment of life goals and family relationships is accurate, and the intimate relationships only pass as normal because the leading men and ladies are all on Team Addiction. The storyline is pretty accurate, considering the main characters’ middle class backgrounds. It still shows a rapid descent into a life centered around seeking and using drugs, and realistic, devastating consequences, even though the protagonist has a roof over her head, opportunities to squander, and people with money and drugs to extract. I’ve often found this author’s portrayal of men, in relationships, to be a bit more vulnerable and expressive than most I know. I guess this is the West Coast, and also pretty typical of teen novels. Many men do have these vulnerabilities and desire real connection with partners, but don’t usually communicate that as directly as these. I guess it’s a way of simplifying things that often take a lifetime to learn. Meth can also create an artificial communicativeness and sense of intimacy and community, like people you just met are very significant and have been friends for life. This is a very real draw for youth and marginalized people. The narration of the male characters makes the writing seem cheesier than it is. Flanagan’s male characters comes off as rather flowery females with sore throats or tracheal problems. Her command of the lead character’s personality, on the other hand, is really impressive. It conveys the detachment and grandiosity often characteristic of meth’s effects, and the heightened arrogance, vulnerability, and emotionality of young users. I think they should have hired her AND a male narrator, like in Hopkins’s “Tricks.” The single protagonist novel is easier to understand than audiobooks in her multiple-storyline poetry format. This is an eye-opening book about addiction. It breaks taboos around the discussion of drug effects and addiction in a healthy, productive way that does not encourage drug use. It paints an initially euphoric, yet ultimately grim, picture of stimulant use disorders. It is must reading for young people who have experienced addiction, young people at risk for or affected by addiction, and parents. As an adult in recovery and studying in the mental health field, I still find it validating and helpful. I will recommend it to clients, and as a staple in shelters, schools, lending libraries, mental health and drug treatment centers. This is the kind of young adult novel that lets kids know the experience of drug use without having to do it themselves. It lends the sophistication of experience without the associated risks and brain changes of addiction.

Note: This book was written before the overdose threat of meth tainted with fentanyl and ISO. An introduction or afterword about this would be a timely addition.

Love the glass series!

I have hard copies of almost all ellen hopkins books. while the prices for audiobooks are way too high, if you're going spend money on them the glass series is one listen too!

Amazing!!!

If you love Ellen Hopkins, this is a must read!!! I have read all of her books more than once. However listening to it on here, is just 10 times more enjoyable. I pictured everything happening as she is reading. Great author, great narrator, amazing book! If you've read Crank, have to read this!!! Done it again!!!! Amazing!!!

sad

I dont like how this lady reads this book disappointing I wish I could get my credit back to find a different book

Love this series!

I started reading her books when I came across Burned, Crank and Impluse at a thrift store. I read all 3 books within a 4 day weekend then I downloaded Glass and Fallout because I absolutely couldn't get enough of Ellen Hopkins writing. As a sibling of a herion addict I could never understand the how and why my brother could get the way he is, this series has helped me look at things from his point of view.

love this book

I love the narrator! This book is already amazing but she really brings it to life. I felt like I was living it. so raw, and a heartbreaking story. Worth the read.

Amazing experience!

Not only do I love the book, which by the way I have read many many times, but listening to the experience as well was amazing! Great job done by the narrator!