Impulse

January 22, 2007
Hopkins (Crank
) weaves together the story of three troubled teens locked up in a psychological facility after suicide attempts, once again writing in artful free verse. Each character is full-bodied and distinct. Conner is a wealthy overachiever who had an affair with a teacher; Tony, who thinks he is gay, was locked up in juvenile detention center for years after killing his mother's child-molesting boyfriend; Vanessa is a manic-depressive who cuts herself to "hush the demons/ shrieking inside my brain." All three have attempted suicide. As they begin to open up to their counselor—and each other—they reveal an almost unbelievable amount of grittiness in their backgrounds. Vanessa, for example, found her own mother dying after an overdose and did not call for an ambulance, and had a boyfriend who "wouldn't even hold/ my hand" while she was waiting to have an abortion. But readers will find themselves invested in the characters by the time the three head to their outdoor challenge—the final piece of their program—and can finally divulge their darkest secrets to one another (Tony and Vanessa even form an unexpected romance). This is a thick book, but the free verse makes for a fast read. By book's end, readers may well feel the effects of each protagonist's final choice. Ages 14-up.

February 1, 2007
Gr 9 Up-Three teens tell their stories, in free verse, from a psychiatric hospital after failed suicide attempts. Their lives unfold in alternating chapters, revealing emotionally scarred family relationships. An absent father, a bipolar mother, and a secret abortion have caused Vanessa to slash her wrists. As a compulsive cutter, she hides a paper clip to dig into her skin. Tony's drug overdose was triggered by an addiction in which he exchanged sex for money. Abused as a child, he is confused about his sexuality. Connor is the son of rich, controlling parents, and he survives a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a doomed affair with a female teacher. Initially, the narrators are inwardly focused, having arrived at "level zero," the beginning of their treatment. As they become acquainted with one another, the story, told in spare verse and colorful imagery, becomes more plot-driven and filled with witty dialogue. Both boys value Vanessa's friendship and there is an inkling of competition for her affection, although she assumes that Tony is gay. During a wilderness camping trip with other patients and staff, which would graduate the trio to the final level of treatment, it becomes apparent that one of them is mentally backsliding at the thought of returning home and has stopped taking meds. The consequences are played out, leaving the others to grapple with an additional loss and a newfound appreciation for life. Mature fans of the verse format will devour this hefty problem novel."Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

danhoo1617 - Have you ever wondered what it would be like through the eyes of a depressed person with some mental issues? Well then I would recommend Impulse, by Ellen Hopkins. The book’s main protagonists are Conner, Vanessa, and Tony, all very troubled people who reside at a rehab center. Vanessa, a girl whose father is overseas and mother will do anything to take away the hurt, resorts to self harm to take away the pain. Tony, a boy who’s life was mostly lived on the streets. His father abandoned him, and his mother had many horrible boyfriends. He believed his only choice was to swallow pills. Finally, Conner. From the outside he lived the perfect life but on the inside he struggled to live with his parents high standards. He believed his only choice was to pull the trigger. The main antagonist in the story is the characters themselves. They all do many things to harm and injure themselves on purpose.One major conflict in the book is they all attempt to stop the harmful things they do but some give in to their addiction. Another conflict for them is trying to accept that people do care for them and they try to learn to love again.The main turning point in the book is when Vanessa,Tony,and Conner all find love and try to stop doing the things that hurt them the most. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a gritty but gripping novel that really touches on your emotions.