This week, I finished Glass by Ellen Hopkins. Having read a bunch of her other books (Perfect, Crank, Impulse, Tricks), I was contrasting all five of these lyrical novels as I read Glass. In retrospect, I was mildly dissapointed in Glass, for a few reasons. One of them, is that the characters annoyed me, another is the plot was very repetive. Compared to the first book in the mini series (consisting of Crank, Glass, and Fallout) I was much more captivated by the risque material in Crank. Glass seemed to repeat things that came up a lot in Crank. I mean, Glass wasn't all completely bad, but it's really interesting to compare and contrast it to Ellen Hopkin's other books.

                Considering I had already read Crank, the prequel to Glass, and enjoyed it (in a very unsubstantial indulgence way), I expected the main character (who stayed the same) to be as likeable as she was in the first book. Sadly, she had changed. First of all, she had a baby, the product of rape. Secondly, her personality was exactly the same. I mean, I was generous with the fact that she had a baby, who's run-away rapist, creep, daddy, was a meth addict. BUT SO WAS KRISTINA! In Crank, atleast she was experimenting in her teens. In Glass, she has a baby. She continues to act as if she is 15 years old! She checks out guys, gets with multiple guys, and parties! Also, lest I forget, she still does Crystal Meth! Even when her baby is in the house! I mean, I could understand that she is seriously addicted. But she should check herself into rehab if she wants to stop doing it. (Which she constantly complains about!). If she was a full blown, messsed up Meth head, she'd be more intersesting. But honestly, she's just an annoying little girl who won't get help. Compared to herself in Crank, she is much more likeable than in Glass. In Crank she is experimenting after being a goodie two shoes for all of her life. In Glass, she has had her time to dabble, and should really be focusing on getting herself some help and caring for her baby.

                 The plot in Glass was surprisingly repetitive compared to Ellen Hopkin's usual style. Usually Ellen Hopkinds incorporates many different surprising plot twists. For example, in my favorite of Ellen Hopkin's books, Identical, two twins, one of them a drug addict and the other is sexually abused by their dad has a very, very unexpected ending. In Glass, there is basically no building action, climax, or resolution. It just follows Kristina's pitifull journey through the depths of Crystal Meth  addiction. Basically nothing comes as a surprise, unless you count the fact that she had a baby, which isn't even included in the book!I think if the plot was a little less predictable, I would've liked Glass better.

               Lastly, I didn't like the fact the Ellen Hopkins had repeated the same problem twice (three time counting Fallout). As if she didn't have anymore ideas, the same characters and problems occurred. I mean honestly, Glass was Crank plus a baby, better quality Crystal Meth, and a pipe. Glass and Crank have the same boy problems, the same family issues, and Kristina still seems to be struggling with her identity crisis. Speaking of which, the only difference between the whole Kristina/bree issue, is that Kristina/Bree has mildly started talking to herself. Maybe, if Hopkins had elaborated on that idea, the book would've been more interesting. 

              All in all, Glass was dissapointing but not all bad. I feel like it wasn't a good idea to start with, and Hopkins did the best she could. I think if little bits in the characters and plot ahd been tweaked, the book would've been much better. I'm definitely glad I read other books by Hopkins, because she's an interesting writer, and Glass certainly doesn't reflect her best work.