Book Review: Fallout, by Ellen Hopkins

Fallout is the third book in a series, after Crank and Glass, and it is just as hard-hitting and heartbreaking as the other books.

Hopkins bases these characters after her own family, and they have been crushed by addiction. This story is told from three different perspectives, Hunter, Autumn, and Summer, who are all children of Kristina, the meth-addicted main character from Crank.

These three teens all have untraditional home situations. Hunter has been adopted by his grandparents, Kristina’s parents. Autumn lives with her grandfather and aunt from her father’s side of the family. And Summer lives in foster care some of the time, but ends up back with her father for a short time, until he breaks parole, gets a DUI, and ends up back in prison.

All of these teens struggle with relationships, and normal teen problems. But they are compounded by the fact that there are no parental figures to guide them through. They all know they are predisposed to addiction, and this affects them profoundly.

Hopkins’ usual poetic style is again beautiful in this book. I am always in awe of the talent it takes to write in poetic form, yet tell a story so emotionally complete. It’s a talent that I cannot comprehend and Hopkins is a master.

I wouldn’t read this book unless you’ve at least read Crank. I think the book would make sense, but to get the full impact, you must understand the history of this family and the struggles they have been through. This one continues to fly off my library shelves, along with ALL of Hopkins’ books. I never have to recommend them to anyone. I’ve never seen book popularity spread by word-of-mouth as with Hopkins’ books. It’s phenomenal. (YA Saves, you know.....)

Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010

Copy obtained from the library

662 pages (qualifies for my 350 Page Book Challenge!)

Rating: 4/5

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