"You Gotta Be the Book" by Jeffrey D. Wilhelm

Efferent Reading - pursued when readers adopt a stance in which they are concerned with what information they can "take away" from the reading. Text is treated as consisting of information.
     Most classroom reading, questions and texts are designed this way

Aesthetic Reading - maintained for the purpose of "living through" an experience that is enjoyed while reading.

Ellen Hopkins provides discussion questions at the end of her book. Having students read this before reading the book would cause them to read with a purpose to answer these questions or efferent reading. However, if you let the students read the book at leisure they can try to relate to the text and "live through" it as in aesthetic reading.

New Critical Approach - highly systematic and formal approach to analytic readings of literarytexts.

                                          "whole-text" approach 

                                           Do not concern yourself with matters outside the text (i.e. the author, etc)

Reader Response Approach - the reader should actually make use of skills as she explores and                                                           experiences meaning.

Crank, is based on actual events that happened in the author, Ellen Hopkins, life. 

Therefore, to read it in a formal or systematic approach like the New Critical approach would cause the reader to lose the true meaning of the story. 

This book was not one to be read like a science book for facts and information. 

It has a deeper meaning to help adolescents to grasp the depths of reality.

In conclusion, it should be read in the Reader Response Approach.

CRANK

I chose to read the book Crank on a whim...

I had no idea what the book was all about.

I did a Google search before I decided to open it.

"This book has been banned in many locations due to complaints of the book's drug use, language and sexual themes," said the Google search.

My first thought, "How would I teach a book like this to my students...?"

My conclusion, "I don't think I can..." 

 I think I would have some very angry parents.

But, then I read the dedication and authors note. 

This happened to Ellen Hopkins. 

She was a parent who had to deal with a daughter who had a drug addiction.

Could I possibly change the parents views on the book?

As an adult, I enjoyed this book. 

Ellen Hopkins chose a unique and engaging style to write her book.

I found myself rereading one page in multiple ways.

It became some what of game to see how many ways I could read one page. 

Her words are by no means eloquent. She writes straight-forward all the reader needs to know.

It was, however, the content that turned me off to consider teaching this to middle school students. 

I would enjoy studying the style of the writing. Considering she uses different patterns for emotions.

For example, when Kristina talks to God, the words take the shape of a cross. (p.207) 

I also read the book thinking the main character was at least a senior in high school.

It wasn't until page 259 that I found out she was 16! Mind blown. 

So, on page 276 I ruined it for myself.

I was curious, so I Googled more about Crank...

Turns out it was made into a movie; I watched this trailer...

Afterwards, I was upset because I ruined the image of what Kristina/Bree looked like.

Kristen Stewart... really.