The Secret's Out by Terri Clark Summary and Analysis

In verse and lyrical tones, Ellen Hopkins speaks for the voiceless. She tells the secret stories of so many teens. The endings are not always happy but neither is life. She strives to give her readers honesty. Hopkins takes on tough subjects like abuse, suicide, self-mutilation, prostitution, addiction, incest and other difficult topics. Ellen wrote "Crank" from her daughter's perspective so she could gain a better understanding of what her daughter was going through. She chose to fictionalize the story to save her family from unwanted focus. By exposing her secrets, Ellen felt a new freedom. It allowed her to write with honesty since she had shared everything and had no more secrets to reveal.

Kristina considered an abortion knowing she was in no shape to take care of a baby...