Impulse (Hopkins novel)
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| Author | Ellen Hopkins |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young Adult |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
Publication date | 2007 |
| Pages | 666 |
| ISBN | 978-1-4169-0356-7 (first edition, hardback) |
| OCLC | 67405455 |
| LC Class | PZ7.H7747 Imp 2007 |
| Followed by | Perfect |
Impulse is a 2007 American young adult novel in verse written by Ellen Hopkins. The novel digs into the lives of three troubled teenagers as they try to work their way out of the hospital by getting through what put them there. Three teens, three different stories, one death wish. Their lives will intersect at a psych hospital. Can they help each other deal with the pain of their previous lives? Most importantly, can they help themselves move beyond their personal demons? Or will the IMPULSE take control?
Plot
From the book jacket:
- Tony's painful childhood memories can be quelled only through pills. Vanessa has a secret that keeps her coming back to the blade. And Conner seems to have the perfect life on the outside, but his inward battle with his parents, his peers, and himself give him one last choice -- to pull the trigger.
- These are three lives that would have been cut short if not for the hasty intervention by loved ones. Or fate. Now they are given a second chance at a better life -- but only if they help one another, and if they find the strength to let go of their inner demons. For good.[1]
Characters
Conner Sykes: Conner is the perfect boy. He's handsome, has amazing grades, and is amazing at sports. His family seems like the poster family for the magazines. He and his twin sister, Cara Sykes, (found in Hopkins' book, Perfect) are supposed to be perfect. His sister has achieved that status in the eyes of Conner's parents. Connor finds himself to what he can not have, like older women. However, when his parents' try to force him to live up to their impossible standards, Conner's only choice is to pull the trigger.
Tony Ceccarelli: Tony grew up in the streets mainly. His father abandoned him, while his mother hooks up with anybody. They leave their son all alone to deal with the hardships of life. Tony was sexually abused by one of his mother's boyfriends. Tony ended up killing the boyfriend. The only person that Tony could trust was his friend and mentor, Phillip, but when Phillip died, Tony's only choice was to swallow the pills.
Vanessa O'Reilly: Vanessa grew up in a broken family. Her father is overseas, her mother does anything to stop the hurt, and on top of it all Vanessa has to worry about watching after her little brother. When her Mother starts going crazy and talking to her "angel", Vanessa's only comfort is to put the blade to her wrist. Eventually, unable to live with her hurt of her now hospitilized mother she tries to make the final cut.
Reception
Reviews for Impulse have been mostly positive, with Publishers Weekly saying that while parts of the book have "an almost unbelievable amount of grittiness... readers will find themselves invested"[2] TeenReads and Kirkus Reviews also gave the book a positive review, with Kirkus calling the books "A fast, jagged, hypnotic read."[3][4]
References
- ↑ Hopkins, Ellen (2007). Impulse. New York, NY: Simon Pulse. ISBN 1-4169-0356-9.
- ↑ Children's review: Impulse Publishers Weekly
- ↑ IMPULSE By Ellen Hopkins Kirkus Reviews
- ↑ Impulse Teen Reads