7th Annual Statewide Family Conference, Madison Wisc
SBurns_Author Presentation_Hopkins
1. Ellen Hopkins
Young Adult Author Presentation
Stefanie Burns
December 10, 2014
MLIS 17:610:548 Dr. Aronson
2. Ellen Hopkins is a New York Times
Best Selling author of Children’s
non-fiction books, Young Adult
books, and Adult books. She is
most recognized for her YA novels
in verse of which she has written 11
with more planned for 2015 and
2016. Her most acclaimed novel is
Crank, which is loosely based on
her daughters struggles with
addition to the drug
methamphetamine (crank).
Ellen Hopkins
Goodreads. (2014). Ellen Hopkins.
[Photograph]. Retrieved from
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2
821144.Ellen_Hopkins
3. About
• Adopted as an infant in 1955 to a 72 year old man
and a 42 year old woman in Palm Springs, CA.
• Her life has had many trials and tribulations.
She’s been divorced, in an abusive relationship,
had her daughter kidnapped by the daughter’s
father, has another daughter addicted to crystal
meth, and adopted her grandson.
• Surprising to critics, she is a faithful and spiritual
woman. (Hopkins, n.d.-a)
4. Body of Work
• Children’s Non-Fiction Books
• Young Adult Novels
• Adult Novels
• Collections
Hopkins, E. [Images 1, 2, and 3-d]. All
images retrieved from ellenhopkins.com
5. Children’s Non-Fiction Books
• Air Devils
• Orcas: High Seas Supermen
• The Golden Knights
• Tarnished Legacy
• The Thunderbirds
• Fly Fishing
• Freshwater Fishing
• Canopies in the Clouds
• Countdown to Yesterday
• U.S. Special Operations
Forces
• United States Air Force
• U.S. Air Force Fighting Vehicles
• U.S. Armed Forces
• Mysteries in Space
• Inside a Star
• Lights in the Sky
• Storming the Skies
• Telescopes
• Are We Alone?
• United States Special Forces
9. Awards
• 11 time New York Times Best Selling Author
• 2001 SCBWI Charlotte’s Web Award
• 2006 Kentucky Blue Book Award
• ALA Best Books For Young Adults winner and nominee
• ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
• Charlotte Award
• Kirkus Best Books for Teens
• Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
• YALSA Top Ten for Teens
+ many more
10. Why should YA libraries have
Ellen Hopkins Books?
1.) Readers relate
2.) Gatekeeper to reading
3.) Audience Appeal
4.) Impact on the Reader
5.) Insight and Vicarious Thrills
11. Authentic and Honest
As noted in Entertainment Examiner (2012), “Hopkins is more
than a master of storytelling-she’s a weaver of truth with
authenticity and flare.”
Teenage voice and multiple POVs
Terri Clark in Flirting with the Monster describes Hopkins’ voice well,
“Ellen Hopkins has a voice, one that speaks in rhythm and verse, with
truth and grit. She speaks for the voiceless, revealing their tragedies,
exposing their complex personal layers, whispering their secrets. In lyrical
tones and sparse but striking words she delves into the darkness many
real-life teens find themselves in” (2009, pp.95-96).
Contemporary Problems and Realistic Storylines
As Hopkins notes, “addiction touches everyone” (Kadaba, 2010).
Readers Relate
12. Gatekeeper to Reading
Series
Several of her books are related. Her first novel, Crank, is also the
prequel to Glass and Fallout. Her adult novel Triangles and YA novel
Tilt are companion stories. Impulse and Perfect are two YA
companion stories. Smoke is the sequel to Burned.
Struggling Readers Feel Successful
The thick books seem daunting, but the use of ample whitespace
along with the verse storytelling allows struggling and reluctant
readers be successful.
Addictive Themes
Tragedy and drama are addictive themes for all ages of reading.
13. Audience grows with her
Since Hopkins writes children’s, YA, and adult books, her
readers can grow up with her. A YA reader that finds her
books enjoyable can cross over to reading her adult books.
This is especially easy since Triangles’ companion book, Tilt, is
one of her YA novels. Readers will already know some of the
characters and back story.
Variety of Readers
Parents, Librarians, Teachers, Young Adults, Juvenile Court
Officials, Drug and School Counselors, Rehab Treatment
Specialists (Hill, 2011)
Audience
14. Find Oneself
In Lecture 1 (2014a), Dr. Aronson informed that Junior High
aged children often want to find oneself in literature. Hopkins
provides the opportunity for readers to do this through various
themes and narrators.
Feel Included
Many readers experiencing traumatic events such as those
Hopkins writes about feel alone. They feel as if no one will
understand them and no one else must suffer like them. Her
stories offer those readers a chance to feel included and that
someone does understand them. They are not alone. This
connection can be life altering for a reader.
Impact on the Reader
15. Ways to Cope, Not a Public Service
Announcement
Her books may show some readers a way out from a difficult
situation. They may also show a reader how to help someone else
who is in a similar situation as the character’s. Importantly, Hopkins
shows readers it’s ok to talk about severe issues. As encouraged in
Sutton, talking openly gives permission to talk, not to do (2011,
p.274). Hopkins is not showing readers how to get addicted to
meth, join prostitution, commit suicide, bully someone else, …she is
showing readers that to talk about it can help (hopefully) to stop it.
Or if not to stop it, to share the trauma with someone else.
Impact on the Reader cont…
16. Insight
In Lecture 2, Dr. Aronson (2014b) noted that High School
teenagers often want to venture beyond their self in reading.
Hopkins provides that opportunity for many by writing about
such dramatic topics.
Vicarious Thrills
A myth to YA literature is that, “giving information… is the
same as giving permission” (Sutton, p.274). Hopkins does not
tell readers to partake in drugs and prostitution, but she does
show them what it is like to have that type of life without
harming oneself.
Insight and Vicarious Thrills
17. Hopkins’ Message to Teens
“That life does present us with huge
questions, and it's healthy to explore them.
You might not find definitive answers, but
debating possibilities is important. Cutting
yourself off from possibility limits your
imagination and problem solving skills.”
(“Ellen Hopkins reflects”, 2014).
19. Books as Art:
Visually Appealing
Different pages in each book are arranged differently.
The look of the page is as appealing as the words and
message on the page. Some pages alter between left
and right placement (impulse, 2007, pp. 317-318).
Some are all aligned to the left (impulse, 2007, p. 527).
Others are written as an upward or downward staircase
(impulse, 2007, pp. 157-158). This different placement
intrigues the reader just as the motives and actions of
characters do.
20. Books as Art: Word Choice
Hopkins deliberately selects each word and its placement. Each
word gives added meaning to each word. The first word of each
stanza on page 3 in Impulse illustrates this:
“Wish
you could turn off
the questions, turn
off the voices,
turn off the sound.
Yearn
to close out
the ugliness, close
out the filthiness,
close out the light….”
21. Books as Art: White Space
Most pages in Hopkins’ books only have about 4-5
stanzas of writing on it which leaves a lot of white
space. Again, this appeals to the eye and draws the
reader in. An overcrowding of words can overwhelm
and intimidate. The large amount of white space
slows down the pace of reading and leaves the
reader time to pause, enjoy, contemplate, and reflect
while reading.
22. Reader Interaction
Website and Blog
Hopkins has two detailed websites located at
ellenhopkins.com. One is for adults and the other for
young adults. Her dedication wall is interactive as well as
her blog located at http://ellenhopkins.livejournal.com/
Facebook Fan Page
Hopkins’ Facebook page is updated regularly with her
daily life events, book updates, school visits, photos, and
poetry.
23. Community Outreach
School and Library Visits
Hopkins visits schools and libraries around the
country year-round to sign books, give speeches, and
answer reader questions.
Non-Profit Organization
Ventana Sierra Inc., is a nonprofit charitable
organization that offers independent living,
job training, and other resources to dis-
advantaged youth. (www.ventanasierra.org)
Ventana Sierra. (2012b). VS
youth housing simple1.
[image]. Retrieved from
http://ventanasierra.org/
24. Censorship
Many of her books are censored due to content such as drug
abuse, sexual abuse, prostitution and teenage pregnancy.
Crank was the number 4 most challenged book in 2010, 6
years after it’s release (Jones, 2011).
Hopkins view on censorship of her books:
“These issues touch lives every day, including the lives of
children and teens. It’s important to write about them
honestly because only then can we gain insight into not only
the victims, but also the perpetrators. Without that
understanding, we can’t hope to change things for the better.”
(Hopkins, 2009, p. 7)
25. Conclusion
Hopkins writes about interesting characters, in
realistic settings, with various plot twists and
turns in a rare format: novels in verse. Her stories
are unpredictable, well-written, and engaging for
readers of all ages and backgrounds. While
realistic and not-sugar coated, they are do offer
hope.
Of course her books should be in all YA libraries!
26. References
Anderson, E.K. & Kenneally, M. (Eds.). (2012). Dear teen me: Authors write letters to their
teen selves. San Fransisco, CA: Zest Books.
Aronson, M. (2014a). Lecture 1. Personal Collection of Dr. M. Aronson, Rutgers University,
New Brunswick, NJ.
Aronson, M. (2014b). Lecture 2. Personal Collection of Dr. M. Aronson, Rutgers University,
New Brunswick, NJ.
Aronson, M. & Smith, Jr., C. (Eds.). (2014). One death nine stories. Somerville, MA:
Candlewick Press.
Ellen Hopkins reflects on ten years of writing YA with publication of
'Rumble'. (2014, Aug 26). Entertainment Examiner (USA). Retrieved from
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/
14FF63C981DFFB00?p=AWNB
27. References cont…
Fall Spotlight: Ellen Hopkins. Entertainment Examiner (USA). (2012, Nov 9).
Retrieved from http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/
1427853388AA52A0?p=AWNB
Goodreads. (2014). Collaborations images. [images] All images retrieved from
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/2821144.Ellen_Hopkins
Goodreads. (2014). Ellen Hopkins. [Photograph]. Retrieved from
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2821144.Ellen_Hopkins
Hill, R. (2011). Taking a closer look: Ellen Hopkins and her novels. ALAN Review, 38(2), 77.
Hopkins, E. (n.d.-a). Ellen Hopkins. Retrieved from http://ellenhopkins.com/
Hopkins, E. (n.d.-b). Hopkin header adult collateral. [image]. Retrieved from
http://ellenhopkins.com/Adult/books
28. References cont…
Hopkins, E. (n.d.-c). Hopkins home page header 2014. [Image]. Retrieved from
http://ellenhopkins.com/YoungAdult/
Hopkins, E. (n.d.-d). [Images 1, 2, and 3]. Retrieved from ellenhopkins.com
Hopkins, E. (n.d.-e). In Facebook [Fan Page]. Retrieved December 8, 2014 from
https://www.facebook.com/ellenhopkinsya/timeline
Hopkins, E. (2007). Impulse. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Hopkins, E. (2008, June 18). Ellen Hopkins: Yesterday, today, tomorrow. Retrieved
December 9, 2014 from http://ellenhopkins.livejournal.com/profile
Hopkins, E. (2009). Flirting with the monster. Dallas, TX: BenBella Books, Inc.
29. References cont…
Jones, B. (04/11/2011). “And Tango Makes Three” waddles its way back to the
number one slot as America’s most frequently challenged book. ALA American
Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/news/press-
releases/2011/04/and-tango-makes-three-waddles-its-way-back-number-one-slot-
america%E2%80%99s-most.
Kadaba, S. (2010, Sep 8). Page-turners - Ellen Hopkins' fat novels - written in verse –
make young non-readers avid fans, won over by raw themes that hit home. The
Philadelphia Inquirer, p. E01. Retrieved from
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/
1324B6A72DAF09B0?p=AWNB
Perfection Learning. (n.d.). Books by Ellen Hopkins. Retrieved from
http://www.perfectionlearning.com/
search.php?query=ellen+hopkins&type=author&x=26&y=14
30. References cont…
Sutton, R. & Parravano, M. (2010). A Family of readers. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
Ventana Sierra. (2012). Ventana Sierra. Retrieved from http://ventanasierra.org/.
Ventana Sierra. (2012). VS youth housing simple1. [image]. Retrieved from
http://ventanasierra.org/
Walsh, M. (Ed.). (2008). Does this book make me look fat? Stories about loving –
and loathing– your body. New York, NY: Clarion Books.
![Ellen Hopkins is a New York Times
Best Selling author of Children’s
non-fiction books, Young Adult
books, and Adult books. She is
most recognized for her YA novels
in verse of which she has written 11
with more planned for 2015 and
2016. Her most acclaimed novel is
Crank, which is loosely based on
her daughters struggles with
addition to the drug
methamphetamine (crank).
Ellen Hopkins
Goodreads. (2014). Ellen Hopkins.
[Photograph]. Retrieved from
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2
821144.Ellen_Hopkins](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)