Impulse

Ellen Hopkins

May 2008 · Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

From a New York Times–bestselling author, “a fast, jagged, hypnotic read” about three teens who meet at a mental hospital after each attempts suicide (Kirkus Reviews).

Sometimes you don’t wake up. But if you happen to, you know things will never be the same.

Three lives, three different paths to the same destination: Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital for those who have attempted the ultimate act—suicide.

Vanessa is beautiful and smart, but her secrets keep her answering the call of the blade.

Tony, after suffering a painful childhood, can only find peace through pills.

And Conner, outwardly, has the perfect life. But dig a little deeper and find a boy who is in constant battle with his parents, his life, himself.

In one instant each of these young people decided enough was enough. They grabbed the blade, the bottle, the gun—and tried to end it all. Now they have a second chance, and just maybe, with each other’s help, they can find their way to a better life—but only if they’re strong and can fight the demons that brought them here in the first place.

“Fans of the verse format will devour this hefty problem novel.” —School Library Journal

Ratings and reviews

Impulse takes you on a ride like no other book has done before. It's sad, scary, happy, funny. and the ending will leave you in shock. When the three teenagers meet at the psychiatric hospital all for trying to commit suicide. They become friends, and eventually share all there deepest darkest secrets with one another. You expect everything to get better as time goes on, but it seems that it's not going to happen, but finally the goodness starts to show up. However, as Ellen Hopkins writes, you never expect the ending, even if you think you know what's going to happen.

"Impulse" is, by far, one of my most treasured and favorite novels. Ellen Hopkins is truly a master in the way she develops such an emotional text and truly makes the reader feel those emotions. The lesson the characters learn, how their experiences shape who these teenagers become, it's all a perfect equation. I think the theme of the novel all comes down to trust and how even though no one can completely understand how or why you are feeling a certain way, but there are people whose only motive is to help you. The theme is an individuals' perspective compared to the societal view. Hopkins use of stanza is brilliant, she knows how to utilize the irregular writing style to a huge advantage. I can honestly say i have no complaints for this novel. Many things about the novel made me upset, but in the end i found it all to have an eventual reason. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I thought it was just that good.

Impulse is such an amazing book. The Crank series is just phenominal. I've read 2 other books from this series, and all 3 were amazing. Fallout, Identical, and Impulse have such amazing stories that I think everyone can relate to in some way. Back to Impulse, this book has a twisted story, with drugs, insanity, suicide, and a little romance in between all those, it just sounds like it has a saucy story to tell. The cover already tells you you'll have an amazing time reading this book, and it doesn't lie.

About the author

Ellen Hopkins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous young adult novels, as well as the adult novels such as Triangles, Collateral, and Love Lies Beneath. She lives with her family in Carson City, Nevada, where she has founded Ventana Sierra, a nonprofit youth housing and resource initiative. Follow her on Twitter at @EllenHopkinsLit.