Ellen Hopkins, an award-winning author of 14 books for teens, including on her 2004 novel, Crank, which is loosely based on her own daughter’s struggles with crystal meth addiction, will be at the Athens-Clarke County Library at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19.
Hopkins
is revered by fans for her hard-hitting approach to the difficult issues facing teens today. Her novels have addressed drug addiction, sextrafficking, abuse and other challenges. Hopkins’ emotional work inspires, comforts and gives voice to many of her readers’ experiences.
Hopkins will visit Athens to share her story and will talk about her latest novel for teens, People Kill People.
People Kill People tackles gun violence and white supremacy. A gun is sold in the classified after killing a spouse, bought by a teenager for needed protection. But which was it? Each has the incentive to pick up a gun, to fire it. Was it Rand or Cami, married teenagers with a young son? Was it Silas or Ashlyn, members of a white supremacist youth organization? Daniel, who fears retaliation because of his race, who possessively clings to Grace, the love of his life? Or Noelle, who lost everything after a devastating accident and has sunk quietly into depression? One tense week brings all six people into close contact in a town wrought with political and personal tensions. Someone will fire. And someone will die. But who?
Hopkins’ visit to Athens will include a trip to Cedar Shoals High School at 10:00 a.m. to speak to students at the school, followed by her appearance at the Athens-Clarke County Library at 5:00 p.m. The library event is free and open to the public.
The Friends of Athens-Clarke County Library will have books available for purchase and signing at the event, and Hopkins is currently accepting donations on GoFundMe to provide free copies of her works to high school students in Georgia. More information about her campaign can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/ya-books-for-georgia.
For more information, call the library at (706) 613-3650 or visit www.athenslibrary.org. The Athens-Clarke County Library is located at 2025 Baxter Street, Athens.