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| Impulse | 
 enlarge | Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Category: Book
List Price: $9.99
Buy New: $5.87
You Save: $4.12 (41%)
New (36) Used (10) from $5.87
Avg. Customer Rating:  40 reviews
Sales Rank: 4776
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 688
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 5 x 1.9
ISBN: 1416903577
EAN: 9781416903574
ASIN: 1416903577
Publication Date: May 20, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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Product Description
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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 35 more reviews...
 Courtesy of Teens Read Too January 14, 2007
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
Three troubled teens cross paths at Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital, after attempting suicide. Connor, Tony, and Vanessa all have demons that try to pull them under and get them to succumb to the temptation to try it again; this time making sure they succeed.
Connor's overbearing family, only concerned about his GPA, or his making the varsity football team, or getting into an Ivy League college, offer no solace during his time of need. Feeling suicide is the only answer after a deeply emotional love affair ends, he takes a gun and points it to his chest before pulling the trigger.
Tony, after many years in a juvenile home for a crime that still haunts him, decides to ease his feelings of despair and loneliness by swallowing a handful of pills, only to vomit them up and be found by the police lying on the sidewalk unconscious.
Vanessa is a cutter. In order to ease her mind in any time of stress she slices her skin with anything sharp enough to do the job. One day, when she was drowning in her blue ocean of sadness, she cuts too deep. She feels herself slipping into the abyss until her younger brother, Bryan, walks in and finds her. When he calls for their ex-nurse Grandma, she is able to hold off death.
After arriving at Aspen Springs, Connor, Tony, and Vanessa are introduced to a life under constant surveillance, strict routines, and hours and hours or counseling. Immediately the three form a bond, feeling drawn to one another as if they might be able to save each other from death. Together they navigate the regulations of the hospital and make progress toward healing as they tell each other their deepest, darkest secrets; things they won't even tell their counselors.
Ellen Hopkins uses her wonderful free verse style to weave together the story of three troubled teens as they attempt to heal the terrible scars left by their lives. The consistency the author uses when alternating the points of view makes the story easy to follow. Hopkins gives away just enough information that the reader feels a part of the story while still saving a big bang for the end. IMPULSE is a great story that reveals the importance of family during the healing process and is a must read for anyone who knows a teen.
Reviewed by: Karin Perry
 Warning for parents February 20, 2007
5 out of 13 found this review helpful
My younger brother brought this book and i read a few pages Ellen's writting style is really unique and poetic but this is not a good book for impressional young adults. i'm not blaming this book for my brothers actions, because only he is responsible for them, but i honestly think him reading this book didn't help. yesterday my brother tried to hang himself, my parents found he was reading this book and took it away from him. this book is realistic but maybe a bit too graphic as it talks about shoting oneself in the head and stomach, and stabing oneself. parents should be aware.
"Impulse" Will Grip You May 27, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The new novel "Impulse" is a story written by author Ellen Hopkins (Burned, Crank). It is told in 3 different view points of three teens who were placed in a psychiatric ward called Aspen Springs. All 3 suffer their own individual hardships and adversity.
Vanessa cuts herself to relieve guilt and to match the pain she feels on the inside. Tony suffered sexual abuse from his mother's boyfriend and grew up without a father. Conner has exacting parents who think about nothing but perfection, and has a secret love affair. The three quickly bond, both boys being intrigued by Vanessa. Together they spill their secrets and learn to love, something none of them knew much about.
The story is written in a free-verse style, with all 3 points of view from Vanessa, Conner, and Tony. The free-verse style makes the pages short and to the point, but allows for wonderful imagery. Since it's not a complete page of someone telling a story, it could keep the non-reader reading. The 3 POV's allows the weaving of their lives. You see things through all three's eyes, which gives the reader much more insight than through just one's.
Another cool thing about the novel is how nothing is entirely revealed right at first, and even when it is it doesn't just come out and say it. The three teens' secrets come out gradually and well-spaced throughout the novel. It leaves you guessing, which is good for the reader who likes to make inferences.
The realism of the story is definitely pleasing. How their lives were affected by their childhood's and the adults who played a part in them was all too real. The story showed that teenagers' lives aren't so great, despite the facade they put up. For example, Conner seems like he has it all; rich parents, good grades, and athletic ability. But at times he can be just as insecure as Tony, who didn't have a father and was unsure of his sexuality. Vanessa's mom was bi-polar with a bit of schizophrenia, and she most likely inherited it. Her dad was almost always away in the war. Despite how different their lives were, the story showed just how much alike they could be.
Overall, I would recommend this book to any teenager about 14 and up. Some of the subject matter may be too mature for ages younger. Plenty of teens will find that they can relate to one or all three of the main characters. Oh, and if the book impacts you any at all, then don't be surprised if you're choking back tears when you finish. It seems like a long book, but once you start reading, the pages will fly by and you'll find yourself immersed in it. "Impulse" was a very enjoyable, very real read.
Ellen Hopkins, You Genius You January 30, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
This Book was so fantastic! beyond Fantastic!
just when you think you've figured the characters (Tony,Vanessa,& Connor) out, you're wrong! they go so much deeper and the source of their pain is realistic and relatable
This book was so powerful and Wow just incredible.
In true Ellen Hopkins style the ending was the most jarring!
her endings leave me angry...well not angry but wanting more! I recommend this book and all other books by Ellen Hopkins. Also if you listen to "Cemetery Drive" by My Chemical Romance it really relates to this book.
i love this book.
 Not sure about this one November 23, 2007
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
I loved Crank and Glass so much I thought this book would be as addicting. Unfortunately it has not been an easy book to get into. I feel like it jumps from character to character too much. I keep giving this book a third, a 4th and a fifth try hoping it's just my mood but I still can't get into this story. I will keep trying to read this book but I'm sad that it doesn't have the same eloquence as Crank and Glass.
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