Fallout

Bibliography
Hopkins, Ellen. Fallout. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010. Print.

My Thoughts
This is the final book of the Kristina Snow trilogy. I had to read it and find out what happened. Hopkins continues the story from the viewpoint of Kristina's three oldest children. Hunter, who is now 19, begins the story. We learn of two girls, Autumn and Summer and then of two more boys. So, Kristina has five children from four different men. She never takes responsibility for her life.

Autumn is the baby she had with Trey. Thankfully, Aunt Cora, at age 17, took Kristina's responsibility and raised Autumn. Autumn lives in Texas and never knew she had a family in Nevada. Once Aunt Cora gets married, Trey returns to the scene and takes Autumn to meet the Snow side of her family. It is one memorable Christmas drive. Trey is going to rekindle something with Kristina. Autumn is going to meet her family for the first time.

Summer is a child that resulted as a night spent with one of Trey's friends. Summer has spent most of her life in foster care because her dad can't stay out of trouble, and of course, Kristina can't either. Summer reminded me of Kristina when we first met her--"good" student/AP classes. I figured Summer's life would take one of two turns. She would either follow her mom's lifestyle or do something different to spite her mom. Well, her life path actually turned into a hybrid of these paths. Summer runs away with her boyfriend (also a junkie) Kyle. On their road trip to teenager freedom, a Hummer forces them off the road. They are rescued but must have a reason for their trip. Ah...going to see Grandma.

We don't see much of the two youngest boys' story except to learn that they are holy terrors! Thank goodness that Kristina's mom, once again, is helping.

I am glad that I read this trilogy and only had to ride vicariously the roller coaster that mirrors Hopkins' real life drama. Hopkins explains, "while these books are rooted in our real life, they are to a large degree fiction" (Hopkins 665). To be as real as these books seem, I would say that she knows what she's writing about!