Crank
Crank, or methamphetamine, itself is a powerful symbol of a corrupting influence in Kristina's (and other users') lives. After she takes Crank, Kristina's life starts to spiral, and her relationships with those around her begin to deteriorate. Because of the drug, she ruins her life and starts to ruin the life of her unborn child.
Bree
Bree, Kristina's alter ego, is symbolic of the way that a person's personality changes while on drugs. While Kristina is kind, stable, and studious, Bree is unstable, unkind, and partakes in dangerous behavior. Ultimately, Bree is vastly different than Kristina.
Kristina's child
Kristina's pregnancy and subsequent child are a poignant symbol of her poor decision-making because of her drug addiction. To get more drugs, Kristina engaged in high-risk sexual partners with multiple partners, resulting in her pregnancy.
The novel's setting
The novel's setting, in the desolate desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico, symbolizes Kristina's internal desolation. She spends much of her life searching for community and meaning; she thinks she finds that with Crank. However, her internal despair grows more substantial.
