Tricks
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4.7 • 198 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Five troubled teenagers fall into prostitution as they search for freedom, safety, community, family, and love in this #1 New York Times bestselling novel from Ellen Hopkins.
When all choice is taken from you, life becomes a game of survival.
Five teenagers from different parts of the country. Three girls. Two guys. Four straight. One gay. Some rich. Some poor. Some from great families. Some with no one at all. All living their lives as best they can, but all searching…for freedom, safety, community, family, love. What they don’t expect, though, is all that can happen when those powerful little words “I love you” are said for all the wrong reasons.
Five moving stories remain separate at first, then interweave to tell a larger, powerful story—a story about making choices, taking leaps of faith, falling down, and growing up. A story about kids figuring out what sex and love are all about, at all costs, while asking themselves, “Can I ever feel okay about myself?”
A brilliant achievement from New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins—who has been called “the bestselling living poet in the country” by Mediabistro.com—Tricks is a book that turns you on and repels you at the same time. Just like so much of life.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hopkins again tackles a serious societal problem, this time focusing on teen prostitution. Fans of her work will recognize both her signature free verses and the gritty details she weaves within them. Newcomers, however, may be shocked by the graphic depictions of five struggling teens who find themselves turning tricks (one realizes her mother has sold her "for a good time" with a stranger, while another recounts "pretending to enjoy... deviant sex" to earn the trust of a guard at an ultra-strict religious rehabilitation camp). Some plotting seems clich d, such as the story of a preacher's daughter from Idaho, whose mother banishes her to the Tears of Zion camp after catching her with her boyfriend. While each story unfolds slowly, readers will understand the protagonists' desperation as well as their complete powerlessness once their descents have begun. Each story is unique (one teen needs money, another was thrown out because of his sexuality, still another was simply looking for love from the wrong person); while readers may connect with some characters more than others, they will long remember each painful story. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
PHENOMENAL WRITING!
Ellen Hopkins is my favorite author. Even as an adult. It’s easy to read while still challenging your mind. All while getting a glimpse into the reality of heroin and sex trafficking. 10 stars if I could!
A sure mind blower!
Truly my favorite book. The way that Hopkins puts in so much emotion and detail into something looked down upon can really give the characters a great amount of empathy. Beautifully written. It is intended for a rather mature audience given it has such great detail and complicated yet deep matter. The predicaments of each character is sure to blow your mind and leave you speechless. Fantastic book! If you like this book, you'll also LOVE "Burned", also by Hopkins.
Well Done
I recently did my thesis on underage prostitution in the Us-scary reality ~ however this book was the "pre" to Traffiked which was assigned as a Nutmeg Summer Reading, for my soon to be Freshman daughter. So I gambled a read and this POV is masterfully written! The points of each child was so well executed? Their backgrounds? I believe this should have made nutmeg too!!! Bravo