Review: Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
Title: Tricks
Hardcover, 628 pages
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Publication Date: August 25, 2009
Source: Borrowed
Book Summary:
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?”
Review:
Ellen Hopkins is a master of words and emotion.
Her books are written in verse, which gives an entirely different feel to each character we listen to. Tricks has us follow five different teenagers and their attempt to escape what is bothering them – all coming to the same conclusion (thus tying in the name of the book).
Tricks was harder for me to read than Crank, Glass, and Fallout. The situations were dire for each of the five individuals, and often I felt like the stories were going to get progressively worse until the book was over. While this was true for some, for others it is not, which allowed me to feel slightly more settled when I was done.
A frightening look into the minds of teenagers with no place to turn, Tricks shows a side of the world many have no idea about unless they’ve lived it. A hard read that makes you want to look out for those around you and help where you can so that no one has to go through what the teens in this book did.
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This is the only book by Ellen Hopkins I have yet to read. It definitely seems like the most disturbing, although Identical I had to put aside for a few days because of the subject matter, so I'm hesitant about reading Tricks. I'm sure it's just as wonderful as her other books though.
Hi Shanyn, Hi Steve! I'm back from vacation!
This sounds kinda like "The Stand" only with teenagers.
Sounds good, great review!
I love this book, and actually love all of Hopkins's books. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I am reading Crank now, my first book by her.
Wow, fantastic review! I haven't read many books in verse. But this sounds fantastic… and so emotional. Gotta check it out!
Tricks was definitely a toughie! Tough subject matter, seriously damaged characters and dire situations. I loved it though. Ellen has a way with the flawed and fragile teen characters that makes them so real and relatable. I have read all of her books, and am eagerly awaiting her next coming out this fall!