Tricks
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Tricks
Ellen Hopkins' "Tricks" is a young adult novel in verse that interweaves the raw and challenging narratives of five teenagers—Eden, Seth, Whitney, Ginger, and Cody—from diverse backgrounds. The story explores how each character, driven by unique hardships such as parental neglect, abuse, homophobia, and loss, ultimately finds themselves drawn into the grim world of prostitution in Las Vegas. Written with a gritty realism, the book delves into mature and explicit themes, presenting an unflinching look at the consequences of desperation and difficult choices. It is intended for older teenage readers due to its intense content. The novel's format, told through free verse poetry, allows for a deep dive into the characters' inner lives and emotional struggles, making their experiences both personal and impactful. It addresses a range of sensitive topics, including sexual identity, substance abuse, and the breakdown of family structures, aiming to shed light on societal issues often faced by vulnerable youth. "Tricks" has been recognized as a #1 New York Times bestselling novel, lauded for its honesty in tackling uncomfortable subjects without sugarcoating. It is often recommended for mature young adult readers who can engage with its heavy and explicit material. Despite its literary acclaim, "Tricks" has frequently faced challenges and bans due to its explicit content, particularly its portrayal of sexual activity, drug use, and LGBTQ+ themes. It serves as a powerful, albeit controversial, exploration of survival and self-worth in the face of profound adversity. The book is the first in a series, with a companion novel, "Traffick," continuing the stories of these characters.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The book features prominent LGBTQ+ characters whose sexual orientation is central to their struggles and motivations, contributing directly to their dire circumstances. Seth is a gay farm boy disowned by his homophobic father, and Ginger is a lesbian character with a girlfriend.
Seth Parnell is explicitly identified as gay, and his father disowns him after he comes out, leading Seth to seek survival through sex work with older men. Ginger is a lesbian character who, alongside her girlfriend Alex, becomes involved in prostitution and stripping in Las Vegas.
Violence
The novel contains graphic and intense depictions of violence, including sexual assault (rape), child abuse, physical abuse, and brief gun violence, which are integral to the characters' backstories and their entry into prostitution.
Romance and Sexual Content
Sexual content is a primary and explicit theme, revolving around teen prostitution, sexual assault, and exploitation. The narrative directly addresses sexual activity, including consensual and non-consensual acts, and references multiple partners.
Profanity
The book contains frequent use of strong profanity, including the F-word, S-word, and other explicit curse words, consistent with a raw and gritty portrayal of troubled teenagers' lives.
Substance Use
The novel features significant and explicit portrayals of illegal drug use (including heroin and marijuana), underage alcohol consumption, and themes of addiction. Substance abuse is a direct factor in the characters' downfalls.
Scary & Intense Content
The book is highly intense and emotionally devastating, featuring themes of sexual assault, child abuse, human trafficking, homelessness, parental neglect, depression, and death. The overall tone is bleak and distressing, immersing readers in the desperate struggles of the characters.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Ages 16 and up (Grades 10-12) is recommended due to the extremely mature and graphic content, including explicit sexual themes, sexual assault, child abuse, drug use, violence, and strong language. The subject matter of teen prostitution and the detailed depiction of traumatic experiences necessitate a high level of maturity for engagement.
Good to Know
Ellen Hopkins' 'Tricks' is a novel in verse, a poetic style that some readers may find challenging or unique. The book is known for its unflinching realism and portrayal of extremely dark and mature themes, and it is frequently challenged in educational and library settings. Parents should be aware that a companion novel, 'Traffick,' continues the stories of these characters and explores similar intense content. The book is intended to highlight difficult societal issues experienced by vulnerable youth.
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