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.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe 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
HighThe 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.
Ginger is raped by a client after being sold by Iris, and she experiences the horrific realization that her own mother may have previously exploited her. Eden, the preacher's daughter, is subjected to abuse at the 'Tears of Zion' institution, which she describes as treating children 'horribly' and where she is forced to 'manipulate freedom with her body.' There are also references to a scene where a person with a gun shoots several others, resulting in deaths.
Romance and Sexual Content
HighSexual 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.
All five main characters (Eden, Seth, Whitney, Ginger, and Cody) become involved in prostitution as a direct consequence of their desperate situations. The book is described as containing 'sexually explicit excerpts involving minors' and 'adult and child prostitution.' There are 'references to sex and sex work,' 'references to sexual assault and scenes briefly showing the assault,' and 'a couple of scenes reference sex between more than two people.'
Profanity
HighThe 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.
A library's reconsideration request for 'Tricks' specifically noted a profanity count including 'Fuck 16, Bitch 6, Shit 5, Ass 4, Dick 1.' Reviewers explicitly mention 'some use of the F-bomb and other profanity.'
Substance Use
HighThe 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.
Whitney Lang is shown becoming addicted to heroin after being lured into prostitution by a pimp, with her life subsequently 'ruined in a heroin haze.' The book includes general 'drug use' as a content warning and details teens consuming alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs. Cody develops a gambling addiction, which is categorized under substance use in this context due to its addictive nature and destructive consequences.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe 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.
The central plot involves five teenagers being drawn into and experiencing the severe dangers and traumas of prostitution. Trigger warnings for the book explicitly include 'rape, depression.' The detailed narratives of abuse, exploitation, and the fight for survival contribute to a consistently high level of psychological intensity and fear.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumCharacters exhibit significant disrespect and rebellion, often as a direct response to abusive, neglectful, or overly controlling parental and societal figures. Their defiance, while sometimes a survival mechanism, often leads to negative consequences.
Eden engages in a 'secret love affair' with Andrew, directly defying her 'strictly religious parents' who forbid premarital relationships. Seth deliberately comes out as gay to his homophobic father, leading to his father disowning him and kicking him out of the house.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe novel portrays a highly negative and abusive interpretation of Christian faith through the character of Eden's 'hellfire-and-brimstone preaching father' and an institution ('Tears of Zion') that uses religion to control and abuse children. This can be interpreted as critical of certain fundamentalist or hypocritical religious practices.
Eden's father, a strict preacher, sends her to a 'Tears of Zion institution to dispel demons' after discovering her relationship, where children are 'treated horribly' and forced to manipulate their bodies. This depicts 'faith used to control others’ behavior and abuse them,' implying a critique of religion used as a weapon rather than an outright attack on Christianity itself.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no explicit depiction or promotion of witchcraft, sorcery, or occult practices. The concept of 'dispel demons' is presented within a context of abusive fundamentalist religious control rather than actual occultism.
Eden is sent to a 'Tears of Zion institution to dispel demons' by her strictly religious parents, an act portrayed as extreme religious coercion and abuse, not as engagement with genuine occult practices.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
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.
Additional Notes
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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