Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Summary:

"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 best-selling author Ellen Hopkins -- who has been called "the bestselling living poet in the country" by mediabistro.com


Review:

Tricks is yet another fast paced and heartbreaking read from Ellen Hopkins that will leave you saying "Wow, what if that happened to me?" at the end.

From the start, you become engrossed in the teens tragic lives with Hopkins prose. At first, I thought it may be a bit hard to follow all five teens lives, though with great character development, each character becomes imprinted in your head by the end. You feel their fears, sadness, hate for the life they have been given, and the happiness they crave for. Throughout Tricks, I was constantly cheering for them to overcome teen prostitution and their demons. So that they could get they desired most: a stable life filled with love.

The plot was intense and well crafted. I was always at the edge of my seat because of the drama and plot twists, I didn't see coming. Plus, I love how Ellen Hopkins isn't one to shy away from scary situations. Since, she always give you the real look at a hard hitting issues with out making it a overdone or a fairy tale that always has a happy ending.

Overall, Tricks is a fantastic and thrilling read that I suggest to older teens who are looking for a great end of summer read. I truly look forward to seeing what issue Hopkins chooses to deal with next.

Grade: A

Tricks will be released August 25, 2009.

* Much thanks to AK at S & S.