Tricks by Ellen Hopkins introduces five teenagers: Eden, Seth, Whitney, Ginger, and Cody. Each of these teenagers struggle with themselves, as well as their families, and decide to try the world on their own. Ellen Hopkins' purpose in writing the book is that when you go at the world alone, you can end up in some serious trouble-like prostitution in which all five teens get sucked into. They don't do it on purpose, it starts out as just a way of making extra cash because their families so desperately need it, but then it becomes a lifestyle-something they can't find their way out of.
The theme of the book was choices. All five of these teenagers had a choice to either tough it out themselves, or do something a little riskier to help their situation. Eden ends up being sent to a missionary because her parents believed a demon was inside her for falling in love. Seth is gay and finally comes out to his father, and ends up being kicked out of the house. Forced to find his way out of being homeless, he found a man who needed arm candy and was willing to pay him for it. Whitney needed love, and she found it with a photographer who made her feel gorgeous in every possible way, but soon he began using her for money and Whitney began using Heroin. Ginger's story is different. Her mother was a prostitute and actually had guys pay to sleep with Ginger without Ginger knowing. Ginger got fed up and moved to Vegas with her friend Alex and started working for an escort service (aka legal prostitution). Finally, Cody. He has lived a pretty great life, until his stepfather dies and the bills start piling up and then his brother gets arrested. Cody turns to gambling first to earn a few bucks, but when that isn't enough, he goes to an escort service- the same one that Ginger goes to. These teenagers had a choice, but for them, the lines of good choices and bad choices were blurred, and they ended up in trouble. The style of the book was written in narration. I think this style is effective because it tells a story while incorporating facts as it goes.
In my opinion, I believe all Ellen Hopkins' books are fantastic, so I'm a little bias, but I really like how this book really showed the major consequences of people's actions and talked about a growing issue in the nation today that not a lot of people like to face. I didn't not like anything at all. Ellen Hopkins really hits the topics I love- and they don't involve vampires. I wouldn't change anything about this book, it is perfect the way it is and it is unlike all the other books I've read.
No comments:
Post a Comment