Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

****Tricks by Ellen Hopkins****

Originality- 18/20
Characters- 18/20
Remembrance- 8/10
Quote-ability- 7/10
Entertainment- 18/20
Ending- 9/10
Recommend to read- 8/10
TOTAL- 86/100
Grade- B
Release Date- August 25, 2009

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?"

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Tricks by Ellen Hopkins has become one of my favorite of her books so far. I love her style of writing. Hopkins has a way of writing so little but saying so much. All of her books hold a special meaning to me and Tricks is no different. I was able to connect and sympathize with every character. Each one was so different, but had to deal with their problems in the same way. I teared up several times while reading because I could feel the pain and betrayal that some of the characters felt. Tricks also made me realize why a teen would even get into prostitution. I am the same age as a couple of the characters so I could relate to some of their frustrations. Hopkins has an amazing skill of writing for teens. My heart went out to each and every character.

The writing was amazing, and so were the characters and the plot. As usual I have no complaints of this Hopkins book. Overall I would say that Tricks was a book that showed a new side of prostitution and can be read by any teen who has read Hopkins or just wants to read something REAL.

-Amanda