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Tricks

(2009, Fiction - Coming of Age, Written by Ellen Hopkins)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Extremely graphic, gritty look at teen prostitutes.

Themes in this book include:   gender issues, growing up, physical abuse

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The author powerfully demonstrates how easily children can be manipulated by adults. All but one of the teens here had a loving home at one point, but still eventually ended up trading sex for a living. The author also points to resources for teens in trouble.

  • Role models:

    Although some of the characters are sympathetic, the bottom line is that all these teens resort to selling their bodies.

  • Violence:

    A girl is raped by strangers after her mother sells her. Another character is beaten up and ends up nearly dying in the hospital.

  • Sex:

    Graphic depictions of sex for money, drugs, or power -- and occasionally sex for love.

  • Language:

    All the biggies, including adult language for sex acts and drugs.

  • Consumerism:

    A few mentions of brands like Gap, Coke, Kool cigarettes, Tundra, etc.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters drink and do drugs. One even shoots heroin.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Tricks

Parents need to know that this book features graphic depictions of sex. The teens in this book have sex with men and women, trade sex for money and drugs, and are forced to make pornographic movies, have threesomes, etc. One character is raped in two different instances when her mother sells her to strangers. There is harsh language, drug use, and violence throughout.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about prostitution. What are some of the reasons that characters here are driven to prostitution? What would you do to stop this problem?
  • Some of the material here is very graphic -- from depictions of sex acts to descriptions of drug use. At what point is the material inappropriate for teen readers? Should a book ever be censored?
  • Ellen Hopkins has written other books in free verse, like Glass and Impulse. Do you think books written this way are easier to read? How about to write?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    blahchick_123
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0

    great book for teens

    im soon goin to be able to get thsi book what i heard bout it so far is great ill comment after i read. :)

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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