I read Trick's by Ellen Hopkins, and it's definitely one of the most gut wrenching books I've read. What struck me most about this book is the dynamic characters, verse style writing, and the unapologetic subject matter. Hopkins does an excellent job and creating dynamic characters in this story. An example of this is her character Eden. Eden starts out as a born again Christian girl who, despite her strict parents wishes, rebels a little and dates a bot outside her faith. " 'Religion is for followers' he told me once. 'Followers are puppets' At my stricken look, he became not so apologetic" (pg. 5 in the kindle version) As the story progresses Eden falls down the rabbit hole of bad decisions as she tries to escape the horrendous world her parents create for her. By the end of the book, Eden has lowered herself to having sex with truckers and johns for money and a way back to her boyfriend. "More often, it's the back seat of his car quick and easy five minutes or less, no emotion" (pg 570 of the kindle version) Another thing that really drew me into this book is the verse style writing. Being a poet, there's nothing I love more than verse, and Hopkins does a beautiful job at telling a story through this format. "As a child, I was wary, often felt concerned. To escape, I regularly stashed myself in the closet, comforted by curtains of cotton. Silk. Velour. Avoided wool, which encouraged my itching the ever present rashes on my arms, legs. My skin reacted to secrets, lies, and taunts by wanting to break out..." (pg. 17 of the kindle version) "Tricks"'s subject matter is heavily in teen prostitution, drug use, sex, and homosexuality. The book doesn't sugar coat any of this, instead it tells the real stories of these kids who struggle through the lowest parts of their lives with not so healthy coping tactics. "My brain screeches, FIX! FIX! quick before I make you heave. quick before I give you the runs. quick before I start remembering." (pg. 527 of the kindle version)
" 'Religion is for followers' he told me once.
'Followers are puppets'
At my stricken look, he became not so apologetic"
(pg. 5 in the kindle version)
As the story progresses Eden falls down the rabbit hole of bad decisions as she tries to escape the horrendous world her parents create for her.
By the end of the book, Eden has lowered herself to having sex with truckers and johns for money and a way back to her boyfriend.
"More often, it's the back seat of his car
quick and easy
five minutes or less, no emotion"
(pg 570 of the kindle version)
Another thing that really drew me into this book is the verse style writing. Being a poet, there's nothing I love more than verse, and Hopkins does a beautiful job at telling a story through this format.
"As a child, I was wary,
often felt concerned.
To escape, I regularly
stashed myself
in the closet,
comforted by curtains
of cotton. Silk. Velour.
Avoided wool, which
encouraged my
itching
the ever present rashes
on my arms, legs. My skin
reacted to secrets, lies,
and taunts by wanting
to break out..."
(pg. 17 of the kindle version)
"Tricks"'s subject matter is heavily in teen prostitution, drug use, sex, and homosexuality. The book doesn't sugar coat any of this, instead it tells the real stories of these kids who struggle through the lowest parts of their lives with not so healthy coping tactics.
"My brain screeches, FIX! FIX!
quick before I make you heave.
quick before I give you the runs.
quick before I start remembering."
(pg. 527 of the kindle version)