Book Review: Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Title: Tricks
Author: Ellen Hopkins
# of Pages: 627
Published: 2009
Rating: 5/5
From the Publisher:

"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?"

Review:
From the moment I opened Tricks' pages, I was hooked. The story focuses on five teenagers: Eden, a preacher's daughter; Seth, a farm-boy dealing with the death of his mother and the discovery of his homosexuality; Whitney, who has always been second-best; Ginger, whose 'working mom' betrays her time and again, and finally, Cody, who does anything to make ends meet.

When I first began to read, I was a little worried that having five characters, five different stories, might be confusing. It turns out there was no need to worry; Hopkins distinguishes every character and story perfectly. She brings life and history to each trouble teenager, splattering their pain onto each page.

I don't want to give too much away because when I began the novel, I had no idea where it would end up and it had a great impact. I would have lost this impact had I know what was coming for each character. Tricks made me cry, and had me sick to my stomach; the stories were raw, painful and honest. What's scarier though, is that these stories are someone's reality.

Book Review: Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

Title: Impulse
Author: Ellen Hopkins
# of Pages: 688
Published: May 2008
Genre: Teen
Rating: 4/5

Summary:

Three lives, three different paths to the same destination: Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital for those who have attempted the ultimate act -- suicide.

Vanessa is beautiful and smart, but her secrets keep her answering the call of the blade.

Tony, after suffering a painful childhood, can only find peace through pills.

And Conner, outwardly, has the perfect life. But dig a little deeper and find a boy who is in constant battle with his parents, his life, himself.

In one instant each of these young people decided enough was enough. They grabbed the blade, the bottle, the gun -- and tried to end it all. Now they have a second chance, and just maybe, with each others help, they can find their way to a better life -- but only if they're strong and can fight the demons that brought them here in the first place.

Review:

I had heard of Ellen Hopkins' novels, and I was intrigued that her novels were written in verse. One of my roommates bought me this novel as a Christmas gift, and I was excited to give Hopkins a chance. At first, I found it difficult to read a novel written entirely in verse. However, after reading a few poems in, I understood that the story was clear. I had expected the story to be difficult to understand because it was written in verse but I was surprised to find dialogue and action clearly written.

I was very intrigued with the idea of three teenagers in a rehabilitation center, and so the story really appealed to me. The story slowly reveals the reasons behind the suicide attempts of Vanessa, Tony and Conner; problems with drugs, cutting and abuse. Once I began, I could barely stop reading; I was so eager to read and find out just what happened to each of them.

The stories of hardship did not disappoint; although the ending did surprise me. I don't want to ruin anything, but I did not expect such an ending and I was taken aback.

I would definitely recommend this novel and encourage people to try and look past the interesting style of writing and find the great story within.

(* cross posted from the collective blog Collision)