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TRICKS

Ellen Hopkins

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for TRICKS by Ellen Hopkins. This book is recommended for ages 18+; content notes include Alcohol or drugs, Sexual content & nudity, Death of a character; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Diverse representation.

Ages 18+Book 1 · TricksSource checked

Why this age? The novel centrally depicts rape, sexual exploitation of minors, coercive sex, prostitution, drug addiction, overdose, death, serious violence, homelessness and emotionally intense trauma. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

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At a glance

Recommended age18+

Strongest cautions

  • Alcohol or drugs5/5
  • Sexual content & nudity5/5
  • Death of a character4/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Diverse representation3/5
  • Positive messages3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Deaths include cancer-related death and violent deaths; serious illness and dying from an STD also affect the story.

Graphic injury3/5
Why this rating?

Describes injuries from assaults and medical emergencies following drug overdoses and violent attacks.

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

Language is flagged as a concern, but the available summary gives no specific words or frequency, so the strength and extent are uncertain.

LGBTQIA characters3/5
Why this rating?

Seth explores his sexuality and has relationships with men; Ginger questions her feelings for Alex. These themes are prominent.

Religious themes3/5
Why this rating?

Eden's minister father, Christian expectations and religiously framed attempted confinement are important to her storyline.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Teen relationships, attraction, breakups and intimacy recur, but romance is often entangled with coercion and survival.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Captivity, rape, exploitation, homelessness, predatory adults, overdose and life-threatening violence create sustained distress.

Sexual content & nudity5/5
Why this rating?

Central theme involves teenagers engaging in prostitution, sexual exploitation, and coerced sexual activity.

Alcohol or drugs5/5
Why this rating?

Teen drinking, drug addiction and an overdose are major plot elements; substance use is linked to exploitation and harm.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Includes domestic abuse, physical assaults, and violent encounters related to the sex trade.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Characters endure abuse and hardship, escape dangerous situations, seek help and take responsibility despite severe circumstances.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

The verse novel format is a unique creative approach to narrative storytelling.

Diverse representation3/5
Why this rating?

The ensemble includes varied family situations, sexual identities, religious settings and socioeconomic experiences, though trauma dominates characterization.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It may prompt understanding of exploitation, addiction and trauma, but it is primarily a gritty fictional narrative rather than instructional reading.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Support appears intermittently, including family concern and helping services, but compassion is repeatedly overwhelmed by neglect and exploitation.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story strongly examines exploitation, abuse, addiction, family failure and the need for support, while showing serious consequences.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Some characters show resilience and responsibility, but many adults and peers exploit, abandon or fail the teenagers.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How were alcohol or drugs portrayed, and what consequences did the story show?
  3. Which choice in TRICKS would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in TRICKS, and what caused that change?
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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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