Tricks

New York Times Bestseller

Ellen Hopkins weaves five searing stories into one unforgettable novel-in-verse that asks the hardest questions about love, survival, and what it means to reclaim yourself when the world has taken everything.

Five teenagers. Different backgrounds, different dreams, different reasons for running. Three girls and two guys searching for the same elusive things: freedom, safety, a place to belong. But the streets have their own currency, and sometimes “I love you” becomes the most dangerous phrase of all.

Hopkins—called “the bestselling living poet in the country” by Mediabistro.com—crafts a narrative that’s both visceral and tender. Her signature verse format pulls you through these interconnected stories with breathtaking momentum, each voice distinct, each journey heartbreaking and real. This is fiction that doesn’t look away. It shows how vulnerable young people fall into prostitution, how desperation can masquerade as choice, and how the human spirit fights to survive even in the darkest corners.

Tricks isn’t an easy read—it’s an essential one. It’s the book that makes you uncomfortable in all the right ways, that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Hopkins has created something rare: a story that educates without preaching, that breaks your heart while giving you hope.

For readers who appreciate raw, honest young adult fiction that tackles difficult subjects with artistry and compassion, Tricks is a powerful addition to your shelf.

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