Tricks

by Hopkins

[Angie]

Following five very different teens, Tricks is another intensely real look at tough problems. Eden, Seth, Ginger, Whitney, and Cody don't know each other, but all have one thing in common: something in their lives has pushed them into selling their bodies. It's not about money for all of them; for some it's drugs or just for a sense of security. Whatever their reasons, it's difficult for any of them to escape it. At times I was very disturbed by what these young people either decided to do, or were forced into, but I could not stop reading. There's not a happy ending for all of them, which is what I was hoping, although I should have known better.

Eden is the good girl daughter of a pastor. Her family is all about following the word of God, and anything having to do with sex outside of marriage and for procreation is off limits. But Eden falls in love with a boy from church, and she just can't accept that their love or anything that comes from that love is evil. I had some predictions for how her story would go, but Tricks surprised me. I never would have even considered her parents jumping to that, and what Eden has to do to get away from it was heartbreaking. But it's nothing compared to what she does once she makes it to Vegas. It's horrible.

Seth is struggling to be himself. There's no way he can come out to his father or anyone in his small town, so he regularly drives out of state to meet up with, Loren. A man he met online and shows him how it is to live out in the open. Unfortunately, Loren leaves, Seth's father finds out that he's gay and promptly kicks him out. He has nothing. Nothing except his body, which he uses to get an older man to take care of him. Of course, a rich old guy who provides everything is too good to be true. Seth's story wasn't as intense as the others, but it was sad all the same, since he's just looking for love and security, but has to settle for trading his body for a roof over his head.

I think Ginger's story was the toughest in Tricks. Her mother is a prostitute, and she does unforgivable things to Ginger, until she's had enough and takes off with her girlfriend to Vegas. They're sixteen and have no money, but Alex's dad's ex lets them stay with her. If they work for her. She doesn't even care that they're underage, she just sees dollar signs for two girls stripping together. Needless to say, stripping leads them down a path neither of them thought they'd go down. But I was proud of Ginger for keeper her head, even when things took a turn for the worst.

As for Whitney, her story didn't grab me in the beginning. Hers does turn out really bad as time moves on, but for some reason, I just could not connect with her. She's one of those girls who's spoiled with everything except for affection from her parents. After her boyfriend dumps her, she takes off with an older man she met at the mall. He claims to be a photographer, so I'm sure you can guess what path he leads her down. But compared to the others, her life wasn't even bad at home. She just got dumped and that translated into running away, ruining her life, and nearly dying. I just couldn't feel sorry for her.

Finally, Tricks introduces us to Cody, who's story I found the most interesting, although not the most disturbing, since it's something I hadn't read about before. Cody is addicted to gambling. He spends all of his money on poker games, virtual poker, and sports bets. Mostly it's to buy drugs for him and his girlfriend, but when his stepdad dies and the bills start piling up, he feels like it's up to him to support his mother and younger brother. Of course, gambling is a risk, and he learns about an escort service where he can earn a whole day's pay in one hour. Desperation makes people do crazy things.

Tricks tells five very different stories, but all eventually converge, before going their own ways again. They're hard stories to read, but I would still recommend this one. It's a very dark, but real look into underage prostitution, a problem I don't think we acknowledge enough. What drives these young people to the streets? Is it a want for quick money, or a necessity to live? Tricks also shows that anyone can end up this way with just a few bad decisions, no matter how their lives start out.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.