I was so excited to read this story to end the question and wonder of what was going to happen to these 5 teens, but I am here to sadly say I feel no closure. The author left so much hanging in the air. I feel Ellen could write one more book, no wait I m begging to have her write another story that is 10 years from where this story left off. I will be up a lot tonight thinking and hoping the story ends with the good note that I want. I am sad to say I would not recommend this book due to there is a huge cliff with a hole that is not being filled. Traffick (Tricks, #2) Review to come. Traffick (Tricks, #2) ‘How am I supposed to stay clean
when the truth of what I’ve done
closes in around me, squeezing
hideous memories from the deep
recesses of my brain […]’
Tricks is a novel that leaves you haunted for a group of incredibly real individuals that wound up in unimaginable situations. It told the story of five individuals: Seth is kicked out of his home after his father finds out he’s gay. Ginger is forced to run away after she’s raped and finds out that her mother collected cash from the experience. Eden is sent to a religious reform camp after her parents discover she has a boyfriend. Cody and his family find themselves in a financial hole after the death of his stepfather and he begins collecting money anyway he can. And Whitney who ends up with an older man simply because he gives her the attention she craves. What’s most shocking is how vastly different their stories are yet how they all seem to wind up in the same situations: selling their bodies in order to survive.
Traffick is their follow-up story that once again forces these same characters to face their demons while giving them the opportunity to find some semblance of a future that none of them ever thought they would live to witness. It’s no doubt a bleak tale but it effectively brings to life the harsh realities of sex trafficking and child prostitution and what many are forced to undergo. It also productively breaks many of the stereotypes surrounding the beliefs regarding how individuals find themselves in these situations. They aren’t all doing this work of their own free will, some are forced into it by intimidation, some do it out of a misguided act of love, and some do it out of sheer desperateness and being unable to do anything else with their lives.
Ellen has said that she worked with rescue groups and survivors of sex trafficking to make this story as honest as possible, and it’s obvious. While Traffick doesn’t give these victims a complete happily ever after, I appreciated it more because it didn’t. What these individuals endured is something that will stay with them eternally and forever change who they are. What this story did do was give these characters, and any individuals that find themselves in similar circumstances, the possibility of hope. Hope that there is a future for them, no matter what, despite their experiences.
I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Traffick (Tricks, #2) 2.75 out of 5 stars
Trigger warnings: Prostutition, Substance Abuse, Sex Trafficking, etc.
Just like book one this was difficult to read. It was dark and painful to read at times.
This is a topic I have not previously read about, aside from book one in this series. But this is so important. Reading the stats at the end of this book as well and hearing about how common this industry is absolutely horrifying.
If you read book one, I don't think Traffick adds a ton to the story. If you liked the characters I would say go for it but reading book one had much more of an impact on me. Traffick (Tricks, #2) can i just say that this book i could really relate, and that i hugged my book after i finished with it, because once it ended. a part of my freaking soul ended with it too. good job ellen. Traffick (Tricks, #2)
Five teens victimized by sex trafficking try to find their way to a new life in this riveting companion to the New York Times bestselling Tricks from Ellen Hopkins, author of Crank.
In her bestselling novel, Tricks, Ellen Hopkins introduced us to five memorable characters tackling these enormous questions: Eden, the preacher’s daughter who turns tricks in Vegas and is helped into a child prostitution rescue; Seth, the gay farm boy disowned by his father who finds himself without money or resources other than his own body; Whitney, the privileged kid coaxed into the life by a pimp and whose dreams are ruined in a heroin haze; Ginger, who runs away from home with her girlfriend and is arrested for soliciting an undercover cop; and Cody, whose gambling habit forces him into the life, but who is shot and left for dead.
And now, in Traffick, these five are faced with the toughest question of all: Is there a way out? How these five teenagers face the aftermath of their decisions and experiences is the soul of this story that exposes the dark, ferocious underbelly of the child trafficking trade. Heartwrenching and hopeful, Traffick takes us on five separate but intertwined journeys through the painful challenges of recovery, rehabilitation, and renewal to forgiveness and love. All the way home. Traffick (Tricks, #2)
Traffick was yet another beautifully written novel by Hopkins. It picks up soon after Tricks and we follow our five protagonist as they struggle to overcome the obstacles in their lives. It's not an easy read, Traffick was a slow and at times painful journey to a better place. I would suggest re-reading Tricks before delving into this sequel, however, I didn't, and soon I remembered each of the protagonists story.
The personal development each of them undergoes in this novel was painfully realistic. Along the way some of them make new friends, while others are reunited with their families. The relationships are another strong aspect of this novel. I was pleased to read about how some of them helped other young people in similar situations, such as Ginger and Seth.
Traffick was the much needed epilogue of Tricks, and although I did think that it was missing a little something to make it as memorable as its predecessor, I loved reading about Seth, Eden, Ginger, Cody and Whitney again.
Hopkin's writing is as compelling and raw as I'd hoped it would be, and I can't wait to read her upcoming novel Chameleon
Previous review:
Traffick (Tricks, #2) www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
*WILL NOT BE POSTED ON MY BLOG UNTIL BLOG/BOOK TOUR OCT. 13.*
When I read the first book, Tricks, I was so appalled at the things happening to these children. Ginger, Cody, Seth, Eden and Whitney. All of these kids had different things going on, one had gambling issues that led to drugs and eventually being shot. One had a mother that pimped her out to her boyfriends so she runs away with her girlfriend and they have to get pimped out to survive. Another, trusted her boyfriend since she was ignored by her family and ends up pimped out by him and addicted to drugs. Then one more outs himself as being gay and kicked out by his father. And the last who is mistreated by family and ends up pimped out when she runs away.
This book is about how they all come home or near enough and what they have to go through to get back to a somewhat normal life.
One of the kids I really loved just moved from one rich person to another looking for love and praying they could exist. They ended up with one of the best ending I think.
Just because these kids were pushed into these lives because they didn't know anything else, or were too old to work a real job, etc.. doesn't mean they wanted to do these things. They all just wanted LOVE! Is that so wrong!!!!
I always say I love Ellen's books, but I keep reading more that I love.. they are hard to handle, they are crude, they are about REAL LIFE and it's sad.. sad for the ones that have to go through this... sad for the ones that went through this.. I really wish life didn't have to be this way for so many.
If you liked any of Ellen's other books and if you loved the first book..Tricks.. you will love this one too. It was good to see them moving on or trying their best to...
Traffick (Tricks, #2)
SO excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Traffick (Tricks, #2) Teenagers from the novel Tricks by Ellen Hopkins were struggling to escape violence from the differing types of prostitution each had found themselves in in Las Vegas as 'Tricks' ended. Book two, 'Traffick', concludes the story of these teens in realistic endings.
Each teenager was prostituting themselves because of a combination of events and decisions - some not of their own making. Being young, they often had no resources or knowledge of how to, or if, they should extricate themselves from the pimps and the life. Parents could not help since they often were the cause of a kid deciding prostitution was better than living at home. One parent kicked his son out when he learned his son was gay. One girl from a wealthy family was led to prostitution through emo posturing, drug use and a sense of being unloved by her parents - love which was simulated by a boyfriend who was really a pimp. Another ran away from a brutal religious boot-camp, placed there by an unloving religious mother (she believed her daughter possessed by Satan after she wanted to date a boy). One young man began gambling after the death of his father, leading to debts he could only pay one way - by selling his body. A teen girl was being pimped by her mother with no use for her children other than selling them.
'Tricks' ended with cliffhangers with each main character in severe trouble! 'Traffick' picks up the story of each teen eight months later after the events of 'Tricks'. Each kid is offered a chance to get out of prostitution - but will they choose to take it?
These books are written in free verse. The author describes real-life situations and feelings very realistically. Although she speaks about sex and love graphically, she does not do so in too much detail. Traffick (Tricks, #2) I love all of her books. Amazing ending to this duology! Check out my full review on my booktube channel http://www.youtube.com/peterlikesbooks Traffick (Tricks, #2)
