Ultimately, Ellen Hopkins' Tricks is a novel about desperation. Each of the novel's characters is forced into untenable situations as a result of the people around them. And to get out of those situations, the characters become desperate and do things they otherwise wouldn't do. For example, in an effort to make money that he and his family desperately need, Cody turns to online gaming. He thinks that if he wins enough gambling, his problems will be solved. But they are not.
Before the events of Tricks, each character in the novel lives out diverse experiences. These experiences have shown the characters a bit about what the world is like, but they are still woefully naive. Because of that naivete (but not considering the experience), the characters are led down a dangerous path. Nevertheless, no matter the character's social or geographical landscape, they are still in similar situations—situations that are caused by human nature, not experience. Their character arcs, which inevitably detail a journey from innocence to hardened self-realization, highlight the universality of experiences people find themselves trapped in and the universality of the human experience.
The novel follows five characters. The first character is called Eden. Eden was born to a preacher in an ardently religious household and had to balance her family's expectations with her own desires. When she meets a boy, her life is turned upside down, and she is sent to a Christian reform school that she promptly escapes from. Next, the novel tells the story of Seth, who lives with his strict, conservative father. He starts to question his sexuality but must wrestle with his father's feelings.
Next, the novel follows a young man named Cody, who lives with a stepfather struggling with illness. Suddenly and unexpectedly, Cody's stepfather dies, leading Cody to Las Vegas to help earn a living for his family. But his intentions don't mesh with reality, as Cody gets wrapped up in the sex, gambling, glitz, and glamor in the city, leading to issues. The next story follows Whitney, who has grown up all of her life with an overbearing sister. Her sister captured all of her parent's love, leading Whitney to get it in different, oftentimes dangerous and unsavory places.
The final story in the novel follows Ginger, who was born into a chaotic family like many of the other characters. Her mother spent much of her life going from woman to woman. Because of the instability caused by her mother, Ginger wants nothing more than stability in her life, which leads her (like Whitney) into a dangerous role in the adult entertainment industry.
