Hopkins again tackles a serious societal problem, this time focusing on teen prostitution. Fans of her work will recognize both her signature free verses and the gritty details she weaves within them. Newcomers, however, may be shocked by the graphic depictions of five struggling teens who find themselves turning tricks (one realizes her mother has sold her “for a good time” with a stranger, while another recounts “pretending to enjoy... deviant sex” to earn the trust of a guard at an ultra-strict religious rehabilitation camp). Some plotting seems clichéd, such as the story of a preacher's daughter from Idaho, whose mother banishes her to the Tears of Zion camp after catching her with her boyfriend. While each story unfolds slowly, readers will understand the protagonists' desperation as well as their complete powerlessness once their descents have begun. Each story is unique (one teen needs money, another was thrown out because of his sexuality, still another was simply looking for love from the wrong person); while readers may connect with some characters more than others, they will long remember each painful story. Ages 14–up. (Aug.)
November marks the beginning of “hibernate inside 500 sweaters reading” weather, and I’m not exactly complaining. Among this month’s most exciting releases is a fast and funny tale of a cub rock singer’s first time on the road, a creeping horror story set in a glittering hotel with dark secrets, and the concluding volume of […]
In the pages of this week’s most exciting new releases, you’ll find dirigibles, dystopias, a hotel with no checkout time, a web of teens scarred by sex trafficking, and a girl on a mission to find her courage. These are the books we’re bringing into winter hibernation with us right now.