Traffic

Traffic

YA/ adult fiction
You know what a big fan I am of Ellen Hopkins' edgy but poignant
novels in verse. Hopkins goes boldly where most other writers fail to
tiptoe, tackling topics like drug addiction head on and insightfully.
Traffic is no exception.
Hopkins had become concerned about domestic minor sex
trafficking when she learned how young the victims really were.
Research led to Tricks, a novel in which she alternated the narratives
of five teens whose life trajectories had reduced them to turning
tricks in Los Vegas. The book ended ambiguously. Traffic is the much
needed sequel.
*Cody, shot and left for dead, has survived with spinal cord
injuries. He has no feeling in or ability to move his legs.
Meanwhile his brother, Cory, is in juvenile lock up. His mother is
behind on bills, meaning the family may have to move to Kansas;
*Ginger had run away with her girlfriend. Now they're separated and
Ginger is in a group home until her grandmother can get custody and
come pick her up. Her mother is dying. She can't feel pity. Good
old mom stole her childhood by pimping her at a very early age;
*Seth's father had kicked him off the farm after he came out. His
mother was dead at that point. Now he's being kept by a rich and
powerful guy, yearning to fall in love with someone closer to his age
and doing covert escort services on the side. Drugs and alcohol are
part of his life style.
*Whitney is in rehab after a drug OD. Her former pimp had lured her
from home by promising to make her a model, only to put her in the
life and hook her on drugs. She's still in love with him. She's very
alienated from her parents and sister.
*Eden's fundamentalist parents had put her in Tears of Zion, a place
that isolated her and deprived her of the basics, for falling in
love. The staff member who helped her escape took his payment in
other than money. Now she's in a place for teens wanting to get out
of the life. She's claiming to be an orphan, not wanting to go back
to Mommy and Daddy.
Tricks and Traffic bring a crew of unforgettable teens faced
with nearly overwhelming challenges to life. Read both. You'll be
glad you did.
On a personal note, Joey is one excited cat. I have a turkey cooking
in the oven. Joey excitedly supervised my preparing it. Now he is
intoxicated by one of his favorite aromas. I see this a being a
really good day for him. :-)
A great big shout out goes out to my turkey loving companion.
jules hathaway


Sent from my iPod