It is noted for its gritty realism in addressing issues of sexual activity and drug use for a young adult readership.

The second character, Seth Parnell, lives with his father after his mother died from cancer a year and a half earlier.

The third character, Cody Bennett, doesn’t know who his biological father is and spends his time with his step-father Jack.

The fifth character, Ginger Cordell, encounters rape from an early childhood and deals with keeping these secrets from her family.

Eden’s parents find out about her relationship with Andrew, and assume that she is being controlled by the devil, and so she is sent to Tears of Zion.

She uses sex for money and means of survival until she finds a place that helps young people in similar situations.

Karin's Book Nook complimented the author's work in the novel by saying "Ellen Hopkins, once again, comes through for her readers with this spellbinding novel-in-verse.

"[1] Additionally, Kirkus adds that "Hopkins's pithy free verse reveals shards of emotion and quick glimpses of physical details.

"[3] Kirkus also added that Tricks is about "[g]raphic sex, rape, drugs, bitter loneliness, despair - and eventually, blessedly, glimmers of hope.

"[2] School Library Journal praised Tricks as "[a] graphic, intense tale that will speak to mature teens.

"[4] Karin's Book Nook said, "Ellen Hopkins utilizes her trademark realistic voice; there isn't any sugar-coating of the subject matter here to weave the story of five total strangers to form a heartbreaking look at what some people are forced to do simply to survive.

"[5] According to the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom, Tricks was the 98th-most banned and challenged book in the United States between 2010 and 2019.

[6] The treatment of controversial topics, such as drug use, sexual abuse, and suicide, has led to intense discussions and questions in the United States regarding the depiction of these subjects in youth and educational literature.

At the same time, this open handling of sensitive content has repeatedly led to objections and censorship since its publication, such as removal from school libraries and curricula.

[11] As of 2024, the book has been banned at schools in Texas, Utah, Virginia, Florida, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Michigan, Kentucky, South Carolina, Wyoming, and Arkansas.