Author Profile
Ellen Hopkins
17 Books
Ellen Hopkins is a bestselling American author primarily known for her gripping young adult novels written in free verse. She frequently tackles difficult and mature subject matter, including addiction, mental illness, and trauma, resonating deeply with teen readers. Some of her most acclaimed and popular works include Crank, Impulse, and Tricks.
Tricks
Tricks
Ellen Hopkins
Fiction
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/5
What About Will
Ellen Hopkins
Emotions
Empathy
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/5
Sync
Ellen Hopkins
Emotions
Family
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/5
Rumble
Ellen Hopkins
Emotions
Fiction
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/5
Impulse
Impulse
Ellen Hopkins
Courage
Emotions
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/5
The You I've Never Known
Ellen Hopkins
Family
Fiction
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/5
Tilt
Ellen Hopkins
Fiction
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/5
Crank
Crank
Ellen Hopkins
Emotions
Family
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/5
Crank
Glass
Ellen Hopkins
Emotions
Family
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/5
Burned
Smoke
Ellen Hopkins
Courage
Family
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/5
Burned
Burned
Ellen Hopkins
Family
Fiction
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/5
Crank
Fallout
Ellen Hopkins
Emotions
Family
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/5
Closer to Nowhere
Ellen Hopkins
Emotions
Empathy
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/5
People Kill People
Ellen Hopkins
Fiction
Social Justice
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/5
Identical
Ellen Hopkins
Emotions
Family
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/5
Tricks
Traffick
Ellen Hopkins, Sammy Yuen
Courage
Fiction
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/5
Our Stories, Our Voices: 21 YA Authors Get Real About Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in America
Amy Reed, Julie Murphy, Ellen Hopkins, Aisha Saeed, Maurene Goo, Anna-Marie McLemore, Jenny Torres Sanchez, Hannah Moskowitz, Ilene (I.W.) Gregorio, Tracy Deonn, Somaiya Daud, Christine Day, Sandhya Menon, Alexandra Duncan, Amber Smith, Brandy Colbert, Nina LaCour, Martha Brockenbrough, Stephanie Kuehnert, Jaye Robin Brown, Sona Charaipotra
Anthologies
Diverse Voices
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/5
Tricks
Tricks
By:
Ellen Hopkins
Five teenagers from different corners of the country are all searching for the exact same things: freedom, safety, community, family, and love. But the search for connection can sometimes lead down dark and dangerous paths. When all choice is stripped away, life quickly becomes a desperate game of survival. Three girls and two guys find their separate lives colliding in a powerful story about the harsh realities of growing up too fast. Some come from wealth, others from poverty, but all of them are looking for a way to feel okay about themselves. As they navigate a world where the words "I love you" are often used as weapons, they must figure out what intimacy and trust truly mean. Written in gripping, emotional verse, this unforgettable novel weaves their five stories together into a raw, unflinching look at youth, exploitation, and the leaps of faith required to survive. It is a story that will pull you in, challenge your perspective, and stay with you long after the final page.
13-18 Years
656 Pages
N/A
/5
Twelve-year-old Trace Reynolds has always looked up to his older brother. Will is the one who taught him how to ride a bike, cheered the loudest at his Little League games, and never talked down to him. But everything changed the day Will took a devastating hit on the football field. Now, seventeen months after the brain injury that altered their lives, Trace barely recognizes the brother he loves. Will struggles with a facial tic, deep depression, and sudden bursts of anger that have already torn their parents apart. Terrified of breaking his family even further, Trace starts covering up Will's increasingly dangerous behavior. As Will turns to pain medication and begins stealing money and skipping school, Trace is caught in a heavy web of lies. He wants to protect his brother more than anything, but he soon realizes that keeping these dark secrets might be the very thing that destroys them both. This deeply moving novel in verse explores the powerful bond between brothers and the courage it takes to ask for help.
9-12 Years
385 Pages
N/A
/5
By:
Ellen Hopkins
Seventeen-year-old twins Storm and Lake have always been perfectly in sync. After surviving the worst their mother could put them through, they have spent the last five years bouncing through the foster care system, sometimes together and sometimes torn apart. Now, they have been separated once again, and Storm is struggling to keep his promise to always protect his sister. Placed in a new home after a stint in juvenile detention, Storm finally feels a glimmer of hope with a kind foster dad and a girlfriend he can trust. But when a violent assault shatters his new world, Storm retaliates and lands right back behind bars. Meanwhile, Lake is navigating her own dangerous path. She has fallen for a fellow foster teen whose unpredictable behavior leads them to run away and live on the streets. With no money, shelter, or identification, Lake desperately wishes she could find her brother. Told through unsent letters in gripping verse, this raw and emotional story follows two siblings fighting the broken system to find their way back to each other.
13-18 Years
449 Pages
N/A
/5
By:
Ellen Hopkins
Eighteen-year-old Matt has always relied on his atheism to make sense of a chaotic world. He does not believe in miracles, higher powers, or divine intervention. But after a horrific accident of his own making plunges him into a dark and silent place, everything he thought he knew is suddenly thrown into question. In the quiet aftermath of the tragedy, Matt begins to hear a voice that challenges his deepest convictions and forces him to confront the pain he has been running from. As he grapples with overwhelming guilt and the devastating consequences of his actions, Matt must navigate a highly charged landscape of faith, forgiveness, and personal responsibility. He is forced to look inward and decide whether he can find the strength to heal, or if the weight of his mistakes will pull him under completely. Written in powerful, emotionally resonant verse, this gripping novel explores the complex boundaries between belief and doubt, offering a raw and unflinching look at a young man fighting to reclaim his life.
13-18 Years
560 Pages
N/A
/5
Impulse
Impulse
By:
Ellen Hopkins
Three different lives, three different paths, all leading to the exact same place: Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital for teens who have attempted to end their own lives. Vanessa is beautiful and brilliant, but her hidden pain keeps her answering the dangerous call of the blade. Tony has survived a deeply traumatic childhood and can only find fleeting peace by losing himself in pills. Conner seems to have the perfect life on the outside, but underneath the surface, he is locked in a constant, agonizing battle with his parents and his own mind. In one desperate instant, each of them decided they had endured enough. Now, they have been given a second chance to figure out how to survive. As their lives intersect within the walls of the hospital, Vanessa, Tony, and Conner must learn to lean on one another. Together, they face the grueling work of recovery, fighting the powerful demons that brought them to Aspen Springs in the first place. This intense, beautifully written novel in verse offers a raw look at healing and hope.
13-18 Years
666 Pages
N/A
/5
Seventeen-year-old Ariel has spent her entire life on the move, constantly uprooted by her controlling and abusive father. He has always told her that her mother abandoned them years ago, leaving Ariel with a deep sense of rejection and a desperate need for stability. Despite the suffocating environment at home, Ariel is finally starting to carve out a life for herself. She is discovering her own identity, exploring her sexuality with a mix of joy and fear, and dreaming of a future where she is truly free. But just as she begins to find her footing, her estranged mother suddenly reappears, bringing with her a shocking new version of their family history. Everything Ariel thought she knew about her past, her parents, and her own life is instantly turned upside down. Forced to confront devastating secrets and long-buried lies, Ariel must find the courage to untangle the truth from the deception. This gripping, emotionally charged novel in verse explores the fierce journey of self-discovery and the power of reclaiming your own story.
13-18 Years
608 Pages
N/A
/5
By:
Ellen Hopkins
Love has the power to anchor you, but it also has the power to throw your entire world off its axis. For three interconnected teenagers, the summer before a new school year brings changes that will alter their lives forever. Almost-eighteen-year-old Mikayla is completely swept up in her romance with Dylan, but their perfect relationship is tested when she unexpectedly gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby. Meanwhile, sixteen-year-old Shane is falling hard for his first boyfriend, Alex. But Alex is HIV positive, and Shane, who has spent years watching his little sister battle a terminal illness, must decide if he can handle the heartbreak of another shortened life. Then there is fourteen-year-old Harley, a good girl desperate for new experiences and the attention of an older boy, who finds herself hurtling toward dangerous, self-destructive extremes. As the adults in their lives pull away to deal with their own drama, these three teens must navigate the crucial, life-altering consequences of love in this gripping, emotionally charged novel.
13-18 Years
624 Pages
N/A
/5
Crank
Crank
By:
Ellen Hopkins
Kristina Snow used to be the perfect daughter. She was a gifted high school junior, quietly obedient, and never in any kind of trouble. Her life was safe, predictable, and good. But everything changes the moment she meets the monster known as crank. What starts as a single, thrilling decision to try crystal meth quickly spirals into a wild, ecstatic ride that Kristina cannot stop. The drug takes hold of her mind and body, transforming her into an entirely different person who will do absolutely anything to get her next fix. As the high fades and the dark reality of addiction sets in, Kristina finds herself trapped in a terrifying struggle through hell. She is no longer fighting just for a good grade or her parents' approval—she is fighting for her soul, her sanity, and her very life. Written in brilliant, rapid-fire verse, this unforgettable novel offers a raw and unflinching look at how quickly addiction can consume a life and the devastating toll it takes on a family.
13-18 Years
576 Pages
N/A
/5
Crank
Glass
By:
Ellen Hopkins
Kristina Snow thought she had finally defeated the monster. She believed she could walk away from the devastating grip of crystal meth and rebuild her life. Now, with a new baby to care for and a fresh start in front of her, she is absolutely determined to be the one calling the shots. She tells herself that she can control it this time, that she can manage just one little hit to feel that familiar rush without losing everything again. But the monster is incredibly strong, and it has been waiting patiently in the shadows. Before Kristina even realizes what is happening, she is pulled right back into the chaotic, terrifying cycle of addiction. The drug demands her complete surrender, threatening to destroy her mind, her family, and her future. Told in gripping, rapid-fire verse, this harrowing sequel offers an unflinching look at the brutal reality of relapse. It is a powerful, deeply disturbing exploration of how addiction manipulates the mind and the devastating damage it inflicts on everyone in its path.
13-18 Years
681 Pages
N/A
/5
Burned
Smoke
By:
Ellen Hopkins
Pattyn Von Stratten has lost everything that ever mattered to her. After the tragic death of her beloved Ethan and the devastating loss of their unborn child, her world has been completely shattered. With her abusive father now dead, Pattyn is forced to go on the run, desperately searching for a place to hide and a way to find some semblance of peace. As she flees across the country, she must grapple with overwhelming grief and the heavy ghosts of her past. Meanwhile, back home, her younger sister is left to pick up the broken pieces of their family, trying to navigate her sophomore year of high school while dealing with the fallout of the tragedy. Both sisters are fighting their own intense battles, trying to figure out how to rise from the ashes of their former lives. Written in breathtaking free verse, this gripping continuation of Pattyn's story explores the deep scars of trauma and the incredible resilience required to step out of the darkness and into a new future.
13-18 Years
561 Pages
N/A
/5
Burned
Burned
By:
Ellen Hopkins
Seventeen-year-old Pattyn Von Stratten has spent her entire life suffocating under the strict, abusive rules of her deeply religious father. She is constantly searching for the love and acceptance she never receives at home or from her faith. When Pattyn begins to ask questions about God, sex, and her own desires, she realizes that even a simple dream can be viewed as a step toward damnation. After experiencing the first real stirrings of passion, a terrifying confrontation with her father spirals completely out of control. As punishment, Pattyn is banished to live with her aunt in the remote, rugged wilds of rural Nevada. She expects a prison sentence, but instead, she discovers a world of genuine love, acceptance, and freedom. For the first time, she feels truly worthy of happiness. But the demons of her past refuse to let her go without a fight. Told in masterful, emotional verse, this compelling novel takes readers on an intense journey through the highs of true love and the devastating lows of despair.
13-18 Years
552 Pages
N/A
/5
Crank
Fallout
By:
Ellen Hopkins
Nineteen years after Kristina Snow first met the monster known as crank, her three children are still reeling from the devastating consequences of her choices. Hunter, Autumn, and Summer have grown up in completely different worlds, separated by the foster care system and raised by different guardians. Instead of a happy, united family, they are a desperate tangle of scattered lives, bound together only by their shared anger, doubt, and fear. Growing up with an empty space where a mother's love should have been, all three teens find themselves drawn toward the same dark paths that destroyed Kristina. As they struggle with their own temptations involving drugs, alcohol, and toxic relationships, they fear that their mother's notorious legacy is permanently wired into their DNA. But when a twist of fate finally brings the siblings face-to-face, they must confront their shared past. Written in gripping free verse, this powerful conclusion to the Crank trilogy explores whether these three teenagers can find the courage to trust each other and finally break the cycle of addiction.
13-18 Years
672 Pages
N/A
/5
For the most part, Hannah has her life exactly how she wants it. She has two supportive parents, great friends at school, and she has been absolutely crushing it at gymnastics. But her perfect world is turned upside down when her cousin Cal moves in. Cal is constantly telling tall tales, pulling annoying pranks, and causing tension that makes Hannah's parents fight more than ever. Hannah knows Cal has been through a terrible tragedy since his mother died, and she tries hard to be patient, but some days she just wishes he would leave. On the other hand, Cal is trying his absolute best to fit into a family that feels completely foreign to him. He uses humor and wild stories as a shield to hide his deep grief, but his defense mechanisms are pushing away the exact people who are trying to love him. Told in alternating perspectives through beautiful verse, this poignant story explores the complicated bond between two cousins who must learn to understand each other to save their family.
9-12 Years
418 Pages
N/A
/5
A gun is sold in the classifieds. It was previously used in a fatal domestic dispute, and now it has been purchased by a teenager looking for protection. But who bought it, and who will they use it against? In a deeply divided Arizona town, political and personal tensions are reaching a boiling point. Over the course of one incredibly tense week, six teenagers find their lives colliding in dangerous ways. There is a young married couple struggling to raise their son, two members of a white supremacist youth organization, a boy terrified of racial retaliation who clings desperately to his girlfriend, and a girl sinking into deep depression after a devastating accident. Every single one of them has a motive to pick up the weapon. Every single one of them has a reason to fire. As their paths cross and conflicts escalate, the inevitable tragedy draws closer. Written in gripping, urgent prose, this complex and provocative novel explores the devastating impact of gun violence, hatred, and fear. Someone will shoot. And someone will die.
13-18 Years
408 Pages
N/A
/5
Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical down to the very last dimple. On the surface, they are the picture-perfect daughters of a powerful district court judge and a busy politician. But behind the closed doors of their beautiful home, their family is hiding deep, damaging secrets. The girls have become hopelessly divided over the years, torn apart by a horrific car accident and their parents' toxic behavior. Sick of constantly losing her father's twisted game of favorites, Raeanne turns to drugs, alcohol, and reckless choices to numb her intense anger. Meanwhile, Kaeleigh tries desperately to be the perfect daughter, but the suffocating pressure and inappropriate attention from her father drive her to seek control through self-harm and a dangerous eating disorder. As the darkness in their lives threatens to consume them both, it becomes obvious that neither sister can survive these horrors alone. This harrowing, beautifully written novel in verse forces the twins to confront their trauma and decide who will finally step up to save the other.
13-18 Years
592 Pages
N/A
/5
Tricks
Traffick
Surviving the darkest corners of the world was only the beginning. Five teenagers who were victimized by the brutal underground world of sex trafficking are now facing the most difficult question of their lives: is there truly a way out? Eden, Seth, Whitney, Ginger, and Cody have all endured unimaginable trauma, manipulated and forced into a life they never chose. Now, they must navigate the complicated, painful aftermath of their experiences. As they struggle to break free from the shadows of their pasts, each teen embarks on a separate but deeply intertwined journey toward recovery and renewal. They must battle addiction, confront their deepest fears, and learn how to trust themselves and others once again. The road to rehabilitation is fierce and unforgiving, but it is also paved with moments of profound hope and resilience. Written in stunning, emotional verse, this powerful companion novel exposes the harsh realities of exploitation while celebrating the incredible strength it takes to seek forgiveness, find love, and finally make your way all the way home.
13-18 Years
528 Pages
N/A
/5
21 YA Authors Get Real About Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in America
By:
Amy Reed
,
Julie Murphy
,
Ellen Hopkins
,
Aisha Saeed
,
Maurene Goo
,
Anna-Marie McLemore
,
Jenny Torres Sanchez
,
Hannah Moskowitz
,
Ilene (I.W.) Gregorio
,
Tracy Deonn
,
Somaiya Daud
,
Christine Day
,
Sandhya Menon
,
Alexandra Duncan
,
Amber Smith
,
Brandy Colbert
,
Nina LaCour
,
Martha Brockenbrough
,
Stephanie Kuehnert
,
Jaye Robin Brown
,
Sona Charaipotra
Growing up female in America can be a complicated, challenging, and incredibly powerful experience. In this inspiring collection of essays, some of your favorite authors share their own personal journeys of discovering who they are and learning how to use their voices.
These incredible writers tackle major real-world topics, exploring what happens when different cultures, identities, and backgrounds intersect. They share honest stories about facing unfairness, building up the courage to speak out, and finding true empowerment in difficult situations. By opening up about their own lives, these authors offer a supportive hand to anyone navigating similar struggles.
This moving anthology is filled with hope, strength, and solidarity. It is a powerful reminder that your unique story matters, and that standing together can help create a more just and beautiful world.
9-12 Years
320 Pages
N/A
/5
