Tilt was inspired by characters first introduced in author Ellen Hopkins' first adult novel, Triangles. Tilt is typical of Hopkins' trademark writing style of free verse, with chapters that alternate between character points of view. Subject matter, language, and situations are extremely graphic and mature. There are descriptive passages involving sex, masturbation, and nudity. Teen pregnancy, rape, death and dying, HIV, drug use, divorce, domestic violence, and underage drinking are all central to these stories. One teen character becomes pregnant and struggles with her options, unsure of what to do. Some heavy issues are at play in this story, such as being in a relationship with someone who is HIV positive, and terminal illness as well as dignified death. Families are fractured, broken, and dysfunctional, with several alcoholic adult characters. The author makes a point to include a note at the end of the book with statistics relating to HIV and AIDS as well as teen pregnancy, and encourages teens to be safe and smart about sex. Tilt will appeal to older teens who are fans of Hopkins and her poetic writing and authentic, albeit damaged, characters. This book may be better read in its hardback form rather than as an e-book, since page layout and word placement is very important, as poems within poems, and the shape of the poems themselves are extremely meaningful.
