Inside the Banned Book: "Tilt" by Ellen Hopkins

“Love isn't invincible. Some people take advantage of that.” Ellen Hopkins, Tilt.

Ellen Hopkins’ Tilt is one of the most frequently challenged YA novels in the country. Yet entwined with the topics of sex, drugs, and faith lies a story about responsibility, consequence, and love that endures hardship. In this post, I explore what’s really inside—and what readers lose when it’s banned.

BOOK OVERVIEW

Tilt by Ellen Hopkins

Genre: YA Contemporary / Verse Novel

Challenge Reason: Sexual content, drug use, LGBTQ+ themes

Audience: 14+

Themes and Takeaways: Love, choices and consequences, and faith amid loss

Book Resume: Unite Against Book Bans Resume Here

PUBLISHER SUMMARY (BOOK JACKET)

The publisher summary of the book:

“Three teens, three stories—all interconnected through their parents’ family relationships. As the adults pull away, caught up in their own dilemmas, the lives of the teens begin to tilt...​

Mikayla, almost eighteen, is over-the-top in love with Dylan, who loves her back. But what happens to that love when Mikayla gets pregnant the summer before their senior year—and decides to keep the baby?

Shane turns sixteen that same summer and falls hard in love with his first boyfriend, Alex, who happens to be HIV positive. Shane has lived for four years with his little sister’s impending death. Can he accept Alex’s love, knowing that his life, too, will be shortened?

Harley is fourteen—a good girl searching for new experiences, especially love from an older boy. She never expects to hurdle toward self-destructive extremes in order to define who she is and who she wants to be.

Love, in all its forms, has crucial consequences in this standalone novel.”

Support local indie bookshops by shopping this title here on bookshop.org. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR BANNING BOOKS IN UTAH?

Utah’s HB 374 (Sensitive Materials in Schools Act) allows school districts to remove books if they are deemed “pornographic or indecent.” Under Utah Code 76-10-1203, “pornographic material” is defined as appealing to a “prurient interest in sex.” The U.S. Department of Justice describes this as material that evokes an “erotic, lascivious, abnormal, unhealthy, degrading, shameful, or morbid interest” in sex.

Both the Utah Code 76-10-1203 and U.S. law refers to the Miller test, established by the Supreme Court. For a work to be legally obscene, all three of the following must be true:

1. The average person would find the work appeals to prurient (sexual) interests;

2. The work depicts sexual conduct in a patently offensive way; and

3. The work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

That final point—the “literary value” clause—is often overlooked. Many challenged titles, including Tilt, have clear educational and artistic merit and therefore do not meet the legal definition of obscenity.

In practice, interpretations of HB 374 vary across Utah districts, leading to removals based more on perceived sensitivity than on these legal standards.

WHY IS TILT BANNED?

Moms for Liberty rates Tilt as an objection rating 4/5, which they call “Definitely adult only content.”

Why? “Sexually explicit excerpts involving minors; sexual assault; underage drinking; illegal drug abuse; profanity.”

All content in question is extracted and listed by Rated Books here.

WHAT'S REALLY INSIDE? (Warning: spoilers ahead!)

Literature lets readers explore hard topics safely. Tilt gives teens a way to process love, loss, and consequence through words instead of experience. Hopkins writes honestly—never glamorizing sex, drugs, or trauma, but showing the choices that lead there and what comes after.

Mikayla’s story offers a surprisingly pro-life perspective on teen pregnancy. While pressured to end her pregnancy, she insists on seeing her baby as a life worth protecting. Through that decision, she rebuilds her relationship with her mother and learns about responsibility and love. Even readers who disagree with her beliefs can see how her story portrays growth and agency.

Shane, a gay teen balancing faith, grief, and identity, uses drugs to cope with loss. His arc doesn’t celebrate rebellion—it exposes the instability that comes with avoiding pain instead of facing it. His internal struggle between spirituality and sexuality is one of the most moving threads in the book.

Harley, the youngest, highlights how craving attention can become dangerous. Her choices lead to assault and regret, but Hopkins treats her with empathy, showing the importance of self-worth and supportive friendships.

Throughout the novel, sex and substance abuse are discussed frankly but not graphically. Hopkins chooses realism over sensationalism, depicting consequence rather than excitement. The book’s tone is raw, compassionate, and ultimately hopeful—encouraging teens to make thoughtful choices and reach for help when they need it.

WHY ACCESS TO THIS BOOK MATTERS

One of Tilt’s powerful moments comes when Shane, a gay teen, decides he’s ready to lose his virginity—and his boyfriend asks him to wait a few days to be sure. It’s a quiet but profound message: love and respect go hand in hand. I wish every teen saw an example like that.

The book helps teens understand the consequences of drug use, the importance of reaching out for help, and the comfort that faith or family can provide in dark moments. Hopkins doesn’t glorify mistakes—she shows how choices shape who we become.

When Tilt is banned, readers lose stories that build empathy for teens who make hard choices and grow from them. They lose a nuanced look at faith and sexuality coexisting, a rare pro-life narrative told without judgment, and the reassurance that even in the messiest moments, there is love, recovery, and hope.

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO

If you’re unsure whether this book is right for your child, start by checking your school’s website or library catalog to see if it’s available.

If you prefer your child not to read it, you can contact the school librarian and request that it be restricted for your student only. This option respects your family’s values while keeping the book accessible to others who might need its message or resources.

For more help navigating these conversations, see my Parent Conversation Guide for information about:

• How to Talk to Your Teen About Banned Books

• How to Request Alternatives Without Banning for Others

READ IT? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

If you’ve read Tilt, share what themes stood out most — or what you think is lost when it’s removed from shelves.

Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal interpretation of the book and Utah’s current book-challenge policies. Parents and educators are always encouraged to read the book themselves before making decisions about access.