Customer Reviews

Clean

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Not a bad story, but wish it was a little deeper, more raw. This story is about a group of teens that are rehab and it tells their stories. They are in rehab for a month and they have group meetings, answer a few questions and then you read a chapter or so in each characters voice.

This was a good book but not as raw or gritty as the blurbs make it sound. I finished this in one evening. There are just under 300 pages, the words are pretty large and the spacing is pretty big.

"Clean" is about a story of a group of teens in rehab, with all sorts of different backgrounds in how they even got there in the first place. The newest kid is Olivia and out of all the kids she meets, she is the only one with a food problem from dieting too much.

Throughout the story, you get to have shifting perspectives from all five main characters. There is Kelly, the girl that would get drunk and snort coke. Eva who would get high off of pot and prescription pain killers. Jason who was always getting drunk to the point of blacking out. Christopher was a church going boy, that was homed schooled and started using coke, then meth from his neighbor. And then Olivia, upper class society girl who abused weight loss pills to the point of being anorexic. Then there is the therapist for group called Shirley. She sees through their bull and pushes them to be honest with themselves. The story spans over a period of three and half weeks.

My one favorite part was the kids learning about themselves and seeing on Family Day the dynamics of some of the kids with their parents; especially Jason's father who is an ex Marine and treats his mother like dirt.

But my most favorite part of all was the questionnaire history. Amy Reed broke down that into sections in the book, so that you wouldn't get it all in one sitting. It helped because as each question was answered by all five teens, you saw the progression in back story line up with the recovery of each one. You really got a taste of what it felt to be in their shoes, how they even ended up in the position they got them to rehabbed at 16 or 17.

I would recommend this book to any teen wanting to know what it was like to have gone too far in the world of abusing drugs and alcohol; to get an understanding of how hard it can be. But this is a good book I think for anyone who wants to go into drugs and alcohol consoling, because it can help them maybe understand what kind of problems they may come up against. But overall it's a great book to read.

My last thought for this review is that I wasn't sure what to expect out of this book. I knew there was going to be a theme of drug and alcohol use from teenagers, but to the extend that I was reading. it was very touching at some points and a lot of the characters were made more human by the end of the story.

[...]

I love "issues" books. When I read about Clean awhile back, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I've never read Amy Reed's previous book, Beautiful, but now I definitely know I need to check it out.

Clean follows several teens through rehab. As referenced early on in the book by one of the characters they are sort of the "Breakfast Club" of rehab. Each teen is so different! You have the perfect little rich girl, the promiscious pretty girl, a Christian boy who just might be gay, a jock with an attitude problem, and an angry emo chick. At first I got a bit overwhelmed, because you are thrown into a chapter with a mini-intro to each character. It took me awhile to sort out who was who. Once I knew the basics of each character I was drawn to the story.

My favorite chapters were the ones in which the five were filling out a form that asked them questions about how they got where they were. The characters' attitudes shined through, yet you were able to see the vulnerability of each character while getting to know why they had a touch exterior.

I won't get into specifics as to what happened to each character to make them addicts, but the two most upsetting stories were Olivia's and Jason's to me. Each one endured so much to make them the way they were and each was very sympathetic and tugged at my heartstrings.

I received my copy from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.

Five teenagers. Five different addictions. One rehab center.

For Olivia, Kelly, Christopher, Jason, and Eva, teenage life is a harsh wake up call. These teens aren't worrying about prom, or passing English honors. They've been forced into a Seattle rehab center with little choice but to face each other day after day and learn to come to terms with the mistakes they've made, even if it was never their fault to begin with. Despite how supportive, rich, abusive, uncaring, or naive each of their parents might be, in the end, they're all facing the same obstacles together. But it's not too late for them to change.

There is something about Amy Reed's writing style that leaves me feeling cold and unsettled. The message she conveys in her story is loud, brilliant, and perceptively shattering. Her complete regard for censorship, or lack thereof, is simply brave and eye-opening. We need more young adult writers like her.

Everything about Clean was raw and completely sincere. Reed depicts these teenagers at the lowest point in their lives: all feeling vulnerable and uncertain of what is to come. Through a series of personal essays and introspective questionnaire questions, the reader is invited to lift the curtain and take a small peak into each teenager's life. Each has a unique and heartbreaking story. I felt as if I was standing at at window and peering into the fictional rehab center where all five teens were having seemingly day to day conversations. But it's evident that everyone is trying to cope with the hardships of life while trying to appear strong.

I especially found the title of the story, Clean, to be thought-provoking in itself. After I finished the very last sentence, I spent moments pondering the single word that described all five teenagers. Clean. It might symbolize their clean bodies, free from alcohol and other abusive substances. However, I feel that Clean most accurately depicts how each and every one of them felt on the inside after discovering blooming friendships and most importantly, self-respect for themselves. It shocked me how each of the characters transformed into someone more confident and beautiful just by being around people who cared. Nobody is ever truly alone.

Clean was a beautiful read that I simply could not put down. Never have I read a book so honest. Sure, some readers might think that it's another sob story about drug abusive teens. But I invite you to explore the encoded meaning beyond every quip and insecure quote. This book was not meant to make you cry, or feel pity. I think each of the characters, Olivia, Kelly, Christopher, Jason, and Eva were depicted to represent what we dislike about ourselves. Feeling physically unattractive, feeling worthless, feeling insecure, feeling disappointment, and feeling unwanted. In the end, not everybody in life is going to treat you with the respect you deserve. But maybe if you're lucky, you can find those people who can help you become the best you can be.

Brava Ms. Reed. Clean is a story that should be read by teenagers and adults alike all over the world, not only to promote the negative effects of drug abuse, but to show the rawest type of beauty and power in unlikely friendships.

I loved how this book was written! Many different points of view, and many different reasons for teens seeking happiness and escape. I really enjoyed this book. It was also a very fast and easy read.

My Thoughts: I really thought Clean sounded interesting when I read the description. I read Reed's other book and enjoyed it.

Clean just didn't do it for me. I only gave it 100 pages before I gave up and I'd say that was nice of me. I just didn't like the five different prospective and how we jumped around every other sentence/paragraph. I think the best part that I read was where each person told their story of the first time they did drugs. The rest of the 100 pages I just didn't care for and I didn't care for any of the characters.

They all sounded the same and I couldn't tell the different between any of them. I had to reread the names a few times to try to remember whose prospective I was reading from. Clean just wasn't the book for me.

Overall: You might like it more than me if you enjoy books that bounce around from character to character. I have this philosophy that there are so many books in this world I want to read if the first 100 pages don't grab me, I'll set the book down and start reading another one instead. Reading is about reading what interests you. You might enjoy Clean more than I did.

I gave this book 2 cupcakes because I did not finish it and wouldn't feel right about giving it 1 (since 1's are reserved for books I completely hate). Maybe it got better after the first 100 pages. I don't know. I know I can't like every single book I read so this is one of the few I disliked and couldn't get into. Just wasn't the book for me. Hope you like it more!

Cover: The cover is alright. Its plain but the girl brings a little spark to it.

What I'd Give It: 2/5 Cupcakes

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Review Based On Hardcover Edition

Taken From Princess Bookie

One of the best books i've read this year. it was very realistic so to say. but i didnt have to over think things. I read this book like 5times, then decided to order beautiful.!= i didnt realize that they were together. >.< silly me!

This really was a distracting book to read. I think that's a given when you have four different view points. It's did have it's good qualities though.

I did enjoy reading about each characters addictions and their lives. Each one has a different problem and different things that lead to there addictions. I found that fascinating. I enjoyed how each one came to terms with who they were and how their addictions were controlling their lives. While reading about each of their rock bottoms was a little horrifying, I liked having it all laid out for me. It helped me see how each one got to rehab, either by their own choice or by their actions. I think it also helped them when they each acknowledged that publicly.

I didn't really like the 4 person storyline, especially when a couple characters didn't have a distinct voice. Occasionally I had a hard time figuring out who was talking. It also felt like I didn't get to know the characters as well as I would have liked because of this. I also just didn't like the rehab set up. It didn't feel real. There was something that just didn't flow right for me about the whole thing.

Clean by Amy Reed centers around 5 teenagers that are all struggling with different issues, whether it be family, pressure, school, etc. All of them turn to drugs to help cope, but in the end find that it isn't the answer and that they need to deal with the issues at hand. They all end up in rehab because they are addicted to various drugs.

Each of them have completely different personalities and are thrown together in recovery. They are stuck in a place they don't want to be because they have all reached their lowest point with their addictions. Together, they are forced to deal with their addictions and other life issues. They find themselves fighting, but at the same time coming together to support each other during this difficult time. Clean tells how they are able to explore these issues and hopefully begin to heal and overcome their addictions.

The book is easy to read and the story is fast paced. Instead of chapters it is broken up into separate sections. Each section is told from a different perspective, which ended up making it more interesting. It helps connect the stories of each character and their emotions throughout this journey.

At first I wasn't sure if I would like Clean because of the content. However, after seeing good reviews for it I decided to give it a try. I actually liked how the book was told in each of the teenagers points of views at different points in their recoveries. The way Amy Reed told their stories really made me connect with each one of them. She had each of them tell their stories in detail, which at times is a bit raw and hard to take. However, they are told well and I found myself wanting to know what exactly led each of them to being sent to rehab.

I believe this book is for older teens, it might be a bit to harsh for younger ones.

What's cool about CLEAN by Amy Reed is that, it's this awesome mix of BREAKFAST CLUB meets ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST. But instead of getting screwed by the system, the patients are getting help for a change.

The book follows five teens as they battle their inner demons on their road to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction inside a rehab center. Yet, not all their demons exist on the inside, some are on the outside and live under the same roof. Every character's story is gripping and sometimes heartbreaking. This book doesn't hold any punches in its execution. This stuff is real and the book makes it feel real.

The plotting is fantastic and creative and the narrative voice of each character is distinct. Yet, the book does not suffer from POV overload. Two central characters are featured and their observations of the other teens keeps this story focused and gives the book its strength.

Great read.