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nagam's review
4.0
Kelly is addicted to alcohol and cocaine. It all started with vodka and orange juice.
Christopher is addicted to methamphetamine. His life is perfect and he’s a Christian and there’s no way he’s supposed to have wound up in rehab.
Jason drinks anything he can get his hands on. Who cares if he has a bad attitude and temper? He’s just following in his dad’s footsteps.
Olivia is wealthy and perfect. There’s no way she deserves to be in rehab. She’s only been taking prescription diet pills.
Eva’s dad doesn’t notice her anymore since her mom died. So what if she has to do pot and take prescription pain meds to fit in with her new “friends”?
Sounds like a peachy evening read, huh? My husband looked at me like I was crazy when I described Clean to him. He asked why I’d want to read something like this. I’m just going to fess up and be completely, utterly honest with you for a minute. I’m shaking as I type this.
I was Olivia. Go ahead – glance back up there so you can see what she was addicted to. Prescription diet pills. Mine weren’t prescription and I certainly wasn’t wealthy, but I was the high school girl who “filled out” a lot faster than all the other girls. I took diet pills and dropped weight really quickly. I didn’t eat (or barely ate), ran a lot, played every sport, and remember what it was like to feel super dizzy and push my way through it because I needed to be skinny.
That’s why I read books like this. To keep me real and honest.
This book wasn’t easy for me to read at all. I had a good friend to pass away in 2011 from anorexia. Not only did Olivia’s story choke me up because I personally connected with her desire to be perfect, but I LOST SOMEONE to that very same disease. Everywhere around us, people are struggling and hurting.
Every one of these kids in rehab had different struggles. We got to know all five of them from their point of view during journals or group sessions, though the majority of the story was told from Kelly and Christopher’s perspective. Reed is a beautiful author. There were a lot of bad, terrible things brought about in Clean, but she eloquently dealt with each of them. She never made me feel hatred toward any of the characters, but I also didn’t sympathize and accept their choices either. There’s a fine balance when telling a story such as this one, but I honestly don’t think that anyone could have done it any better than Reed.
If you are a fan of Laurie Halse Anderson, you will love Clean. I haven’t yet read Reed’s other book, Beautiful, but I will as soon as I can get my hands on it. She has a new novel, Crazy, coming out in June 2012.
[Review originally posted at Rather be Reading]
Christopher is addicted to methamphetamine. His life is perfect and he’s a Christian and there’s no way he’s supposed to have wound up in rehab.
Jason drinks anything he can get his hands on. Who cares if he has a bad attitude and temper? He’s just following in his dad’s footsteps.
Olivia is wealthy and perfect. There’s no way she deserves to be in rehab. She’s only been taking prescription diet pills.
Eva’s dad doesn’t notice her anymore since her mom died. So what if she has to do pot and take prescription pain meds to fit in with her new “friends”?
Sounds like a peachy evening read, huh? My husband looked at me like I was crazy when I described Clean to him. He asked why I’d want to read something like this. I’m just going to fess up and be completely, utterly honest with you for a minute. I’m shaking as I type this.
I was Olivia. Go ahead – glance back up there so you can see what she was addicted to. Prescription diet pills. Mine weren’t prescription and I certainly wasn’t wealthy, but I was the high school girl who “filled out” a lot faster than all the other girls. I took diet pills and dropped weight really quickly. I didn’t eat (or barely ate), ran a lot, played every sport, and remember what it was like to feel super dizzy and push my way through it because I needed to be skinny.
That’s why I read books like this. To keep me real and honest.
This book wasn’t easy for me to read at all. I had a good friend to pass away in 2011 from anorexia. Not only did Olivia’s story choke me up because I personally connected with her desire to be perfect, but I LOST SOMEONE to that very same disease. Everywhere around us, people are struggling and hurting.
Every one of these kids in rehab had different struggles. We got to know all five of them from their point of view during journals or group sessions, though the majority of the story was told from Kelly and Christopher’s perspective. Reed is a beautiful author. There were a lot of bad, terrible things brought about in Clean, but she eloquently dealt with each of them. She never made me feel hatred toward any of the characters, but I also didn’t sympathize and accept their choices either. There’s a fine balance when telling a story such as this one, but I honestly don’t think that anyone could have done it any better than Reed.
If you are a fan of Laurie Halse Anderson, you will love Clean. I haven’t yet read Reed’s other book, Beautiful, but I will as soon as I can get my hands on it. She has a new novel, Crazy, coming out in June 2012.
[Review originally posted at Rather be Reading]
nbwalks's review against another edition
5.0
One word:
BEAUTIFUL (Edit: just realized that's the title of the first novel...haha)
I can't even describe how much I loved this book. It was just that good. It makes me want to lower all of my 5* books to 4* because they pale in comparison. I'm serious. It was just THAT GOOD.
I loved how there was just enough humor to lighten the mood but it wasn't overdone to the point where it made the whole subject seem like a joke.
One of the things I would have liked to see was the other character's perspectives in stead of just Kelly and Christopher. I mean I know that we heard everyone's story when it came to the personal essay's, questionnaire's, and the group chapters, but what about chapters specifically for Jason, Olivia, and Eva too? It wasn't a problem or anything bad, I'm just curious as to why the author only gave Kelly and Christopher their own chapters.
By the end of the book I felt hopeful. The problems and addictions weren't necessarily solved but I have hope for them. It seemed like they really were going to be okay and get their lives together.
I fell in love with all of these characters and I felt bad for them. I never thought I'd say this but I think this is my new favorite book. It seems to have replaced Sarah Dessen's This Lullaby.
BEAUTIFUL (Edit: just realized that's the title of the first novel...haha)
I can't even describe how much I loved this book. It was just that good. It makes me want to lower all of my 5* books to 4* because they pale in comparison. I'm serious. It was just THAT GOOD.
I loved how there was just enough humor to lighten the mood but it wasn't overdone to the point where it made the whole subject seem like a joke.
One of the things I would have liked to see was the other character's perspectives in stead of just Kelly and Christopher. I mean I know that we heard everyone's story when it came to the personal essay's, questionnaire's, and the group chapters, but what about chapters specifically for Jason, Olivia, and Eva too? It wasn't a problem or anything bad, I'm just curious as to why the author only gave Kelly and Christopher their own chapters.
By the end of the book I felt hopeful. The problems and addictions weren't necessarily solved but I have hope for them. It seemed like they really were going to be okay and get their lives together.
I fell in love with all of these characters and I felt bad for them. I never thought I'd say this but I think this is my new favorite book. It seems to have replaced Sarah Dessen's This Lullaby.
mellowbry's review against another edition
4.0
No jokes.
In all seriousness for a book that came out in 2011 it does a great job at handling it’s difficult topics than most teen Tv shows today.
In all seriousness for a book that came out in 2011 it does a great job at handling it’s difficult topics than most teen Tv shows today.
azsm's review against another edition
4.0
This book wasn't the best rehab book but it was still a little touching; hoping the characters actually found peace. I know Christopher did because he found someone he is happy with and he should be happy with himself. My favorite part was when Christopher and Eva ran out and had a some happiness and peace in their lives.
willwork4airfare's review against another edition
5.0
Clean is a story about five kids from completely different background who are all thrown into the same rehab group together.
From the beginning, Reed shows her talent for different writing styles and different perspectives. From introspective Eva to sassy, hard-headed Kelly, Reed does an excellent job at showing all of the characters' growth and changing emotions. The chapters are told from different perspectives: some as monologues, some as essays, some as transcribed group sessions, so the reader is given information from multiple sources both biased and unbiased.
Reed paints a compelling picture of life in a rehabilitation facility and puts the characters through believable ordeals to test their characters and help the reader identify with one or all of them. Interesting throughout, Reed has you rooting for their recovery and sympathetic with all of their motives. You cry with them, you laugh with them, you rejoice in their growth and their breakthroughs. The characters' individuality comes out through their unique writing styles and their backgrounds are given in short, inter-spliced passages so they refrain from getting repetitive or boring. Even their families, in their brief appearances, are given their own unique dynamics and their own voices. In the end, it's up to you to determine how each character is going to succeed in life outside of rehab and whether they'll remain clean.
From the beginning, Reed shows her talent for different writing styles and different perspectives. From introspective Eva to sassy, hard-headed Kelly, Reed does an excellent job at showing all of the characters' growth and changing emotions. The chapters are told from different perspectives: some as monologues, some as essays, some as transcribed group sessions, so the reader is given information from multiple sources both biased and unbiased.
Reed paints a compelling picture of life in a rehabilitation facility and puts the characters through believable ordeals to test their characters and help the reader identify with one or all of them. Interesting throughout, Reed has you rooting for their recovery and sympathetic with all of their motives. You cry with them, you laugh with them, you rejoice in their growth and their breakthroughs. The characters' individuality comes out through their unique writing styles and their backgrounds are given in short, inter-spliced passages so they refrain from getting repetitive or boring. Even their families, in their brief appearances, are given their own unique dynamics and their own voices. In the end, it's up to you to determine how each character is going to succeed in life outside of rehab and whether they'll remain clean.
ravensbuttons's review against another edition
5.0
Read this and other reviews at Lari Is Writing
This book is one of the best teen books I've read in a long while. It takes an unapologetic look at the ugly face of teen drug addiction. The five different characters in the book are addicted to different drugs for different reasons, and all come from different backgrounds. (Except the fact that they are all white, something which is pointed out explicitly in the narrative.)
As mentioned in the book, it is pretty much like the Breakfast Club with drug addicts. I couldn't think of a better way to put it. The character development is well done, and I really enjoyed reading all the character narratives, except one who I really couldn't get into (but that may have been intentional).
The author writes in first person present tense, and hops into five different points of view with the five different characters. I am impressed with how fluidly she executes this challenging way to tell a story. Some sections are written in first person essay, and other sections are answers to questionnaires the characters get in rehab.
I loved the theme in the book that really empowered the protagonists. Jason put it nicely when he says that they start being adults when they stop blaming their parents or poor environment for the crappy decisions they make, and start making good choices despite their upbringing.
The ending was a superb letter from one character to the others, and it could basically be read to any teen facing drug addiction. I don't want to say who and what exactly was said so as not to ruin it. It was enjoyable and engrossing, and there were moments where I held my breath or cried.
Rating
5/5
'...O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy.
This book is one of the best teen books I've read in a long while. It takes an unapologetic look at the ugly face of teen drug addiction. The five different characters in the book are addicted to different drugs for different reasons, and all come from different backgrounds. (Except the fact that they are all white, something which is pointed out explicitly in the narrative.)
As mentioned in the book, it is pretty much like the Breakfast Club with drug addicts. I couldn't think of a better way to put it. The character development is well done, and I really enjoyed reading all the character narratives, except one who I really couldn't get into (but that may have been intentional).
The author writes in first person present tense, and hops into five different points of view with the five different characters. I am impressed with how fluidly she executes this challenging way to tell a story. Some sections are written in first person essay, and other sections are answers to questionnaires the characters get in rehab.
I loved the theme in the book that really empowered the protagonists. Jason put it nicely when he says that they start being adults when they stop blaming their parents or poor environment for the crappy decisions they make, and start making good choices despite their upbringing.
The ending was a superb letter from one character to the others, and it could basically be read to any teen facing drug addiction. I don't want to say who and what exactly was said so as not to ruin it. It was enjoyable and engrossing, and there were moments where I held my breath or cried.
Rating
5/5
'...O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy.
stuffsamdoes_'s review against another edition
2.0
I loved Amy's book BEAUTIFUL, but CLEAN wasn't my favorite in the world. I got about 100 pages in before I ended up putting it down. It was very choppy to me and overall, not an interesting story. However, there are about 6 different characters you are hearing from as well.
krystlekouture's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyability: 4
I'm not sure why reading about other people's troubles is so enjoyable, but it really sucked me in.
Re-Readability: 2
Character Development: 3
The author captured teenage angst and addiction perFectly. Also, they were very good at selF-analyzing almost too good I'd say. It was very hard to believe how much they changed in one month. Finally, Shirley the therapist got on my nerves a lo.
Complexity: 3
Writing Style: 5
It was really interesting to not only see it From everyone's point oF view, but also to see it presented in diFFerent ways. Besides regular narrative the story was also presented through letters, group therapy sessions, and essays.
Believability: 4
Overall: 3.5
I'm not sure why reading about other people's troubles is so enjoyable, but it really sucked me in.
Re-Readability: 2
Character Development: 3
The author captured teenage angst and addiction perFectly. Also, they were very good at selF-analyzing almost too good I'd say. It was very hard to believe how much they changed in one month. Finally, Shirley the therapist got on my nerves a lo.
Complexity: 3
Writing Style: 5
It was really interesting to not only see it From everyone's point oF view, but also to see it presented in diFFerent ways. Besides regular narrative the story was also presented through letters, group therapy sessions, and essays.
Believability: 4
Overall: 3.5