I love Amy Reed's books they are always great! ( )

Harsh look at a group of addicted teens in rehab. ( )

So it is 2am and I just finished Clean. 2am finishes are generally a good sign.

I really liked this book. Through alternating voices we get the story of five teenagers in a 90 day program they all have different and similar issues: addiction being the big one, just differing drugs of choice.

I like that of the different voices there was a diversity that truly exists in addiction, it is not limited to poor or rich or in between anyone can be an addict. This book also imparted a level of familiarity and authenticity that I appreciate. I am in recovery and sometimes reading fictional accounts of addiction they feel contrived, not an issue with this one. The characters could be any number of people from meetings for addiction that happen everyday.

My final reason for appreciating this book and giving it 4 stars is the readability. The reality of addiction and what it can make you do is sometimes horrible and dark and extremely challenging. Clean touches on those things, but without dwelling on them, and using language and feelings that reflect a very real experience for many. Books like this exist because they will often speak to a person where they are and when they most need to hear it. ( )

Mrs. Beamer's Review:
I was skeptical of this book...knowing my distaste for drug-addicted characters. But, it circulates well with my students, and I like to know what they're reading. Surprise...I liked this book! I was drawn to the characters...each so unique in their struggles. The author tells the story through five POVs. Five teenage drug addicts. One might think this would weigh down the book...make it too intense for someone like me who doesn't enjoy reading about addicts. But I found the opposite to be true. I found (comfort?) hmm...not sure what word I would use...in learning how these five teens came to be addicts. They have such different backgrounds, such different stories...yet their disease places them on equal ground. I tried to pick a favorite storyline, and found I couldn't. So I applaud the author for creating five strong characters.

Yes, the book probably appealed to me because it didn't contain graphic, horrific, prolific drug use. It was about the path to sobriety. And in that context, it's a story of hope. We hope they continue managing their disease. We hope they remain thankful for the opportunity to get clean. Through one of the group consolers, we are reminded most teen addicts are not given the chance these five were given. These five teens have family (with money) to place them in a rehab facility.

This book is a reminder that teen addicts come from all backgrounds. It is a reminder to adults to be cognizant of the signs of addiction...to remember teen addicts can be found in any setting. It is a reminder to teens that all actions have consequences. They have the power to destroy someone...and they have equal power to save someone. I commend the author on a job well done.

My Favorite Quote (from this book): "If this is recovery, I don't want it. If this is sobriety, I'd like my drugs back, thank you very much."

Mrs. Beamer’s advisory rating: 0-5 (0=none, 5=lots) click here for more info
Language: 3
Violence: 2
Sexual Content: 2.5
Drugs/Alcohol: 4
Potential Controversial Topics: child abuse, homosexuality, drug use ( )

Clean is told from the viewpoint of five completely different characters: Olivia, Kelly, Christopher, Jason and Eva in rehab on their separate journeys to sobriety. Each suffering from their own form of addiction, find what they need in each other. What I most enjoyed about Clean was the different point of views the book had. Each character came from a different situation and they were each addicted to something different to the other. We meet the five characters at the lowest point in their lives, each taking up their addiction when they were the most needy and needed something to turn to. Since the story is told from the five characters POV the reader gets an insight into their lives before their addiction, and the progress their making in rehab. It’s a slow but gradual journey we sort of go on with them.
One of the things I mostly liked about the book was how I could understand why each character turned to their addiction. It seems silly to say, “I understood why she developed an eating disorder” but it’s true. The situations and the pressures the five faced made it believable as to why they were there. Why there were at their lowest. Clean is filled with a few laughable moments too, that being said it isn’t a laugh out loud funny book, after all it’s about five teens in a rehab clinic on their journey to becoming sober but each character sort of shed a few skins in-between chapters which was probably the most exciting and beautiful thing to see as a reader. When a character transforms before you, gradually and slowly and you start to notice it little by little and then you turn the page and there’s no mistaking it, they’ve grown up and changed.

Clean by Amy Reed is much more than a story about five messed up teenagers who had nothing better to do than start drinking and doing drugs. It’s a story about friendship, strengths, confidence and rising up when you’re the underdog