Responding to Clean

      Recently, I finished the book Clean by Amy Reed, an absolutely fantastic book about a drug abuse rehab center. The book follows 5 different characters' stories, which made it super enticing and drew  you in. In the past I have read books about this topic and other similar topics, but never one I've loved as much as this book. I think what made this book so fascinating was the level of thoughts and feelings that all the characters had. It was almost as if you were living their life and experiencing their life. Another thing that made me love this book so much was that not only was it a fabulous story,  but it also gave you a lot of information and I was really able to learn a lot from it.
       After reading this book I felt so connected to all the characters, no matter what gender or situation. The author told the story through all the characters' thoughts and feelings which made it a more engrossing story. For example, when Kelly first arrived at the rehab center, her parents and instructors and doctors made it seem like a wonderful experience that would completely turn her life around. But then you hear what Kelly thinks. Kelly thinks to herself, "it's like I'm an alien from outer space and they're trying to mold me into a normal person. But I don't want to be shaped into someone  I'm not." Once I heard Kelly's perspective on things it made me connect with her more, and realize what it would feel like to be in that situation. To be thrown into a whole new place where they're trying to change and fix you. Another example was when there was parents night at the hospital and Jason's mom was talking about how he's a terrible kid and the worst son ever. From just hearing her talk I felt so sad and it definitely made me feel bad for Jason, but then we heard what Jason was actually feeling. He was so ridiculously hurt inside. To hear his own mother say such terrible things about him. And, he knew he was a bad kid. He knew everything he did was wrong and he wished he could've changed it all. Now after hearing that, I felt so much worse. It made me feel so horrible for him, and it made me think about myself ever having to be in that situation. I think I would just be completely broken down and miserable if that had happened to me. The way the author went into detail about how the characters were actually feeling made it an all around more interesting story.
      Another thing that made the story so much better was how much I learned from it. The author gave a lot of background information on rehab centers, drug abuse, and different substances. Once I had more background research on the topic, it was much easier to understand and follow. For example, each character had a different drug of choice (d.o.c), and it explained a lot about the characters. For example, Kelly is kind of crazy, outgoing, and blunt. Then the author explains that she does cocaine, and more about the drug. This way you are able to learn more about the character as a person, and about where all of their unique personalities come from. When I've read other books, for example Crank by Ellen Hopkins, I read a story about a drug abuser, but I don't know much about the drug. The way that the author really got the reader to learn new things made the book even better than it already  was.
       Overall, Clean was a magnificent book and I would recommend it to anyone. The author made the book engrossing and different than other stories by giving true insight from all the characters, and giving you a thorough understanding of the issues and topics in this book. Clean was by far one of my favorite books ever.

Responding to Just Listen

      Currently, I am reading an enticing and riveting book called Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, which is a wonderful book about a young girl (Annabel) struggling with family issues and lots of stress and pressure on her. Her sister has developed Anorexia, her best friend is no longer her friend, and she is being pressured into modeling which just adds to the already abundant amount of stress. But then she meets a mysterious and unordinary boy named Owen who changes her world and shows her a whole different view on things.   One thing that really got me thinking was how quickly her outlook on things changed just by meeting this one boy.
      Annabel is very mainstream, as in she likes shopping, pop music, and she models. But Owen on the other hand likes Mayan chanting music, has his own radio show, and he dresses in head to to black. After just one day of getting to know Owen, Annabel was acting completely different. Owen claimed he never lied. Ever. So Annabel went home and told her mother she wanted to quit modeling. Something she had been trying to tell her for years. Owen had changed her, in a sense, in just one day. I thought there was something interesting about the fact that all these years she's had people telling her what to do and when to do it, and then all of a sudden she meets Owen and she can finally fend for herself. Another example is when she first listens to his radio show. She's never really payed much attention to important issues throughout the world, and then she hears his insightful and intellectual thoughts on his radio show, and her wind is blown. All of a sudden she is opened up to a whole new world beyond herself and her family. She learns about issues that are truly important, and all of a sudden, she has a whole new outlook on things. She is more open, and understanding, and not as whiny and obnoxious (not that she ever really was...). I think it's fascinating how just meeting Owen actually changed her life, for the better and how she had changed as a person because of this positive experience.
       I can relate to Annabel because I have definitely been opened up to new and more important things in my life, at some point or another. I remember when my dad first told me that John Lennon died because he was shot. From a young age my dad always had me listening to the Beatles, so when I heard this I was shocked. As just a  3 year old, I was hysterically crying when my dad told me this. I couldn't believe that someone would actually murder him. And although I may not have learned from it and turned it into a positive change in my life, it definitely impacted me. This devastating news was something that I probably had never imagined, being just a 3 year old. I think learning about something so terrible like that definitely would change you. No matter what it is or how old you are, if you are exposed to something like that will definitely effect you. Sometimes it could make you a better person all around, or sometimes it could make you feel horrible. Although, whatever the outcome may be, I believe in always staying open to learning about new ideas and issues in the world, because you never know how it may impact you in the end.

Finished Book List

1. Clean by Amy Reed
2. Beautiful by Amy Reed
3. Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
4. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
5. Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
6. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
7. A Tale of Two Pretties by Lisi Harrison
8. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
9. Lock & Key by Sarah Dessen
10. Sold by Patricia McCormick
11. Post Secret by Frank Warren