Rehab (by Randi Reisfeld)

Kenzie always knew she'd be an actress and she always knew she'd be a star -- she just thought it would take more time. When her first role in a TV show becomes a breakout hit, Kenzie finds her star rising, and fast. She also starts embracing a fast life complete with clubbing, drinking, and recreational drugs. The problem is, everything is going too fast. Can she get it together before she loses everything?

REHAB starts off as a typical teen partying book with plenty of fabulous soirees and high-end clothing. It then evolves into a sensitive, realistic look at a teen's struggle to make sense of a world that profits off of young people without consideration of their needs. This novel works because of Kenzie's character. At the heart of the starlet is a real girl that hasn't been completely consumed by her surroundings. The adults in Kenzie's inner circle, the ones trusted with managing her career, regularly give her drugs to wake her up, calm her down, or adjust whatever mood she needs to be in to "sell herself." Parasitic relationships, betrayal, and abandonment issues are center to Kenzie's struggle. Readers will understand and sympathize with Kenzie's struggle and those of the people she meets in rehab.

One standout aspect in the book is that Kenzie is not fully addicted to drugs and alcohol. She finds herself standing on the edge of the cliff, but just before she falls over she is sent to rehab. This is a good angle for teens who feel that occasional overindulgence and prescription drug abuse isn't harmful. This is also a good entry book for parents to continue a discussion of toxic friendships, drugs, and the media's spotlight on stars who behave badly.

Author: Randi Reisfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: July 1, 2008
Number of pages: 256
Paperback price: $8.99
Read Aloud: 14
Read Alone: 14