Reviewed by Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite

Amy is a teenager who has basically run away from a difficult interpersonal relationship. She decides to live with her Aunt Mae in a trailer in a sparsely populated area in Washington state. Amy meets a young man named Henry who has peculiarities that intrigue Amy. She risks the unknown of the "mist" just outside her Aunt's property and establishes a relationship with Henry who appears to be in a time warp.

The story is one which will appeal to young teens who crave mysteries. It has a minimum of suggestive material including themes of drinking, abuse and sexual encounters. However, most of the writing does suggest rather than graphically illustrate the activity.

As Amy works out her feelings about her new home and her new friends, she and Henry have a parallel relationship which can only be resolved through their parting. There could have been several endings to this book and some will question the resolution put forth by the author. However, The Clearing is an intriguing book which will keep teens fascinated to the end.