 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Clique Summer Collection: Massie
- By Lisi Harrison
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Rich-girl series is so materialistic it hurts.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that if they're on the fence about whether to let tweens read this book series, the best test is whether you think reality shows about out-of-touch rich girls are out of line or harmless fun (think My Super Sweet 16). This is the book equivalent. There's no real sex, drug-related, or violent content like in the Gossip Girl series. The main character is in middle school and focused on shopping, winning, and telling other girls that they're ugly so she can sell makeup at her summer job. When there's a lesson to be learned (winning isn't everything, beauty is on the inside), part of the humor is supposed to be that Massie will never change. This is a quick beach read and the first in the Clique summer series; each girl in Massie's "Pretty Committee" will get her own book -- one a month from April to August 2008.
What's the story?
Massie Block starts the summer before eighth grade at riding camp, only to be kicked out when she gets caught pulling a stunt to try to win a competition. When her parents tell her she has to pay them back for the money they lost on the camp, she takes a job as a makeup rep for a new cosmetics company with a "beauty's on the inside" philosophy. Ignoring her training DVDs, Massie finds she's a lot more successful when she tells girls they're ugly and need to fix themselves. Suddenly business is booming. It's all going well until the company's president drops in to see Massie's selling techniques first-hand.
Is it any good?
This series releases one book a month during the summer of 2008; the first one -- MASSIE -- hit the top of the bestseller list right away. Kids who love reality shows and news about celebs like Paris Hilton will dive right in. The author tries to add humor in the fact that girls like Massie will never change, but it's not clever enough or scathing enough to be truly funny. And wouldn't it be nicer if she really learned from her mistakes? Then you could actually root for Massie in the end instead of wishing she'd suffer some crueler fate.
The worst part of the book is the way it's written. If you stripped out all mentions of designer brands, the book would be half the length (and that's barely an exaggeration). What's left is a bunch of text-messaging slang, catty comments stepped up with pop culture references, and a description of a very improbable summer job for an eighth grader. Oh, and she earns enough to pay back her parents for a summer of riding camp in just one week. Right. This book is $6.99 -- real girls should save their hard-earned babysitting money for a better beachy read.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether they think characters like Massie are fun to read about or not. What other shows have you seen or books have you read that showcase lifestyles like Massie's? Would you rather be friends with someone like Massie or one of the girls she makes over? Would you like all her clothes and credit cards? Moms may also want to talk about all the makeup the middle school girls buy. What are your family's rules about makeup, credit cards, and shopping?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Massie is Annoying, She's Too Vain!
I hate how this girl, Massie, is so materialistic. She believes that you have to be appearance-obsessed and have the latest stuff to be happy. She's so haughty, and all the girly makeup and clothes references made me barf, As you may know, I'm 100% tomboy, and the main character was a spoiled brat who told the girls who didn't wear makeup or brand-name clothes that they were hideous. I don't wear makeup at all, and I usually wear jeans and a T-shirt. I LOVE to catch bugs outside, shoot hoops, and swim in my pool, and if Massie Block(head) were a real person, she'd be yapping about me how I'm chasing spiders and ladybugs (I'm getting a bit dirty) and swimming in a pool when I'm supposed to tan next to it. Seriously, Massie? She'd tell me to wear makeup and change my plain clothes out for designer stuff more than a bit often, and that I should be shopping at expensive boutiques and all that stupid stuff. She also avoids candy like the plague for some reason, and I eat candy like, once every two weeks. I'm into science, and something tells me she hates that. Don't use her as a role model, people.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Perfect for anyone who reads at a six grade level
Oh ppl be quiet. What do you expect Tweens and teens to read? Fairtales about the princess who got saved by a prince and was bullies becuz she was poor and worked for an evil person. Hmmm. That sounds KIND of superficial to!! Besides, some kids dnt wanna read eragon or the notebook or stuff like that so u ahuldnt criticize their reading. It's just a little book and some of u ppl critisizing it sound dumb getting mad at a piece of paper and the successful author who wrote on it!!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Common Sense is angering me with these reviews on The Clique books.
The whole point of the Clique books is that the girls are rich and materialistic. Massie tells girls the solid truth about themselves because that's the way she takes it;; beauty is truth. I would've taken it that way too. In all honesty it is pretty educational. Massie's dad smokes a cigar? big deal.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Not approprite for kids under 11
This is a good book, but you have to understand where Massie Block (the main character) is coming from, you kind of have to understand how she looks at life and stuff.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Massie is just insecure, that's why she acts like she does.
I love The Clique, though the characters never learn anything. For example, when Anastacia Breeze decided not to give her the purple streak because she insulted the costumers, Massie stole the pen to give herself the streak. But Massie does all the bad things she does because she is insecure. Sooner or later she'll become a better person.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Great For Tweens Of All Ages!
I feel that some parents were overreacting, maybe your kids should learn and not be kept away from this so called "iffy stuff"
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
not a good role model.. not a good book
I read the first chapter and threw the book across the room, there is no message except an obvious, "Massie learns to be nice!" great whoo hoo, all she cares about is "how you dress, or how you look" Massie is mean, rude, and not a good role model- save yourself and don't read this book
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Massie , Massie,Massie
I liked it but it was shallow and superfisial Massie isn't someone you should look up to but everyone wants to be her. It's the only book in the clique series i didn't like because its all about Massie.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Lisi Harrison |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Publisher: | Poppy |
| Publication date: | April 1, 2008 |
| Number of pages: | 123 |
| Paperback price: | $6.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 12 |
| Read alone: | 12 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
