Great book as all the Clique's are, though it was a bit more iffy then some. Solid 11 plus. I love the Clique. This was my 3rd favorite book in the series.
Dial L for Loser: A Clique Novel
(2006, Fiction - Friendship, Written by Lisi Harrison)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Tween book is S for superficial, C for catty.
Themes in this book include: dating/crushes, emotional abuse, materialism
updated 01.28.10
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12–18
What to watch out for
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Role models:
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Dial L for Loser: A Clique Novel was written by Pam Gelman
Parents need to know that this novel is the sixth in a series about wealthy, privileged girls who are obsessed with material items, boys, and themselves. This book continues the degradation of the "new" girl, a middle-class "nerd" desperate to fit in. Most of the dialogue is about purchasing of designer labels, finding ways to "lip-kiss" boys, or scheming to bring another kid down.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the Pretty Committee as an example of cliques. Is the depiction of this group realistic?
- Why do you think this series is so successful?
- Is it realistic for kids to have such easy access to money and so few limits imposed by parents?
- Why does the "nerdy" girl stick with the clique?
- What would you do in her shoes? Does anyone you know act like this in real life?
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More on Dial L for Loser: A Clique Novel
Book Summary
Having been expelled from Octavian Country Day School, the Pretty Committee members (Massie, Dylan, Alicia, Kristen, and newcomer Claire) are up to their elbows in shopping, hanging out, and talking about themselves. An opportunity arises to audition in L.A. for a part in a tween film that stars their favorite teen actors.
Surprisingly, Claire -- the least glamorous of the bunch -- beats out Massie and Alicia for the part. She develops movie friendships with two teen stars, aggravating the others even though they land roles reporting on the movie happenings for an early-morning news show.
Tricks, miscommunications, and back-stabbing put Claire right back where she started -- at the bottom of the clique heap -- though there's a hint of potential film career.
Is It Any Good?
There's no doubt that author Lisi Harrison, a writer for MTV, knows the female tween crowd -- what appeals, what's trendy, what's enticing. And clearly with the following of the Clique series, she's touched a nerve with this demographic.
But instead of creating a novel that helps girls see through the shallow world of cliques like the book's Pretty Committee, DIAL L FOR LOSERS perpetuates stereotypes of kids, specifically girls, being malicious, gossipy, jealous, materialistic, and unable to learn from experiences in a way that shows maturation and taking responsibility for yourself. While the "nerdy" (and most sympathetic) character does appear to get a taste of popularity and learn something about herself, the others are as self-involved at the end of the book as they were in the beginning.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, Publication date: 11/13/2006
Number of pages: 268, Price: $9.99 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 12, Read Alone: 12
Number of pages: 268, Price: $9.99 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 12, Read Alone: 12
Our Members Say
See 101 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Amazingly amazing book for pre-teens and teens.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was funny, smart, and educational.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was funny, smart, and educational.
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I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Excessive consumerism
- Negative role models
The girls in this book are shown buying friendships and gossiping. Massie and Alicia get jealous and try to embrass Claire. Claire finds herself in trouble when she is got kissing a friend of her boyfriend
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
Teaches girls conform and be mean.
I didn't read this book, but I did read "Revenge of The Wannabes" The characters in these books are HORRIBLE ROLE MODELS! They're encouraging little girls to be slutty bullies who are completely mean to other kids. They also place so many designer brands in there it's almost like a commercial. And the characters are mean to anyone who doesn't wear designer brands. The Clique book that I read (not on this site, so i posted here) goes like this: One friend is ousted from the pretty comittee and builds up a rival group of friends. Stuff happens, and it ends up where this friend is now back in the comittee and the rest of the people from her "rival group" are labeled as "losers" It preaches conformity and mean behavior, which is all to common in tween and teen girls these days. Do not read these books.
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