 | 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. |
Dial L for Loser: A Clique Novel
- By Lisi Harrison
- Genre: Friendship
Common Sense Media says
Tween book is S for superficial, C for catty.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
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.
What's the story?
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.
What families can talk about
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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- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Two favorites
CLAIRE MASSIE my two favorites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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AGE
I say it is on for 11 and older
I love the books it gives you something to think about. While I'm reading I think about what it would be like if i was those characters.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 5, 2011
AGE
Perfect for 'tweens'
This book is a 'perf' as Massie would say my 11 year old daughter LOVES the series! :)
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AGE
good for tweens and up
drug and alcoholism are not an issue in this story at all. the "new girl, middle class nerd desperate to fit in" becomes BEST friends with the pretty committee in the second book, and i don't think "lip-kissing" for 13 teen year old girls is really and issue
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AGE
igban
they are having fun with boys. having sexual reproduction
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AGE
More like an ad than a book
I wonder if Lisi Harrison gets paid extra for including so many brand names in her books. Literally, every page is like an ad for cell phones, jeans, iPods, shampoo, conditioner, you name it. Tween girls love these books, but I can't see why. They're boring and dumb. There's also a lot of offensive material. The girls flirt with boys whenever possible, spend all their afterschool time shopping, backstab their friends and much more.
Much better books in this genre are:
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series
The Babysitters' Club books
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AGE
These books will NOT ruin your childhood. Geez.
Okay, I know that a lot of parents don't like this series. But as a teenager and young adult, I've found that it's good to have been exposed to something beyond the bubble my parents had built for me. An "unlit cigarette"? Really? Lots of children have parents who smoke, AND drink alcohol (not saying it's a good thing, but it's not like they haven't been exposed to that sort of thing) ! In my opinion, it's better not to stumble through life without knowing how others live. Plus, anybody with common sense would know that walking in public in only a bra is a bad idea...
Honestly, if you don't think your kids aren't going to sneak these books behind your back, then good luck to you. All in all, it's just a bunch of harmless preteens who like to wear fancy clothes and compete against one another socially. Get off your high horses.
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AGE
Good book;worth at least three stars.
Common Sense, you missed some language in that book. That one has a lot more language than most of them, actually, so I guess maybe you didn't read the book thoroughly. This is the raciest one in the series, but I still like it a lot.
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AGE
the only reason you stuffy fuddy-dudshave a problem is because youre too poor to afford it there is nothing wrong with wearing designer clothes my daughter does
GAWSH get a life
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| Author: | Lisi Harrison |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Friendship |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
| Publication date: | November 13, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 268 |
| Paperback price: | $9.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 12 |
| Read alone: | 12 |
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