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The Invasion of the Boy Snatchers: A Clique Novel (by Lisi Harrison)

common sense media says

Mean, label-loving girls are awful role models.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this book features lots of labels, including constant references to high-end fashion, singers, technology, and even junk food. Even though the main characters are only 12, the book glamorizes style, romance, and popularity. The Pretty Committee is definitely not about girl power: One character has a weight obsession, and the friends don't seem that concerned when one of the members has a fever-induced hallucination.

Positive messages: While clearly meant as a satire on popular (and consumer obsessed) culture, a lot of young girls may miss it and focus instead on the fake, vapid world of the Pretty Committee. Approach with caution and utilize the book as a discussion point with your preteen. 
Positive role models: The friends in this clique aren't as concerned about one another's feelings as they are about popularity and power. They ultimately pull a humiliating prank on a new student without any consequeces or lesson learned.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Sexily clad students, talk about kissing (including a wager about who will get kissed first), jokes about virginity.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Lots of products mentioned, from designer labels to junk food: YSL, Jimmy Choo, Starbucks, Diet Coke.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on The Invasion of the Boy Snatchers: A Clique Novel

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the amount of products mentioned here. 
  • Have you heard of the brands? 
  • Is it realistic that a 12-year-old would have so much stuff?
  •  What sort of impact does all this label-dropping have on readers? 
  • Do you envy these girls?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In this fourth installment in the Clique series, Alicia's Spanish cousin transfers for a semester to their private girls' school.

The 13-year-old appears to win over the boys instantly with her sexy clothes and talk. Massie schemes to get control -- of the guys and of her clique, too.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Not only does this book have bad messages, but it isn't even well-written, limiting its appeal even as a guilty pleasure. The author occasionally captures middle school behavior well: Even these sophisticated girls worry about first kisses, send each other constant text messages, and tell lame jokes. One of the popular boys is even known for dropping his pants and doing his "famous butt-wiggle." But these moments are wedged between extravagant parties, mean talk, and elaborate revenge plots.

Overall, targeting a book that's mostly about clothes, boys, popularity, and power to tween girls just seems wrong, especially since there are no real lessons learned.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Lisi Harrison
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication date: January 6, 2006
Number of pages: 256
Paperback price: $9.99
Read Aloud: 9
Read Alone: 9

This review was written by Kate Pavao
 
 

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What parents & educators say

10

Most useful reviews by all members

rainydayqueen
parent of 13 and 21 year old
 
The Clique Is Awesome....Except for Sexual Behavior
I love The Clique series especially this book but this book does have some sexualbehavior by 13 and 12 year olds.A girl wears very revealing outfits including tight low rise jeans,a fur covered coat that doesn't cover her midriff,a gold tube top that her breasts don't fit into and see through harem pants.She also talks about kissing boys and having them at her 4th grade parties, jokes about her virginity,and uses her breasts and sexual dancing to get boys attention.Another characther longs for a kiss from her boyfriend but accidently kisses her friends crush thanks to her friends cousin"Nina the Sex Machina".A girl takes off her bra in class and throws it across the room.Girls talk about cup sizes,kissing and looking sexy.

Senorita Rita
teen, 15 years old
 
Why all the "iffy" reviews??
Lookie here, I'm not even going to put concerns and highlights. This series is a bunch of hilarious books about teenage girls who are completely obsessed with their appearances and are rude to girls who are apparently "not pretty enough" or "not fashionable enough". Lisi has made this series, but does she really promote these girls' behaviors? I don't think so. An AWESOME series, I could read those books all day. Anyone with common sense would know that these girls are fictional and that they shouldn't have an effect on reality. I highly reccomend this book for teens.

cliquegirl98
parent of 13 year old
 
perfect for ages 9 and up.
I LOVE these books. I have read all of the books up to Invasion Of The Boy Snatchers one and is almost done with it and it's only been about 3 months. I'm always reading them. I think it is appropriate for ages 9 and up. The main story line is that a spoiled girl with a rich daddy in charge of her own exclusive clique has her daddy's poor friends move into their guest house with their son thats one or two grades lower and their daughter who is in the same age as massie the main character and she tries to join the clique and when she finally gets in massies other friends try to get their friends and cousin to join.

 
Excellent, well-written read for 3rd grade and up
Invasion of the Boy Snatchers is a well-written guilty pleasure novel that is an enjoyable and entertaining read for 3rd grade and up. Kids will enjoy the tongue-in-cheek comebacks and the fun details of the wealthy and privileged. Your children should be smart enough to realize that this is guilty pleasure fiction and should not be taken seriously. A+

clarinet293
teen, 14 years old
 
I loved this series and I love this whole series!!

Twilightaholic
teen, 15 years old
 
Perfect for 11 and up.
Love this book and the rest of the series! Its entertaining, and obviously no girls really are like that, so why are you some of you guyz bugging about the effects they have on tweens and teens? Anyway, great book! :D

Common critic
parent of 11 and 13 year old
 
4 stars
My daughter used to read these books but I still feel like reviewing it.I don't have a problem with this hook.a bunch of snooby girls butthats not a concern to me at all

889790
teen, 14 years old
 
A great read for teens
I personally love The Clique series!!! They are a great guilty-pleasure, and actually have a positive, but almost hidden, message, because Lisi Harrison obviously is making fun of materialistic girls who are snobby. However, Lisi does a great job of understanding teens, and I ended up loving all the girls in these books! This series is probably not appropriate for girls who don't yet understand that these books are poking fun at snobby girls, and won't find the real message. Also, this particular book is one of the more inappropriate if the series. Over all, I love these books and am very sad that the series is over!

Alley B
teen, 14 years old
 
Fun, easy read
This is a good series if you are looking for a quick "junk food" read for a teen. However, there are a few concerns: the ideas about rich girls and popular cliques is appealing to most girls because they want to be "just like that". Whatever satire this book was meant to portray is completely lost in the enthusiastic, slightly obsessive way the author writes about these girls' wealthy, pampered lifestyles. A fun choice for a teen girl if you are up for discussions on bullying and cliques.

animalover23
kid, 13 years old
 
perfect for tweens/young teens
i heart this series!! lisi's an ah-mazing writer! i just finished sealed with a diss.

peacelovecutie
teen, 15 years old
 
Great book!
I love this book and every other book in the Clique series. It teaches you about bullying from both girls' perspective. It even shows the insecure side of a girl who seems totally confident, to remind girls that everyone is insecure at some time, even if they don't appear so. I even managed to stop hating Massie after I read the first few books! This book isn't just about cliquey, preppy junior high girls that compete for popularity and act snobby to keep at the top. It's revealed that not everything revolves around being popular. There's no need to worry about this! The consumerism and all is just fun to play with. It's not like it's a big commercial to get girls to buy designer clothes. I would've rated this as a 9+ book, but I don't think 9-year-olds would understand everything in this book. It's more like a book for pre-teens and tweens.

parents4lyfe
parent of 13 and 16 year old
 
Absolutely Disgusting.
OMG. This book is DISGUSTING! Last year I went through my 15 year old daughter's room and I saw this book hidden in her nightstand. Curious to know what it was about, I read a page here and there and all I have to say is that it is definitely not even appropriate for children of any age! If you want your children to grow up right, don't feed them anything with a bad message, and this book sure has the biggest bad message I have ever seen. Do not allow your children to read this trashy, poorly-written book.

Ghillie
teen, 14 years old
 
How Not to Act
These books are good if girls get that it is making fun of mean girls. They have a lot of examples of how to stand up for yourself, and Claire is a good role model. The Pretty Committee is an example of "how not to act". I love this book!

Gaga4GaGa
kid, 13 years old
 
Common Sense is too harsh!!
The Clique is a great series!!! It's better than what Common Sense makes it out to be, trust me. I've read every book and absolutely adored each one. Boys R Us is probably my favorite. Or P.S. I Loathe You. Or My Little Phony. Or Bratfest at Tiffany's. Oh, I just love them all.

minniemouse11
teen, 14 years old
 
Early teen read
I myself love the clique series. If your kids know not to act that way then your fine. No real girls are really like that. A couple of bad comments, like one about a boy who sticks his cell phones under girls skirts. Not good. But thats really the only bad thing. Plus the girls are rich and spoiled another minus for the book. If you are willing to overlook those minor issues then its great!

Hiya55karate9
kid, 10 years old
 
Great Book!
This book is great! You need to know if your kid is mature, because this book talks about boob jobs, and whatnot. It has some crude humor (girls fake-laughing about not taking overweight people lightly) and it talks about something being hell. That is the only cuss word I have seen in this book so far, though.

cinnagurl
teen, 14 years old
 
for tweens to learn about what not to do and stay away
i read this book when i was 10. and im still reading the series

movielover12
kid, 13 years old
 
Good for older kids; not great role models
The Clique series is awesome! They are very entertaining and enjoyable. I've read these books many times. The role models really aren't good but it's actually funny how competitive they get and how catty they are. There is some bad language and a couple more sexual references but other than those things their really good books and it's interesting to see how the fix things and try to always be on top. Good series for older kids

LoveBunny
teen, 13 years old
 

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