Parents' Guide to

Dial L for Loser: A Clique Novel

By Pam Gelman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Tween book is S for superficial, C for catty.

Book Lisi Harrison Friendship 2006
Dial L for Loser: A Clique Novel Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 5 parent reviews

winston1
winston1 Parent of 11-year-old
January 1, 2011
age 11+
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

This title has:

Too much sex
Great messages
Great role models
CommonSenseParent
CommonSenseParent Parent
November 23, 2010
age 11+

Excellent, well-written read for 6th grade and up

Dial L for Loser is a well-written guilty pleasure novel that is an enjoyable and entertaining read for 6th 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+

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 5 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (40):

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

Book Details

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