Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mean, label-loving girls are awful role models.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 34 kid reviews
Kids say the series provides an engaging and humorous portrayal of teenage life, emphasizing themes of friendship and the complexities of growing up. While some critiques highlight moments of poor role modeling and materialism, others appreciate the underlying messages about self-acceptance and navigating cliques.
- friendship themes
- humor and satire
- poor role models
- tween suitability
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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?
Not only does this book have negative 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.
Targeting a book mostly about clothes, boys, popularity, and power to tween girls just seems wrong, especially because there are no real lessons learned.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the amount of products mentioned here. Have you heard of the brands?
What sort of impact does all this label-dropping have on readers?
Is it realistic that a 12-year-old would have so much stuff? Do you envy these girls?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown and Company
- Publication date : January 6, 2006
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 256
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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