Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Suspenseful series starter full of pranks and mean girls.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 29 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a fun and fast-paced mystery that's best suited for tweens and teens aged 12 and up; many reviewers appreciate its suspenseful plot and character dynamics while noting that it does include mature themes like violence, language, and hints of substance use. Some express concern about appropriateness for younger readers, advising that parents should gauge their child's maturity before allowing them to read, as those under 12 might find the content challenging.
- fun mystery
- mature themes
- age recommendation
- suspenseful plot
- parental guidance
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
A mistreated foster girl learns that she has an identical twin living a privileged, popular girl's life not far away -- then discovers Sutton's been secretly murdered. Assuming her identity, Emma is soon living a life of luxury, but is being threatened by her twin's killer. Soon, she starts suspecting everyone in her twin's prank-playing clique, including Sutton's own younger sister. The book is narrated by the dead Sutton, who admits she is the \"trickiest member of The Lying Game by far.\"
Is It Any Good?
The suspense here is really pretty good; readers will suspect everyone that Emma does as she goes from one precarious situation to another. Not much new ground is covered here -- and nothing is tied up at the end -- but readers who like these kinds of books will find this to be fluffy fun.
Readers familiar with the genre should know what to expect: The girls in Sutton's clique shop, throw elaborate parties, steal boyfriends, and plan mean pranks. Emma is an outsider -- she shops at second-hand stores! -- and is shocked by the girls' pranks, calling the clique's Lying Game "scary and intense and way too dangerous." This makes her a bit more relatable narrator than many of these kinds of books.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of the clique lit series. Why do you think books like the Gossip Girl books and The Clique series are so popular with readers? Are these just guilty pleasures -- or do readers learn something from these books?
Emma learns about her long-lost twin after seeing a video of her posted on YouTube. Parents may want to check out Common Sense Media's YouTube advice for parents, and take this opportunity to discuss their own house rules with kids.
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperTeen
- Publication date : December 7, 2010
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 14
- Number of pages : 320
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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