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The Clique Books: appropriate for tweens?

Published 11.26.2008 | | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

The Clique Series Book Review
By Lindsay Ferrier of Suburban Turmoil

the clique books appropriate for tweensThe first novel of The Clique series opens with 13-year-old rich b@!#h in training Massie Block giving her mother a dressing down before flouncing off to her sleek, chic all-white room.

The book goes downhill from there.

Wealthy 12-year-old Massie Block and her privileged clique of friends, known as the Pretty Committee, spend all of their time shopping, talking about boys and parties, and being mean to girls who don’t fit in. They don’t ever face consequences for their bad behavior, nor do they mend their ways, a fact that infuriates many parents when it comes to MTV writer Lisi Harrison’s popular young adult series.

However, I think of the The Clique as beach reading for tweens., and not so different from my own fifth grade collection of Sweet Valley High novels. If your adolescent daughter enjoys gossip magazines and shows like “My Super Sweet 16,” there’s an excellent chance she’ll be a fan of The Clique, and you might as well grin, bear it and use the series as a lesson in how not to act.

Although I wouldn’t ban a tween from reading the series (my oldest stepdaughter has a few Clique novels in her own bookshelf, but says she didn’t like them), I also wouldn’t buy them for my girls unless they were specifically included on a wish list. If you do find yourself reluctantly purchasing Clique novels for your daughter, take a few deep breaths and dig into them yourself. You’ll definitely want to address some of the issues the series raises, such as materialism and the inevitable “mean girls” we all encounter in junior high and high school.

Remember, too, that by the time your child is old enough to enjoy these books (I’d recommend them for ages 11 and up), she’s also old enough to realize that the “humor” in Massie and her friends is that they remain static throughout the series, despite the fact that the reader begins to want them to “see the light.” The author also makes it easy to dislike Massie and company, and realize that the glamorous life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.


Comments (6):

busymom6 said:

I think this series perpetuates everything I try to teach my girls is awful and evil about junior high and high school girls. Even with the one character trying to teach everyone how to be nice, it is just unkind and awful and materialistic. I think they are worthy of a modern day book burning.

Posted on November 28, 2008 18:25

happymom said:

i believe that the clique books are not bad.
My daughter even explained to me that these books tell her to stay away from those types of girls. She said that it shows her that she enjoys her life. It shows her that the wealthy kids don't have that glamorous stereo type and they are human beings.
A lot worse things have happened to them then will ever happen to my daughter.
The purpose of these books are just telling a different perspective of life. That is all there is to it.
It is basically middle school to the extreme and the kids know that.
I have asked my daughter multiple times and she has told me this over and over.
I have read the books and there is very limited bad language and if you read on, they get nicer and more accepting.
This is a great book series and i think it teaches are kids about acceptance.

Posted on January 18, 2009 20:27

Kawaii said:

There is no problem with the Clique books. Theyre not putting any influencail cause to feel bad about yourself. The tweens who read this book probally can relate to the book, and it shows how to accept yourself with the induvidual 'Claire' who never gives up.

Posted on March 15, 2009 14:28

Rachel said:

I would not recommend this series of books to girls under 12.
If a 9 year old read these books, I could see how it would be a problem.
There is some brief language more so in the later books of the series..
But, I found these books to be very interesting and good.
If your daughter is 12 or older and wants to read them just make sure that she is mature enough to understand it's just a book.
And that acting the way Massie does will not get you anywhere.

Posted on August 2, 2009 14:58

Melissa said:

Yes it is. It is for ages 12 and older. I start reading the series when I was 12, and I'm 14 and I am still reading them. They are great books

Posted on August 27, 2009 12:38

gigi:) said:

I just started reading these books and I love them! theyre my new favorite series

Posted on September 12, 2009 16:27

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