The Clique (novel)

The Clique

Author	Lisi Harrison
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	The Clique Series
Genre	Young adult novels
Publisher	Little, Brown and Company
Publication date	May 2004
Media type	Print (Paperback)
Pages	220
ISBN	ISBN 0-316-70129-7
Followed by	Best Friends for Never

The Clique, published in 2004 by Little, Brown and Company, is the first novel of the best-selling Clique series by Lisi Harrison. The series of books all focus on Massie Block, Claire Lyons, Alicia Rivera aka Candy Hernandez, Dylan Marvil, and Kristen Gregory who call themselves the Pretty Commitee. They live in upscale Westchester, New York and go to a private,all-girls school called Octavian Country Day School, or OCD. Massie believes her life is perfect until her father's college friend moves into their guesthouse with his family (wife, Judi, son, Todd, and daughter, Claire). The book is being adapted into a film and is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2008. "The Summer Collection" is planned to be released in April. The tenth book "P.S. I Loathe You" will be released several months after the last book in the Summer Collection is finished.

Plot

Massie Block is a snobby twelve-year-old girl who is going into the seventh grade. Her father, William Block, invited his old friend Jay Lyons (and his family) to stay in their guesthouse while they are searching for a new home. The Lyons are moving all the way from Orlando, Florida, to Westchester, New York. Because they are arriving on the same day as Massie's shopping trip with her friends (Labor Day), Massie's mother makes her stay home to greet and meet them. Massie is upset and lies to her friends that she has the flu, which is why she can't go.

When Claire and Massie meet, Massie is rude to her, despite Claire's failing attempts to become friends with Massie. The next day is the first day of seventh grade for Claire, Massie, and Massie's friends. Massie always drives her friends to school with them, and she is dumped in the backseat while being made fun of by Massie and her friends. The school day doesn't get much better when Alicia intentionaly dumps red paint on Claire's pants during art class. The others (Alicica, Dylan, and Kristen) are mean to her because Massie doesn't like her, so the all treat her cruelly. One day Claire gets so fed up with them that she sneaks into Massie's room every day when she's walking her dog Bean and pretends to be Massie on instant meesenger. This way she convinces Alicia that Massie thinks Claire is cool, Dylan that Massie thinks she(Dylan) is too fat, and gets Kristen to confess that she's poor after saying that Massie really hangs out with LBR (Loser Beyond Repair) Layne Abeley because she thinks her older brother Chris Abeley is hot. So Alicia,Dylan,and Kristen ditch Massie for Claire, but Massie uncovers the truth and gets Claire to confess to some embarrassing things she sed about the girls in a five-way phonecall with Dylan speaking.

Characters

Massie Block

The rich, sassy,and most popular seventh grade alpha at Octavian Country Day. She has brunette shoulder-length hair. She is, at her worst, egocentric, self-absorbed and arrogant. She has many different terms for things, such as LBR for "Loser Beyond Repair", GLU for "Girls Like Us," or PC for "The Pretty Committee". Although she hides it quite well,Massie Block longs to be loved and adored by everyone else. She has lenient parents that hardly ever punish her for anything. Her black pug, Bean, and her white horse, Brownie are her sole confidence in her insecure side. Massie has no friends that she feels comfortable enough to share deep feelings with, which results in her having to console to her dog or horse. Though sometimes Massie's close friend, Claire, is another option. Massie tends to be nervous around boys. Massie shared a mutual affection with the Briarwood soccer star, Derrick Harrington, or Derrington, but never uses the term "boyfriend". Massie is of quick wit. She also has multiple punch lines that include strange questions and an answer that makes more sense, such as "Do you work at a grocery store? Then why are you checking me out?" She is very fashionable and wears top designer clothing. Her favorite perfume is Chanel No. 19. Her family has a driver, named Isaac, who takes her to where ever she needs to be.

Alicia Rivera

Alicia is the Spanish beta of the Pretty Committee. She has a huge chest, highly envied black waves of hair, and a thin figure. People tend to compare her to Penelope Cruz, but with a better nose. Alicia is said to be a tad richer than Massie. She loves to report gossip, shop, and flirt with boys. Boys from Briarwood think she is the prettiest girl at OCD, which annoys Massie. In Revenge of the Wannabes, Alicia tries to start her own clique with a girl named Olivia Ryan, but finds she does not have the talents to be a worshipped leader like Massie. Alicia's favorite designer is Ralph Lauren, oftenly wearing his products. In Invasion of the Boy Snatchers, she announces that her crush is Josh Hotz, whose looks are compared to hers. Alicia has cousins in Spain and one who comes to OCD for a while, nina, who Massie is intimidated by. Massie somehow finds out that Alicia's dad is not actually spanish, and his real last name is Rivers. Massie uses this info to puit Alicia back in her place. Alicia is also a very good dancer.

Dylan Marvil

Dylan is the third member of the Pretty Committee. She is said to be two inches taller and wider than the rest of the girls, therefore she considers herself fat, and is constantly trying to lose weight in different ways. But, she loves food, which proves her diets to be unsuccessful. Dylan has red curls and green eyes. Her mother, Merri-Lee Marvil, is the famous talk show host of The Daily Grind. She also has the inside scoop on all the celebrity gossip.. Dylan has a very crude sense of humor and breaks up awkward moments by farting or burping. In Dial L for Loser she and Kristen must stay in Westchester.

Kristen Gregory

Kristen is the famous soccer star at OCD. She has a very healthy, strong body that helps her in sports. She seems to be the nicest and the most human girl in the Pretty Committee besides Claire. Kristen is actually poor, living in an apartment and only going to OCD on a scholarship. She is very smart, has dirty blond hair, and aqua colored eyes. Her dad used to be a rich art dealer until he lost all his fortune. In The Pretty Committee Strikes Back she hops a bus to Lake Placid when her uptight mother thinks she is at a soccer game and loses her scholarship. In Dial L for Loser she and Dylan must stay in Westchester.

Claire Lyons

Claire is the newest member of the Pretty Committee, having moved from Orlando, Florida to live in Massie's guesthouse. She is also poorer than the rest of the girls, which results in her borrowing many outfits from Massie and usually spoiling them. Claire and Massie are very close, though Massie makes fun of her flat platform Keds and normal boring outfits many times. In the first book, Massie attempts to make Claire's life miserable, which she successfully does until Claire stands up for herself and forms a tentative bond with Massie. She dates Cam Fisher, a blue-eyed-green-eyed guy. He breaks up with her after a misunderstanding in Sealed with a Diss. Claire loves eating gummy candy. Claire has one sibling, Todd Lyons, who is often goofing off and annoys her. She gets a part in the movie Dial L For Loser over Massie or Alicia.

List of sequels

1. Best Friends for Never
2. Revenge of the Wannabes
3. Invasion of the Boy Snatchers
4. The Pretty Committee Strikes Back
5. Dial L for Loser
6. It's Not Easy Being Mean
7. Sealed with a Diss
8. Bratfest at Tiffany's
9. P.S. I Loathe You : A Clique Novel
10. The Clique Summer Collection

External links

• Author's website
• Updates on The Clique
• The Clique Movie Updates