A guilty pleasure for middle-school girls, this shallow, mean and funny novel skewers the 8th grade world in the same way Sex and the City does ours, though without the adult overtones. The catty, fashion-obsessed girls of the New Pretty Committee are like PG-rated versions of Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte. Their "ehmagawd" adventures are addictive.
This latest Clique novel -- the 9th in the series -- starts with alpha leader Massie declaring a "boyfast" for the group. None of the girls can crush on a boy, or face expulsion from the NPC, and certain LBR status. LBR? Loser Beyond Repair.
With tongue firmly in cheek, author Lisi Harrison slips in endless pop references and brand names. When Massie gets upset with herself, she gets "snippier than Katie Holmes' hairdresser in 2007."
As long as girls take it all with a grain of salt, they'll love this little comic treasure.