Clique: Volume 1 (THE CLIQUE) (original 2004; edition 2004)

by Lisi Harrison (Author)

Series: The Clique (1)

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1,762	70	10,524	(3.5)	13

Kaianna.Isaure's review

The Clique by Lisi Harrison: A Reflection on Friendship and False Alliances*

*"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."* — Proverbs 18:24

In *The Clique* by Lisi Harrison, the reader is introduced to the glittering yet treacherous world of the privileged girls of Westchester, New York, led by the queen bee, Massie Block. With designer clothes, cutting-edge social skills, and a fierce grip on the social hierarchy, Massie and her friends Dylan, Kristen, and Alicia seem to embody the ideal of friendship. Yet, their interactions reveal a darker reality—one where power, control, and exclusion reign supreme.

Claire Lyons, the newcomer, enters this world like a lamb among wolves. Humble, kind, and unpolished by the standards of her peers, she quickly becomes a _target for the Clique's biting wit and calculated cruelty. Massie, secure in her power, views Claire as an intruder, someone to be ridiculed and manipulated rather than embraced.

But Claire's story is not one of defeat. Though she is rejected by those who wield social power, she finds refuge in an unexpected place: her friendship with Layne Abeley. Layne is neither wealthy nor concerned with the superficial trappings of popularity. She sees Claire for who she truly is—a person of worth and integrity. Their friendship, though quieter and less glamorous, embodies the essence of what Proverbs 18:24 teaches us.

True friendship is not based on appearances, status, or what one can gain from another. It is rooted in mutual respect, loyalty, and authenticity. Layne stands by Claire, offering her the kind of unwavering support that Massie and her clique are incapable of providing. In contrast, Massie’s group, though seemingly united, is built on fragile alliances, insecurity, and a constant fear of falling from grace.

Claire’s journey reminds us that friends who treat us as stepping stones or discard us when we are no longer useful are not true friends. They are like "dust mites"—present but inconsequential, revealing their own insecurities and fears. In contrast, a true friend like Layne is a treasure, offering warmth, honesty, and a safe space in a world that often values the superficial over the genuine.

*The Clique* is a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing acceptance from those who do not value our true selves. It reminds readers, especially young ones, to seek friendships that uplift and nourish the soul rather than those that drain and diminish it. In the end, Claire's strength lies not in joining the Clique but in finding her true friends and learning to stand firm in her own identity. (

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Kaianna.Isaure | Dec 5, 2024 |

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Kaianna.Isaure | Dec 5, 2024 |

I can see why this series was so popular. I'm also extremely grateful that I missed it because The Clique was published when I was not too much older than Claire and Massie, and I would have been lost to it. I read a lot back then, but not in contemporary, thank goodness. I'm glad I didn't read this book when I was younger because the "mean girl" trope would have eaten me up.

The book is short. Characters get away with things like trespassing that wouldn't be possible in 2022 (thanks to technology!), but their behavior would have been so much worse if social media was an option at the time of the book. The manipulative bullying is unreal, and it's a miracle that various characters didn't shed more tears. There are all sorts of shaming - fat-shaming, classism, elitism - and every once and a while; I had to step back and remind myself: these are middle schoolers.

So while it's entertaining and an easy read and hooks the reader in quickly... I don't recommend this book. I don't recommend the series. Especially for girls and female-identifying readers in middle school - this sets such a terrible behavioral precedent. Lessons are not learned, not really. In book two, all the characters go back to being nasty to each other. And they do this for a dozen more books. There are better books with more complex characters and storylines out there. (

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Morteana | Dec 8, 2022 |

Garotas S.A - Torpedo' mostra um universo cheio de brigas fofocas e confusões entre as adolescentes de uma escola exclusiva para garotas. O livro apresenta o típico universo adolescente e faz a crônica das novas formas de comunicação destes jovens do século XXI - torpedos webmessengers páginas de relacionamento blogs e fotologs são as marcas desta geração que aprendeu a se relacionar através de identidades virtuais. Graças a todos os exageros proporcionados pelo dinheiro e a obsessão pelo luxo e pelas grifes os conflitos a necessidade de afirmação e as angústias de toda jovem ganham contornos fortes e muitas vezes cômicos.

bibliotecapresmil | Sep 6, 2022 |

At one point in time, I owned nearly every addition to the series that this book belongs too, and had read every single one. This book is focused around a group of five seventh grade girls, each of which came high/middle-class families. The point of this book is to show readers how hostile and snobbish girls can be when trying to be “popular”, even to the point of ostracizing one another. (

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KimCross72 | Nov 20, 2020 |

I totally forget I read these until I saw that COVER and the nostalgia BOWLED ME OVER
I don't remember how far i got in the series! but it's nice to remember that there was a time as a kid/tween in which i did...actually read :'|

Chyvalrys | Aug 5, 2020 |

A couple of years ago, I was really in love with the series. I bought just about all the books in the series and read them all.

And now, I come back and read them and I see how truly awful this book series is. I mean, it's so stereotypical and lame. Like someone at the age of 13 would act like that. So distasteful. When I was 13 I was focused on doing my best in school; not dating boys, who has the best clothes, trying to fit into such a stupid clique, back-stabbing my friends, etc.

This book is also a very bad influence on girls in middle school. Who wants to go around acting like a bitch at this time in their life? It's so stupid and pointless. And Claire...I felt so bad for her. I mean, who would want to fit into such a stupid and malicious group of girls, after ALL the stuff they have done to her. It's so brainless to me.

In conclusion, this is a horrible book to me. Reading it will put you in store for a BIG disappointment.
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nerobucciarati | Jul 27, 2020 |

I remember being both horrified and fascinated by a depiction of middle school SO unlike my own. (

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lightkensei | May 17, 2020 |

This book is truly one of the best! Although it is mainly about bullying and changing yourself for others, hopefully the reader can realize you do not have to do that in order to be liked. This book is full of a mean group of girls who purposely try to manipulate and bully the new girl who is not as fortunate. Although this book many cause people to compare themselves to others, the bigger message that this book sends is to always be able to appreciate what you have. (

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laniesharinn | Jan 23, 2020 |

I don't remember anything about this book except that it kept using "haught" and "naught" incorrectly and 12 year old Faith couldn't handle that kind of trash (

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Faith_Murri | Dec 9, 2019 |

This book is well written and the characters are relatable. However, it reinforces the belief that money is everything. By not having money, Claire is at a lower social status than the other girls. But this book also showed that Massie and the others did have a conscience and could feel remorse at what they were doing

This book shows the struggles that many girls encounter at this age and shows insight into both worlds. (

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Michelle_Boyea | Jun 7, 2019 |

I don't remember anything about this book except that it kept using "haught" and "naught" incorrectly and 12 year old Faith couldn't handle that kind of trash (

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Faith_Murri | Jan 5, 2019 |

Many people might not want their students/children reading these series. These books contain a lot of bullying but a harsh reality of what a lot of young girls are experiencing. I read these stories when I was in middle school and I related to these stories. I related to them not because I was a part of a clique but I because I was not a part of the clique. These stories show you an exaggerative version of what goes on in late middle and early high school years.
This series is about a group of girls, Massie, Kristen, Dylan, and Alicia. In this story, Claire moves to a new town and into the guest house of her fathers old college friend. His friend has a daughter the same age as Claire, Massie. Massie, is the leader of the Clique and makes Claire feel out of place and unwanted. They attend a prestigious school and Claire is put through the ringer by the other girls. They attempt to sabotage her socially by even putting paint on her jeans, throwing food at her, and ignoring her even though they ride to school together. This story highlights the attempts of Claire Lyons trying to be accepted and a part of the clique. (

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MiriamHailey | Apr 20, 2018 |

Oh man, I wanted to be in the Pretty Committee so bad. I had every single one of these books until I grew up a little and became less interested. These were my true obsession in middle school. Massie was everything I wanted to be and had everything I wanted to have. (

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erinla | Oct 31, 2017 |

I liked this book as a girl but now as an adult, I realize what this teaches girls. It shows girls that they should have to change themselves in order to become popular when in fact you should not have to. Friends should be your friends whatever your circumstance is. (

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maddiesullivan223 | Apr 28, 2017 |

This was my favourite series in 6th grade (: (

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ClaudsM | Feb 25, 2016 |

I found it kind of ridiculous. It's probably only really good for middle-schoolers. (

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scote23 | Mar 30, 2013 |

Pages: 220
Reading Level: 5.5

This fast and thrilling read about middle school girls is sure to capture the attention of many readers. However, it does have distasteful parts that make me weary to bring it into the classroom. This book includes many cruel jokes, girl gossip, and exclusion based on popularity. These are not traits I want to see my students portraying, however I know many girls will be into this series. I would only see myself using it in a classroom if I was going to talk about peer pressure and other such teenage characteristics.

TamaraBronson | Jan 27, 2013 |

This book represents petty middle school girl drama. It shows what an outsider (Claire) has to go through in order to fit in. The book is pretty funny and shows how ridiculous girls can act in order to get what they want. A good book for someone who wants to read about girls, boys, drama, and fashion. This book is the first of a series.

StephBecker | Dec 4, 2012 |

The clique is a good book for girls. It is all about these mean girls that are in a clique . They bully Claire, because she is not fun and as cool as they are. The clique's head member Massie makes all the rules and doesn't like Claire, so gives her a miserable life. At the end Claire and Massie don't each other are so bad anymore and soon become friends becuase Claire saves Massie when her dad was imbrassing her. (

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cghtdh | Oct 30, 2012 |

This book was very entertaining!I loved how Lisa Harrison mixed two different personalities in The Clique,
Prada and Gap! This book was so interesting I couldn't stop...I just had to continue to next one! (

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maddieperez | Sep 21, 2012 |

I liked this book because of the realistic and comical insight it gives on school cliques and pointless girl drama. The characters are really realistic and readers have the ability to connect with them because it is such a large series.

laurenwhite92 | Sep 20, 2012 |

Claire has just moved from Florida to Massie's guest house. She assumes that she and Massie will be friends just like their fathers are, but she discovers that Massie runs the most exclusive clique in school. She ends up making a friend outside of Massie's groupies, but when Massie ruins that for her, she comes up with a plan to ruin Massie's clique. (

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t1bclasslibrary | Jul 1, 2012 |

The Clique is about four girls, Massie, Alicia, Dylan and Kristen. Massie is famous and his dads college best friend, Mr. Lyons, moves and stays in the Block family's guesthouse until they find there own house. The Lyonses family has a daughter, Claire. Massie and her three friendes end up hating her and pulling pranks on her, Claire fires back some pretty funny sayings. Claire seeks in Massies room and IMs Alicia Dylan and Kristen and they end up getting mad at Massie. Massie sees that all of the girls suddenly love Claire but are mad at her and she doesn't know what she did. Massie then finds out what Claire did and the girls did too they then hate her again. I like this book because it is pretty funny. it shows you what some people are like, mean and just selfish. It also shows you what money can do to people and how they act. I also like that there is a series of books to the Clique. They also made a movie and I think they should make a second movie. It's a very good book. I would recommend it for girls who like to read about drama and boys. The book isn't very long, it's a readings worth of a day and a half for a slow reader like me. (

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samiSami.. | May 29, 2012 |

This book is terrible. It was required for my Children's Literature class and I disliked it very much. I understand that often times bullying issues are not happily resolved, but there was no indication of any type of closure. The new girl still desperately wants to run with the "in" crowd even though they treat her worse that dirt. This may be an accurate summation of the awkward teenage years, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. (

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M_Behr | Dec 8, 2011 |

This series is a typical mean girls versus nice girls story. I only read the first one, yet can see how the others in this series will follow suit. It takds place in a very expensive, very elite part of the country and these young teenage girls want for nothing. Their materialism is uncomfortable for those that do not have chauffeurs, new clothes for every season, huge mansions, and elite, private schools. They are beautiful, they are privileged, and they are oh so shallow. So when Claire, who is none of those things, comes to town, both her and the girls must establish how the dynamics will play out. (

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mrysparkman | Oct 8, 2011 |

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