For tweens navigating the intense pressures of middle school social hierarchies and the desire to belong. Explores shifting friendships and fitting in.
A parent might reach for this book when their middle schooler is feeling like an outsider, struggling to make friends, or navigating the intense social pressures of cliques and popularity. The Clique introduces Claire Lyons, a new girl from Florida who moves into the guesthouse of the wealthy and powerful Massie Block, the ruthless leader of the most exclusive clique at school. The story follows Claire’s often humiliating journey to fit in, exploring themes of belonging, jealousy, peer pressure, and the search for identity. While the book features significant materialism and 'mean girl' behavior, it serves as an excellent, if satirical, catalyst for conversations about toxic friendships, the difference between popularity and kindness, and staying true to oneself in the face of social pressure.
Use of insults and clique-specific slang (e.g., 'LBR' for Loser Beyond Repair); no profanity.
Romantic ContentMild
Characters have crushes and talk about boys, but there is no explicit content.
Sensitive Topics
The book's primary theme is intense social and psychological bullying. The approach is direct and unflinching, presented as a core part of the middle school social ecosystem. Classism and extreme materialism are also central. The resolution is not a neat, hopeful moral victory; instead, it is a realistic, temporary truce that establishes the ongoing power dynamics for the rest of the series. The perspective is secular.
Ideal Reader
A 12 to 14-year-old who is acutely aware of or fascinated by social hierarchies. This book is for the child who feels invisible, is on the outside of a clique looking in, or is trying to understand the mechanics of 'mean girl' behavior. It validates the feeling of being an outsider while also serving as a satirical look at the extremes of popularity contests.
Parent Prep
Parents should preview this book to understand its tone. The characters in the clique are intentionally unlikable, materialistic, and cruel. It is vital to frame the book as a cautionary tale or satire, not an aspirational lifestyle guide. Use it to discuss the difference between true friendship and conditional popularity, the effects of bullying, and the importance of self-worth beyond brands and status. The parent hears their child say, "I need to have these specific shoes or everyone will make fun of me," or "They were my friends, but now they won't even look at me." The child may express deep anxiety about their appearance, what they wear, or their social status at school, or seem to be losing their identity to please a new group of friends.
Age Experience
A younger reader (12) may be drawn to the glamour, drama, and brand names, and might need help seeing the critique beneath the surface. They will deeply connect with Claire's feelings of loneliness. An older reader (14-15) is better equipped to recognize the satire and social commentary on consumerism and toxic friendships, viewing the Pretty Committee's behavior with a more critical eye.
What Makes It Special
Unlike most middle-grade books about fitting in, The Clique does not offer a simple moral or a tidy ending where the bullies reform. Its uniqueness lies in its unapologetic, satirical deep-dive into the world of the ultra-wealthy elite, complete with brand-name obsession and meticulously defined social rules. It functions as a sharp, witty, and sometimes uncomfortable ethnography of a toxic social group, making it a forerunner to series like Gossip Girl for a younger set.
Read plot summary
Seventh-grader Claire Lyons moves from Florida to wealthy Westchester, New York, where her family lives in the guesthouse of the ultra-rich Block family. The Blocks’ daughter, Massie, is the leader of the school’s most powerful clique: The Pretty Committee. Dressed in last-season clothes and lacking the required social status, Claire is immediately targeted and ostracized by Massie and her friends. The plot centers on Claire's desperate and strategic attempts to gain acceptance into the group, and the relentless psychological and social bullying she endures from the clique who will do anything to keep her out.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Claire does several things she isn't proud of to try and fit in with the Pretty Committee, like lying. Do you think her actions were justified? What could she have done differently?
2
Massie seems to have everything: money, popularity, and cool clothes. Why do you think she is so cruel to Claire and so controlling of her friends?
3
Dating, Dylan, Alicia, and Kristen often go along with Massie’s mean plans. Why do you think they don’t stand up to her? What makes it hard to stand up to a friend who is being unkind?
4
The Pretty Committee judges everyone based on their clothes and money. What do you think are the most important qualities in a friend? How do they differ from the clique's values?
