Module Thirteen: Revenge of the Wannabes: A Clique Novel

Bibliography

Harrison, L. (2005). Revenge of the wannabes: A clique novel. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Co.

Summary

Alicia has been Massie's sidekick for so long, she knows the script by heart -- and she's growing really tired of it. So when her dance-class friends suggest she has a slumber party on Friday night, which just happens to coincide with Massie's weekly soiree, she seizes the chance to be the alpha girl for once. When Massie gets word of Alicia's plans, it's all-out war between the girls. Soon, there are two cliques: the original, headed by Massie, and Alicia's knock-off version. But Alicia begins to realize that making all the decisions is harder than it looks.

 

My Impressions

I'll be honest: I really didn't enjoy Revenge of the Wannabes. I originally chose it because I thought it would be something like Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley High series, with a couple snobby girls but mostly likeable characters. To that end, I was disappointed. In fact, I almost stopped reading it altogether because I found the perpetual designer name-dropping thoroughly obnoxious. But as I moved further into the story, I found at least one character I liked, to my relief. Claire is new to the Clique but has remained down-to-earth in spite of her friends. Aside from Claire, I thought most of the characters were shallow, insecure, and self-centered. I'm also not sure if many middle or high school girls could really relate to these girls' lifestyles. Unlike Massie and her friends, most teenagers can't afford Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton or personal drivers. On the other hand, this series seems pretty popular among teens in my bookstore. With that said, I would include Clique in my young adult collection if there was sufficient demand.

 

Review

"They're back! The rich, designer name-dropping, thoroughly conceited and obnoxious seventh-grade girls of Octavian Country Day School in Westchester, NY, return to compete against one another for who'll be the reigning queen of the school's "in crowd." Super-wealthy, super-indulged Alicia Rivera switches ballot boxes in the vote for a school uniform so that she wins instead of super-wealthy, super-indulged Massie Block. Readers will battle through their annoyance with and desire to choke these two girls, for the believability and humanity found in Claire and Kristen keep the story line moving. Massie and Alicia make mistakes, everyone interferes in the others' lives and loves, and all of the characters learn about their own limitations. But this is not for every collection; not-so-wealthy urban teens might prefer stories by Jacqueline Woodson, and country teens might rather read Audrey Couloumbis's tales of growing and learning without the trappings of flaunted wealth."

 

Use in Library

This could inspire a discussion about the negative effects of cliques during a summer reading program for middle school kids. Boys would be included, of course, but this is mostly an issue for girls. Participants would be invited to share their own experiences with cliques, on the inside or outside. Librarians would try to maintain an open, non-judgmental atmosphere in order to encourage audience participation.

 

DiNizo, A., Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., & Raben, D. (2005). Revenge of the wannabes: A clique novel. [Review of the book Revenge of the Wannabes: A Clique Novel]. School Library Journal, 51(5), 128.

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