This is the first book of The Clique series. Basically, this is about Claire who is new to Westchester. Her family arrives from Orlando, Florida to Westchester and we learn that Claire and Massie's fathers are old friends from college. Massie and her friends abuse Claire in this book and treat her horribly. We also learn that Massie is the Queen Bee of their school Octavian Country Day (OCD) where Claire is a new student. Massie and her friends, The Pretty Committee, do not make Claire feel welcome and do things such as get red paint on the back of her white pants and dump food on her. Plus, when Massie is not around they are nice to Claire but mean when Massie is around. Claire also behaves badly as she pretends to be Massie on IM and this leads to The PC getting mad at Massie. Here are examples in the book which are abusive. I am well aware that Massie and her friends are insecure. However, this is not the way to handle these problems. We are an insecure society so these girls being insecure is not uncommon. What people are not realizing is that it is behavior such as this that breeds insecurity in tween girls.
Once Claire arrives in Westchester, Massie lets her know that she needs to find her own friends and forget about knowing hers.
This right here is an introduction of Massie being a bully. She clearly lacks empathy for Claire and her situation being in a new place. Also, this is the first person Claire meets from Westchester. What a way to welcome someone!
On the way to school on the first day, Massie directs Claire to the back seat of the car while she and her friends sit up front. After picking up Dylan, Alicia and Kristen, we see Kristen ask who that is in the back and if they like her. Massie replies that they do not like her.
Okay, is it me or is Massie doing all of the thinking for this crew of girls? Why do they not like her? She does not dress like they do? Act as they do? They do not even know this girl yet have formed an opinion. Sure, we can say that is normal for tween girls. You know why it is so called normal? Because as a society we allow this behavior to continue! Adults, teach these kids to think for themselves and teach them to respect others! Talk to them about how in this nation we have the freedom of opinion. All they are doing is giving Massie power and that is power she does not need. This is the stuff that builds spoiled brats and monsters in people. Also, it is important to understand that people are different. Bullies want everyone to conform and be like them. Talk to your children about being themselves! They will be much happier if they do.
At school, the girls walk ahead of Claire and show contempt towards her. Claire tries to come up to them and walk with them but they are having none of this. Massie turns to Claire and asks her if she has invited her to a BBQ. Claire says no and Massie asks her why she is all up in her grill. This gives off a round of high fives and Claire says to Massie that she is acting like a bitch.
First off, Massie is acting like a bitch! Claire has done nothing to these girls except try and be nice. However, because Massie does not like her then they don't like her so they have to let Massie think for them. I do not think the word bitch is apropos but at least she stood up to her. Claire should have gotten away from these girls from the minute she met them. Also, at this point, before things escalate, an adult should start to intervene. Bullied kids are terrified of adults or anyone finding out what is going on. At the same time, this is not stuff that kids need to be handling on their own. It leads to much bigger problems down the line. Please, talk to your children about reporting this behavior. Its abusive and wrong and in the end, you are doing both the kids and adults a favor.
As Claire called her a bitch, she is now in trouble with Massie and The PC. So, Massie texts and gets Alicia and Kristen to do her dirty work for her since Queen Bees never get their own hands dirty. When Claire goes to her first class which is an art class, she is found to be sitting beside Alicia. Alicia tries to be nice which Claire, in a vulnerable position being new takes as friendship. However, Alicia sets up red paint where it spills on the back of Claire's new white pants. If that is not bad enough, they get Claire lost on purpose to the nurses office.
First off, Claire has no idea what is going on. Why can't Massie handle her own problems instead of dragging her friends into them and do her dirty work? This is how Queen Bees operate! They get their little workers to do everything for them.
Massie's mother insists that she invite Claire to the weekly Friday sleepover that The PC has. At the sleepover, the girls set up sleeping bags leaving Claire out on purpose. They insult her on purpose and ask her if she would rather be a friendless loser or a loser who has friends that secretly hate her. Claire chooses the former and the girls say she has her wish. It gets to be too much for Claire and she just leaves.
This behavior is starting to get to Claire and it shows. Massies mother needs to get more involved with her daughter and get her in therapy. Yes, I am serious. Anyone who has this sort of power and uses it to abuse others is in need of some psychological help. She is 12-years-old so there is still time to get hold of these problems so they do not develop into personality disorders by adulthood. Also, Claire needs to be alerting her mother to this. Parents, if your child is behaving like this then punish them and make it stick. These girls should have been sent home and not allowed to continue with their sleepover.
Massie has a crush on Chris Abeley who is the brother of Layne Abeley. Layne is the first friend Claire has made. Massie uses Layne to get close to Chris.
I am glad Claire has found a friend. However, Massie has to come between that and use Layne to get to Chris. Like a typical bully she is using others to get what she wants.
Massie's friends are at the pool at the Block estate waiting for Massie to come home so they can work on the Glamazon project for Kristen's class. As the three girls and Claire are there, they all start listening to music and playing in the water. They are actually having a great time together. Then Massie shows up and criticizes the music, reminds them they hate Claire and the girls go back to being nasty to her. Then they take food that has been set out and dump it on Claire.
Again, Massie is in full control and the girls are giving it to her. These girls are learning to feed monsters and as adults, will probably start their own reality show called The Housewives of Westchester. Instead of feeding Massie, they need to tell her what they really think. Parents, talk to you children about the dangers in feeding these Queen Bees. Please be aware of your children and who their friends are. If your child is a Queen Bee, please get her in therapy. Yes, Massie is insecure but this is not the way to handle insecurities. It is important to teach children to work out their own problems. However, this is something that needs adult intervention. Listen, Queen Bees eventually fall. They loose their power in new places all the time. This can be detrimental to a Queen and she is not learning the reality of life. She is destructive and destroys those around her. Claire does not deserve any of this.
Claire has had enough. Massie takes her dog for walks each night at a specific time. Claire learns this and starts sneaking into Massie's room at that time each night and talks to her three friends on IM using Massie's moniker. Pretending to be Massie she tells them offensive things and this winds up getting these friends angry with Massie. One thing she learned is that Kristen is not really rich but is at the school on scholarship. Bullies are horrible to their friends but even they know how far they can manipulate and go with them. So Claire is now in and Massie is out. Eventually, they learn that Claire was on the IM instead of Massie and The PC once again turns on Claire.
This is classic in those who are being abused by their peers. They try and find a way to make it stop so they take action. What Claire did was just as bad and she should have been punished. Do you see how far this problem has gone? Now there are five girls who have been hurt. They are not learning to trust one another but to secretly harbor some resentment towards one another. The words are out there. They cannot be taken back. Yes, Claire finally told her mother what was going on but begged her not to tell any other parents. Again, bad move. Plus, this is adding more reasons to be insecure.
The school is on a field trip and The PC, who hurdle insults at everyone else and bask in being "adored" decides to use this opportunity to sell Kristen's lip gloss for the Glamazon Project. When everyone purchases the gloss, their lips swell. Claire's friend Layne has a thermos of oatmeal and it is used on every ones lips. They save the day and The PC look like idiots and this angers them. Kristen thanked Claire for keeping her secret about being a scholarship student and was glad it was not Massie that she told after all.
Finally, we learn that Kristen does have an opinion about something! By telling Claire that, we sense that she was terrified of Massie knowing her secret. Parents, this is what you need to be telling your children to do. Talk to them about the danger of giving a bully power and how together, they can break the bully. Kristen of course could not tell Claire this in front of Massie but at least she learned Claire could be trusted.
A charity party for scholarship students is being held at Massie's home. At the party, she and Claire wind up talking and being civil to one another.
At least they have buried the hatchett for now.
After all of this, Claire still wants to be friends with these girls.
Folks, these girls are not special so stop behaving as if they are! Parents, talk to your kids about not giving a bully power. Please, talk to them about how Queen Bees can eventually fall and that by catering to them, they are only creating a monster. Parental involvement was desperately needed here. Also, if your child is a leader like Massie is, please talk to them about being a good leader and using this to do good and not misuse any power people are giving them. As for giving anyone power, stop doing it. Our society has a serious mental health problem here and instead of burying our heads in the sand, we need to step up. Bullies do not outgrow this and this is why we have prisons that are overflowing and added stress from work and other places.
Once Claire arrives in Westchester, Massie lets her know that she needs to find her own friends and forget about knowing hers.
This right here is an introduction of Massie being a bully. She clearly lacks empathy for Claire and her situation being in a new place. Also, this is the first person Claire meets from Westchester. What a way to welcome someone!
On the way to school on the first day, Massie directs Claire to the back seat of the car while she and her friends sit up front. After picking up Dylan, Alicia and Kristen, we see Kristen ask who that is in the back and if they like her. Massie replies that they do not like her.
Okay, is it me or is Massie doing all of the thinking for this crew of girls? Why do they not like her? She does not dress like they do? Act as they do? They do not even know this girl yet have formed an opinion. Sure, we can say that is normal for tween girls. You know why it is so called normal? Because as a society we allow this behavior to continue! Adults, teach these kids to think for themselves and teach them to respect others! Talk to them about how in this nation we have the freedom of opinion. All they are doing is giving Massie power and that is power she does not need. This is the stuff that builds spoiled brats and monsters in people. Also, it is important to understand that people are different. Bullies want everyone to conform and be like them. Talk to your children about being themselves! They will be much happier if they do.
At school, the girls walk ahead of Claire and show contempt towards her. Claire tries to come up to them and walk with them but they are having none of this. Massie turns to Claire and asks her if she has invited her to a BBQ. Claire says no and Massie asks her why she is all up in her grill. This gives off a round of high fives and Claire says to Massie that she is acting like a bitch.
First off, Massie is acting like a bitch! Claire has done nothing to these girls except try and be nice. However, because Massie does not like her then they don't like her so they have to let Massie think for them. I do not think the word bitch is apropos but at least she stood up to her. Claire should have gotten away from these girls from the minute she met them. Also, at this point, before things escalate, an adult should start to intervene. Bullied kids are terrified of adults or anyone finding out what is going on. At the same time, this is not stuff that kids need to be handling on their own. It leads to much bigger problems down the line. Please, talk to your children about reporting this behavior. Its abusive and wrong and in the end, you are doing both the kids and adults a favor.
As Claire called her a bitch, she is now in trouble with Massie and The PC. So, Massie texts and gets Alicia and Kristen to do her dirty work for her since Queen Bees never get their own hands dirty. When Claire goes to her first class which is an art class, she is found to be sitting beside Alicia. Alicia tries to be nice which Claire, in a vulnerable position being new takes as friendship. However, Alicia sets up red paint where it spills on the back of Claire's new white pants. If that is not bad enough, they get Claire lost on purpose to the nurses office.
First off, Claire has no idea what is going on. Why can't Massie handle her own problems instead of dragging her friends into them and do her dirty work? This is how Queen Bees operate! They get their little workers to do everything for them.
Massie's mother insists that she invite Claire to the weekly Friday sleepover that The PC has. At the sleepover, the girls set up sleeping bags leaving Claire out on purpose. They insult her on purpose and ask her if she would rather be a friendless loser or a loser who has friends that secretly hate her. Claire chooses the former and the girls say she has her wish. It gets to be too much for Claire and she just leaves.
This behavior is starting to get to Claire and it shows. Massies mother needs to get more involved with her daughter and get her in therapy. Yes, I am serious. Anyone who has this sort of power and uses it to abuse others is in need of some psychological help. She is 12-years-old so there is still time to get hold of these problems so they do not develop into personality disorders by adulthood. Also, Claire needs to be alerting her mother to this. Parents, if your child is behaving like this then punish them and make it stick. These girls should have been sent home and not allowed to continue with their sleepover.
Massie has a crush on Chris Abeley who is the brother of Layne Abeley. Layne is the first friend Claire has made. Massie uses Layne to get close to Chris.
I am glad Claire has found a friend. However, Massie has to come between that and use Layne to get to Chris. Like a typical bully she is using others to get what she wants.
Massie's friends are at the pool at the Block estate waiting for Massie to come home so they can work on the Glamazon project for Kristen's class. As the three girls and Claire are there, they all start listening to music and playing in the water. They are actually having a great time together. Then Massie shows up and criticizes the music, reminds them they hate Claire and the girls go back to being nasty to her. Then they take food that has been set out and dump it on Claire.
Again, Massie is in full control and the girls are giving it to her. These girls are learning to feed monsters and as adults, will probably start their own reality show called The Housewives of Westchester. Instead of feeding Massie, they need to tell her what they really think. Parents, talk to you children about the dangers in feeding these Queen Bees. Please be aware of your children and who their friends are. If your child is a Queen Bee, please get her in therapy. Yes, Massie is insecure but this is not the way to handle insecurities. It is important to teach children to work out their own problems. However, this is something that needs adult intervention. Listen, Queen Bees eventually fall. They loose their power in new places all the time. This can be detrimental to a Queen and she is not learning the reality of life. She is destructive and destroys those around her. Claire does not deserve any of this.
Claire has had enough. Massie takes her dog for walks each night at a specific time. Claire learns this and starts sneaking into Massie's room at that time each night and talks to her three friends on IM using Massie's moniker. Pretending to be Massie she tells them offensive things and this winds up getting these friends angry with Massie. One thing she learned is that Kristen is not really rich but is at the school on scholarship. Bullies are horrible to their friends but even they know how far they can manipulate and go with them. So Claire is now in and Massie is out. Eventually, they learn that Claire was on the IM instead of Massie and The PC once again turns on Claire.
This is classic in those who are being abused by their peers. They try and find a way to make it stop so they take action. What Claire did was just as bad and she should have been punished. Do you see how far this problem has gone? Now there are five girls who have been hurt. They are not learning to trust one another but to secretly harbor some resentment towards one another. The words are out there. They cannot be taken back. Yes, Claire finally told her mother what was going on but begged her not to tell any other parents. Again, bad move. Plus, this is adding more reasons to be insecure.
The school is on a field trip and The PC, who hurdle insults at everyone else and bask in being "adored" decides to use this opportunity to sell Kristen's lip gloss for the Glamazon Project. When everyone purchases the gloss, their lips swell. Claire's friend Layne has a thermos of oatmeal and it is used on every ones lips. They save the day and The PC look like idiots and this angers them. Kristen thanked Claire for keeping her secret about being a scholarship student and was glad it was not Massie that she told after all.
Finally, we learn that Kristen does have an opinion about something! By telling Claire that, we sense that she was terrified of Massie knowing her secret. Parents, this is what you need to be telling your children to do. Talk to them about the danger of giving a bully power and how together, they can break the bully. Kristen of course could not tell Claire this in front of Massie but at least she learned Claire could be trusted.
A charity party for scholarship students is being held at Massie's home. At the party, she and Claire wind up talking and being civil to one another.
At least they have buried the hatchett for now.
After all of this, Claire still wants to be friends with these girls.
Folks, these girls are not special so stop behaving as if they are! Parents, talk to your kids about not giving a bully power. Please, talk to them about how Queen Bees can eventually fall and that by catering to them, they are only creating a monster. Parental involvement was desperately needed here. Also, if your child is a leader like Massie is, please talk to them about being a good leader and using this to do good and not misuse any power people are giving them. As for giving anyone power, stop doing it. Our society has a serious mental health problem here and instead of burying our heads in the sand, we need to step up. Bullies do not outgrow this and this is why we have prisons that are overflowing and added stress from work and other places.
Disclaimer: I do not own these books or any rights to them. They belong to Lisi Harrison and the people at Poppy Books. I am just using this as an educational tool on Peer Abuse. Thank you!
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