Dial L for Loser

The Pretty Committee has been expelled from OCD for breaking the rules on the Lake Placid trip. During their "hiatus" Dylan gets them on her mothers show The Daily Grind where they meet a couple of A list actors. This leads to Massie, Alicia and Claire going to Hollywood to audition for a movie Dial L for Loser. Kristen and Dylan stay behind in Westchester.

The girls are at the mall during school hours. Kristen has been punished and is to be studying on her own during the day. Claire's parents are looking into public school. Dylan is not punished because her mother blamed herself for traumatizing Dylan by kissing her teacher. Alicia's father is ready to sue the school if they do not let her back in. Massie's parents have said as long as she does something educational with her time then all is well.

Once again, Dylan is not traumatized. Alicia's father is not holding her responsible at all. It sounds as if Massie's parents are just being negligent. Kristen and Claire's parents are doing the right thing. If this keeps up, these three will be full blown embezzlers and other white collar criminals. We have a problem with accountability in this nation and this is one reason why.

At OCD, a protest is held by students to let The Pretty Committee back in the school. Layne has been pitching for Claire to come back. Strawberry and Kori have started their own circle called Da Crew. Some tennis girls have started a club called The Country Club. Now that The PC is gone these groups are clamouring to be the top clique at school.

First off, why would any one want people around who treat them terribly? The PC has no interest in any one else so why are these people fighting for them to come back? I can understand Layne wanting Claire back as they are friends. I am glad Strawberry and Kori have moved on and are not fighting for these girls to come back. However, forming a clique to be on top? Do you see how The PC is influencing others around them? I say the same about the girls from The Country Club. Where do you think these other girls are learning this behavior?

The Pretty Committee go to the set of The Daily Grind and meet Abby Boyd and Hadley Durk. These are the hottest actresses in Hollywood and are to be working on a movie together. However, they dislike one another in real life. During the interview with Merri-lee, these two actresses fight and Hadley quits the movie. Massie's cell phone gets lost and the Director, Rupert, gets it. He wants to replace Hadley with a unknown fresh face actress. A tabloid show airs on television later in the evening and Rupert is holding up the phone and asking the owner to call it and he will talk to her about being in the movie.

Wow! A kid gets expelled from school and instead of punished she gets to audition for a movie! Has anyone noticed that bad behavior is rewarded? Parents, do I even need to say it? Talk to your kids about how this is wrong and on so many levels.

Massie and The PC send out a online newsletter to "their fans." They exaggerate their visit to The Daily Grind as a way to make everyone jealous. Also, to remind Da Crew and The Country Club who is on top at the school.

This is classic narcissistic behavior. The need to be admired and to make everyone want what they have when nine times out of ten it is exaggeration. If anyone encounters someone who does a lot of embellishing and bragging, do your self a favor and walk away. Better yet suggest they get into therapy. I am serious here. As for fans, once again, stop feeding a bully! The only way a bully reigns is when you give them that power. As you see here, we have a narcissist in the making. You are hurting them twice as much as you are hurting yourself and others around you.

Claire, Massie, their mothers and Alicia go to Los Angeles to audition. On the way to the audition, Massie lets Claire know that she will not get the part. Well, Claire does get the part which angers Alicia and Massie. During the wardrobe fitting, Massie says hurtful things to Claire like Cam will dump her, Claire was allergic to make-up, there will be other movies for losers and the Dial L for Loser crew will find out what a loser she really is. The wardrobe lady steps up and asks Massie if she is Claire's best friend. Massie affirms and the wardrobe lady thought she had a funny way of showing it by saying hurtful things to her. Alicia laughs and Massie blows it off. In Massies mind, Claire deserved it because she got the part.

Okay, for starters, Massie's verbal abuse (no not bullying but full on verbal abuse) was uncalled for. Claire did not deserve this at all. I am glad the lady in wardrobe caught on and spoke up. Parents, please do the same! Kids, do not take this from anyone. Claire took this out of fear. She knew she was in trouble when she beat Massie for getting the part. Claire is developing a lot of resentment and anxiety from all of this. These put downs, if heard enough will eventually create anxiety issues within her along with the low self-esteem she is suffering as a result of her friendship with Massie. If a friend is treating you this way then they are not a real friend but an abuser. Get away from them and take their power with you! Massie gets away with this because instead of standing up to her people feed her.

Back at the hotel, Massie tells Claire to tell her assistant to find her a set of new friends.

At this point, Claire should move on. She does not need this treatment. A real friend will support and not abuse her.

Massie and Alicia become behind the scenes reporters for The Daily Grind for the movie. During an interview, Massie announces that she will playing a loser named Molly in the movie. "You should see her, she is a real natural" says Massie.

Parental intervention is needed yesterday here. These girls are expelled from school and are in Hollywood and part of a movie? No punishment? Instead of enjoying her time in the movie, Claire is a nervous wreck. Massie and Alicia once again take their power and abuse Claire. Why is Dylan's mother even allowing this on the air? Why isn't Claire's mother stepping in or Massie's for that matter? Kristen is probably the only one that is learning any lesson from being expelled from school.

Claire decides to go out on the town one night with Abby and Connor who are also in the movie. Massie called and asked what her plans were but she blew Massie off and went out with the other two instead.

Can you blame her? Who wants to listen to a night time of put downs and insults? Finally, she is away from these two and enjoying herself even though she knows she will pay later. Claire has done nothing wrong legally. Yet, she feels as if she is sitting with a death sentence hanging over her head. Does anyone understand why this child is a chronic nail biter?

Massie learns from Abby that Claire has a crush on her co-star Connor. In reality she doesn't but Abby has to hide the fact that she and Connor are a couple in real life and have to keep it out of the press. So, she gives Massie this information. Massie uses it and goes to a local pharmacy and buys all sorts of things that will humiliate Claire when they do an interview. Once on the air in Claire's trailer, Alicia and Massie start pulling things out of Claire's trash like Pepto-Bismol for bad nerves, Oxycream for a bad zit problem, Listerine for bad breath, Depends for bladder control problems, Rogaine for baldness, Head and Shoulders for dandruff and other products which they themselves put in there before going on the air.

If I were part of this movie or The Daily Grind I would have had these girls removed permanently. This is outright slander and very common in our nation. We hide behind free speech in order to sabotage others. With friends like these girls who needs enemies? Where is the empathy? Concern or respect?

Later in the day, Connor finds Claire crying. Connor wonders where Claire gets her motivation for crying and Claire points to Alicia and Massie stating it is them that is making her cry. So Connor asks Massie to help him cry like Claire and Abby steps up and says that by hanging around Massie he will learn a lot about ruining others lives and crying buckets. Massie states there is never bad press. Claire says there is such a thing as bad friends. Massie twists things and states Claire is a loser and a drama queen.

Finally! FINALLY! Claire stands up to Massie. However, in front of Connor and Abby. Props to Abby for standing up to Massie and Alicia. Of course, Massie excused her behavior with the bad press comment and turned the tables on Claire calling her a loser and a drama queen. This child is manipulative, never takes responsibility and is learning to twist situations and blame. Bullies ALWAYS spin things. Talk to them sometime and listen to them. Do not let them do this to you. Claire does not have the strength to stand up to Massie on her own. Her self-esteem is low and it is showing. Massie and Alicia are jealous but hardly suffer from low self esteem or self worth. If they were, they would not have pulled the stunts they have pulled so far.

Claire learns Alicia and Massie are invited to Connors to swim. Connor uses this as a cover up to hide his relationship with Abby. Claire knows about the secret relationship but withholds the information from the other girls. While at Connors, the paparazzi are hiding in bushes and snap a picture of them in unflattering positions.

Finally! These two girls are getting some come-uppance. Of course, they are angry and feel this should not have been printed. So, it's okay to humiliate Claire live but not them? Classic bullies! Parents, talk to your kids about how what comes around goes around. Also, teach them to have some respect for others! These girls have no concern for anyone else but themselves and its showing!

On set, Claire is in a scene where she is suppose to kiss Connor. She is not doing it because of Cam. This gets her in trouble with the crew and Alicia and Massie are happy. So, Claire kisses him the next time and Abby gets jealous. She tells Claire she is acting like a porn star and the girls all high five each other.

This is not real life but a part in a movie. These girls are horrible to each other. They have no values, understanding of true friendship and down right catty. We have problems developing here such as narcissism, social anxiety and flat out abuse. Get out of these situations and quickly.

Claire asks her assistant to have Massie and Alicia removed from the set. This angers the girls further as they are escorted off the premises by security.

Finally! Those girls should have been escorted off a long time ago. Instead of feeling happy Claire is miserable as she knows she will pay for this later on. Friends should not fear one another. Where are the adults in all of this?

Claire calls Cam later and finds him angry. When Claire kissed Connor, Massie took a picture with her cell phone and sent it to him.

Now we have cyber-bullying in our midst. Again, Claire needs to break away from these girls but does not have the self-esteem to do so. She fears them and fears being deemed a loser at school. This is why she puts up with them and takes their abuse.

At the end, the girls make up and get Connor back. It turns out that he had no interest in Alicia or Massie and they overhear him say so. Massie helps get Claire and Cam back together. A party is held in their honor when they get home from everyone at the school and parents. Also, the girls are admitted back into OCD under the condition that they participate in extra curricular activities. Everyone is happy at this news.

Why are these girls getting a party? Claire should have gotten one as she got the part. These other two? What these girls need is therapy, not rewards! Parents, be aware of your child and what happens with their friends. They are learning social skills at this point and you want them to grow up and be healthy. This environment is NOT healthy! Does anyone see the psychological problems developing here? Claire should probably be shopping around for anti-anxiety medication hoping this will not develop into full blown depression. Massie and Alicia are in need of behavior modification. I am serious here. I know this is just a book. However, it is also a reflection of our society and what is out there today. I talk to parents all the time about their elementary age children being diagnosed with Bi-Polar illness, Social Anxiety, PTSD and other problems. What is creating all of this? Behavior like this! Please, get involved with your children and give them guidance in these areas. If your child is a bully, crawl out of denial and help him or her before it is too late! Lisi has mentioned somewhere that she got the inspiration for these books from adults she worked with. No, not children but adults who should have known better! Thanks for reading.....

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, stories or books. They belong to Lisi Harrison and the folks at Poppy Books. I am using them for educational purposes only.