Alicia is at dance class. Olivia also attends along with Meredith and Catherine. Alicia is by far the best dancer in the class and she relishes the fact that Massie does not attend dance class. This is because for once, people will think she is great and its not all about Massie and being in her shadow. The girls encourage Alicia to host a sleepover the next night and not go to Massie's scheduled one. Also, that they see Alicia as a leader which she appreciates hearing. Unfortunately, these girls also "worship" Massie from afar which gets to Alicia. Lets not forget that Alicia and Olivia cheated on the wardrobe contest in the previous book. She did this because she was tired of Massie always winning everything.
Alicia probably is a leader by nature. However, her talents are not developed here because she is always in Massie's shadow. This can prevent problems for Alicia socially. It already is starting to as she switched these boxes at the contest. She is learning here that her gifts are not as needed and developing a competitive and sneaky nature. If Alicia were an adult, I would see her as a competitive embezzler. As we see, Alicia is involved in activities away from Massie which is good. The PC spends far too much time together as it is and giving Massie a lot of power she does not need. Parents or other adults, talk to your children about the importance of having more than one friend or set of friends. Also, what is wrong with her having a sleepover with another set of friends? This should not be stressing her out at all but because of Massie and her power it is. The "worship" of Massie is only creating a monster. These girls need to stop giving this child so much power!
Alicia is stressed to go to school the next day. She has to see Massie and find a way around the sleepover situation. She skips carpool that morning with the excuse of going to see the Dr. Plus, this is the day she and Olivia are to go to their shoot with Teen Vogue.
This should not have Alicia so upset. She is terrified to go to school because of the sleepover situation. There is nothing wrong whatsoever with Alicia having other friends spend the night. As you see, these girls are learning they cannot be honest with one another and Alicia is limiting herself. Her leadership skills need to be encouraged and in a healthy manner.
At school Alicia sees Massie and has not told her about the sleepover situation. Olivia bounces up to the girls and says something instead. This enrages Massie and she is upset that anyone other than the PC thinks they are coming to her sleepover. Alicia tries to explain and lies that one of the girls wants a makeover. Also, the PC is welcome to come too. Instead of being a reasonable human being, Massie goes off into a tirade. She accuses Alicia of trying to steal her identity. If that is not enough, she calls her more fake than Olivia's nose job and that Alicia is fake Spanish meaning "Fannish" because her father is from Brooklyn and not Barcelona. She finally tops this off with calling Alicia an EW meaning eternal wannabe. Dylan and Kristen have gone to get Massies latte at this point and return to find these girls in this situation. Massie lets Alicia know she will NEVER be her and stomps off with Dylan and Kristen following her.
Oh dear, looks as if Massie needs anger management and if I were her parents, I would see to it that she enroll in some classes. All Alicia did was say she wanted to host a sleepover. Does anyone here see the control Massie has over these girls? They are terrified of her. Why are they not thinking for themselves here? Massie was in the wrong here and not Alicia. Plus, she owed Olivia an apology for her remark about her nose. Massie has no respect for anyone and is developing some serious psychological issues and these other girls are learning that they cannot think for themselves. To settle for being pushed around by others. Alicia was not in the wrong here, Massie was.
Alicia and Olivia go to the Teen Vogue shoot. Alicia is constantly criticizing Olivia on what she is saying, how she is acting etc. It is like Olivia cannot think for herself. They are on the streets of NYC and Olivia finds some knockoff Louis Vutton scarfs for $10 each.
Alicia is learning she can control Olivia and tries to do so. Yes, Alicia is also a leader but a bad one. Personally, I would not want a Louis Vutton knockoff but I am pushing 42, not 13. However, it is Olivia's money and she has a right to purchase what she wants. Right here Alicia is learning she can control others and Olivia is learning that by behaving a "certain way" is the only way she will be accepted by others. Someone needs to talk to Alicia about being a good leader and a good leader does not constantly put others down or tell them how to spend their money.
Massie develops a scheme to get back at Alicia for switching the voting boxes at the wardrobe contest. This time she turns to Claire for help. Alicia had called Massie ahead of time and bragged about being models for the Christmas edition for Teen Vogue. At the agency, Alicia was told she could invite friends to be a part of the shoot with her. So, Massie and Claire call the agency pretending to be Alicia and that they will send the photos right over. The photos are of Claire and the PC of course. Claire is tickled to be helping Massie out.
I understand Massie being angry with Alicia because Alicia did cheat. However, this is not the way to go about it. Parental involvement is in need here. Once again, these girls are learning revenge is the only way and its the worst way to handle any problems. Massie and Claire are also cheating here. Not only Alicia but also Teen Vogue. What did the agency do to deserve this? As for Claire, once again is thrilled to be "used" by Massie. Claire is learning that with friends, you settle for what you can and that should never be the case.
Alicia has dubbed Olivia "Faux Olivia" because she purchased the knockoff scarfs.
Once again, Olivia is letting Alicia treat her any way she wishes without any respect or regard for others. Like Claire, she is settling and her self worth is suffering as a result.
Massie and the PC along with Claire (or Kuh-laire as they call her) decide to set up GLU (Girls Like Us) Headquarters in a barn on Massie's property that her family is turning into a at home spa and gym. The girls have decided it is time for Alicia to pay for cheating at the contest. In GLU Headquarters, they set up photos of Alicia and the proof being a purple blob representing the thimble Massie used to vote. Also, put up a picture of Alicia sitting alone on a sleeping bag. Next, a photo of Massie's State of the Union Blog stating Claire is now in Alicia is out. This is punishment for trying to host her own sleepover. When Alicia arrives, the girls show her all of this and Alicia is heartbroken. Also, for Alicia to stop wearing ugly boots that are not from Spain. Not only punishment for the sleepover but for cheating on the contest. Most importantly, Alicia is now out of the PC. When she goes outside and is crying (the others are laughing while she is crying) she encounters Claire's brother Todd and his friend Tiny Nathan. Todd remembered how Massie treated Claire and Tiny Nathan said they behaved as they do because of fear.
Tiny Nathan is probably the smartest one in all of this. He nailed it when he said these girls behaved as they do towards Massie out of fear. These girls are lacking empathy here (or hiding their guilt because of Massie) and Massies lack of it is evident. It is important to talk to girls about not giving power to a bully and to stand together against fear in these situations. These other girls hold the cards here as they can take that power away from Massie yet they are choosing not to. As for Alicia? She is learning that doing something normal like hosting a sleepover is punishable and once again, her leaderships skills are swept under the rug. Alicia is crushed and to a 12-year-old, this is the worst thing that can happen to them. This stuff is what breeds insecurity in girls. As for Claire, she is only selling her soul here to a bully that really has no concern for her. Sure, she remembers being the target but fears doing the right thing.
Now that Alicia is out of the PC, she decides to form a clique of her own. She brings on Olivia as her "beta" while she is the "alpha". Also, she brings along two other girls named Kori and Strawberry. These girls resemble the other ones in the PC in looks and behavior.
Alicia has moved on and found other friends and that is good. It means she is not going to wallow and allow any depression or PTSD creep up. However, it is strange that she is bringing in friends who resemble her old PC friends. That is showing that she still misses the other girls. There is not a girl that resembles Massie. Right here, it shows that Alicia is trying to stand on her own without Massie or is trying to replace herself as Massie. She needs to be developing her own personality, not Massie's. As for being an alpha, again, this shows she is a leader and Olivia sees her as one. It is evident that Alicia is a leader but her skills are not developed and that is sad.
Alicia has used Todd, Claire's brother, to spy on Massie and the PC to get their secrets. She tries to blackmail Dylan and Kristen into following her and gives them a Louis Vutton knockoff that belong to Olivia. We also learn that Massie likes Cam and Claire has liked Cam but because Massie likes him then she is not allowed to do so.
Now Alicia resorts to blackmail to make friends. As for Claire, if she wants to like Cam then she should. Besides, Cam likes her back. Massie needs to move on and find someone else. These girls are once again resorting to unhealthy means to get their needs met. Alicia's need to lead, Claire's need to have a boyfriend. Dylan and Kristen's need to have friends. Where is the care? Concern? Empathy? Why does Alicia even want friends who do not want to be friends back? Claire sacrifice her own feelings because of Massie? What are these girls learning here? Certainly nothing healthy that's for sure. A lot of using and abusing here. The end results are disastrous. One thing I was told at this age was that a friend was supportive and liked me for who I was. I am seeing none of this here.
The Christmas shoot is being held and the PC, Alicia, Olivia, Kori and Strawberry are there. It turns into a disaster and Alicia is tired from trying to be an "alpha" to her friends. Massie steals a dress that Alicia plans to wear. Alicia starts to miss her "beta" days to Massie's "alpha".
Okay, Alicia is a leader and not a babysitter. She does not need to run around like she is keeping up with them. This is not leadership but control. She cannot control what others do and say. Once again, her leadership skills are suffering. She has potential to be a leader but is learning to be a bad instead of good one.
Alicia winds up apologizing to Massie while Massie does not. Bullies never apologize, remember? Massie gives her conditions. The first is that Claire is the only new PC member. Alicia is allowed to be friends with Olivia but not to bring her into the PC or try to. Also, she has to sever her friendships with Kori and Strawberry.
Once again, no empathy involved. Alicia has learned that not only are her mistakes her responsibility but so are Massie's. Also, that she can have friends that have to be approved by Massie. Why can't Massie be friends with Olivia? Is she hard to control? What about Kori and Strawberry? How does this make them feel? Has anyone considered anyone else's feelings here? The abuse just keeps filtering down amongst these girls.
Adults, do you see the social dysfunction here? Do you want your daughters or charges to grow up with problems because of this? Please, talk to them about these things. Let them know that they are acceptable by just being themselves and not to try to impress someone who has no interest in them or their well being at all. Encourage the gifts they do have and not to settle for people abusing them. If your child is a Queen Bee, for her own mental health, do something about it. You are not helping but hindering her.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from The Clique series or the series for that matter. These belong to Lisi Harrison and the gang at Poppy Books.
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