Charmed and Dangerous: The Rise of the Pretty Committee

The Clique ##0

by Lisi Harrison

Happy New Clique!

Once upon a time, in Westchester and Orlando, there were four betas just waiting for their alpha. It took a miracle to bring the Pretty Committee together--or rather, a New Year's Yves party. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it just cliques.

Massie Block: Is destined to lead, but trapped as a beta in the Ahnabees, the top clique at PMS (Presbyterian Middle School). She has ah-mazing ideas--Friday night sleepovers, Gossip Points, and atching charm bracelets. When will it be her time to rule?

Alicia Rivera: Is dying to lead the Body Alive Dance Studio Squad. With the captain on vaca­tion, BADSS's live performance on Merri Lee Marvil's New Year's Yves show is her chance to shine. Will she prove herself alpha-worthy--or will she need to find a whole new clique?

Dylan Marvil: Is done, done, and done with people kissing her teeny-tiny butt just because her mom is famous. But who would be brave enough to stand up to someone so Marvilous?

Kristen Gregory: Has made a New Year's reso­lution to make friends and get a life. Escape from Planet Loser starts . . . now!

Claire Lyons: Is psyched times ten to win a last-minute invitation to the New Year's Yves satellite party in Orlando. But first she needs to sneak out of the house. And the countdown to midnight begins in ten . . . nine . . . eight . . .

The Clique . . . the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.

Genres: Young Adult, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Teen

175 pages, Hardcover

First published October 27, 2009

About the author

Lisi Harrison is the author of the #1 New York Times best-selling series "The Clique", "Alphas", "Monster High," Pretenders," and her first adult novel: "The Dirty Book Club" out 10.10.17. Lisi was born in Toronto, Canada, and lived in NYC for 15 years while she worked at MTV. She now lives in Laguna Beach, CA and is a member or her own Dirty Book Club.

Reviews

[Zoe Stewart (Zoe's All Booked)]

The nostalgia is REAL

Although, I must admit, I never understood why such young kids were walking around in heels and feeling sexy. All of the ick.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a cute book, i likes reading about how the clique girlz all met...but i don't think the story tells everything like it should. in this book someone tells Massie that purple is the color of royalty, in the first book it clearly says that Massie read in a magazine that purple was the color of royalty. in the end of this book she says how she needs a purple color room asap, yet in the 1st book you read that she has a white room and then she starts adding some purple. i don't know i don't think Lisi got her story straight on this one. what i especially liked was learning how Kristen started that big lie, i always wondered about that. I'm going to have to read this book again maybe i missed something...

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

These girls scare me. I mean, the are in the 4th grade, and they walk around in haute couture dresses and dance in unconservative tops on live television??
This isn't necessarily a bad thing, I mean, I think it just adds to the humor of the book :)
What I didn't like is that lots of things mentioned in this book were forgotten about in the other books, like, what happened to the Ahnnabees? Why are they never again mentioned? And in the first book, Claire said she got Massie the microphone charm in a boutique, but really, she got it from the boy band?? I think Harrison should definitely consider rereading her previous books, just to make sure she doesn't mess up the small details.
But, overall, this book was cute and charming. :)

[Claire Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen. Is it good writing? Absolutely not. Did I devour it in 59 minutes flat? Yes. Did it remind me of winter break 2006, in all of the best ways? Again, yes. Good $2 find at the resale shop.

[Stephanie]

CAMP

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book Review
Charmed and Dangerous

Charmed and Dangerous is the Clique prequel. It explains how the Pretty Committee became friends. Massie Block is part of the Ahnnabees, a clique at Massie's school, Presbeterian Middle School. All the members of the Ahnnabees, Brianna, Shauna, Lana and Ahnna, aren't really listening to any of Massie's ideas. Massie thinks she should be Alpha of the group. Dylan Marvil is Merri-Lee Marvil's daughter. Merri-Lee Marvil is the host of a very popular talk show and the host of the celebrity New Year's Eve party. Dylan isn't into how she looks like her older sisters and acts more like one of the guys. Kristen Gregory is stuck at home with her cousin baby-sitting and finally gets to the party later. Alicia Rivera is one of the dancers dancing at the party. Claire won a contest to meet a boy band in Orlando. All these girls are meant to be in the same clique, but have to meet first. How are 5 different girls with 5 different personalities going to become best friends?

I didn't like this book as much as all the other Clique books. I thought this book was too easy compared to Lisi Harrison's other books. Charmed and Dangerous is also very boring and kind of confusing because each chapter is about a different girl. I finished this book much faster than any other Clique books, which I love. I was really disappointed on how the book ended, too. I don't think this book really explains how the girls really became friends, more on how they met. I think Charmed and Dangerous should explain in more detail on how they actually formed the clique, became best friends, and decided on Massie for alpha. I wish this book would have been better.

[Bhavya · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Let me say this that I don't really have much hope for the series, but let's wait and watch, huh?

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book: 0, Movie: 1. One of those rare times I vote against the book.

I love love Massie. She brings back something from a very specific time in school, but the book dragged it down with the overemphasis on how the girls spoke. Not a big fan.

This isn’t the one that got adapted, that was the first in the series, but I read this one to get a prequel feel for what the movie was about. Not disappointing exactly, just doesn’t hit the same.

[Emma Hynes]

Don’t think I ever read this one back in the day. This is the prequel/origin story of the girls in “The Clique.” It’s so alarming to me that the girls are supposed to be fourth graders. 😳

[Nila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book, I mean, you get to see how The Pretty Committee comes and forms together. The storyline is Massie getting a new charm bracelet for New Years Eve and going to a party with the not-so-friendly Ahnnabees. They eventually have a big fight with Massie, causing her to break the bracelet, and the charms go everywhere. Alicia, Dylan, and Kristen find the charms drawing them to Massie while having their little story lines. Dylan and Massie's being the most interesting by far. (Claire gets a charm too, but not from Massie. She gets it from a boyband called ThRob and later gives it to Massie in the next book.) I thought the whole charm storyline was cute, but there were a some things where I was like ehhhhhh.

First of all, they're only in fourth grade in this prequel? I thought they would've been in at least sixth. I mean fourth graders wearing wedges, demi cup bras, minidresses, dancing to the Thong Song, and gyrating on the dancefloor with adults?



I know it's not supposed to be a realistic novel per se but come on! It all goes back to Lisi's idea for the characters to be in seventh grade for the regular series. They act like juniors or seniors. I think it would've been better for her to raise the ages. But hey, I love the clique, that was just a minor setback for me.

Secondly, half of the characters annoyed me. I know what makes the books so special are the materialistic, snooty brats that namedrop every designer brand when given a chance. But come on, at least, give me more characters that are not vapid bobbleheads who obsess over being size 0's and the latest fashion. The only characters that weren't like that were Claire and Kristen. I would've appreciated if Lisi showcased a more vulnerable side of Massie, Dylan, and Alicia.

Lastly, I wanted to know what happened after New Years! What became of Massie ever the Ahnnabees threatened to destroy her? How did The Pretty Committee rise over the ranks to rule OCD? How come this was the only book, we've ever heard of the Ahnnabees? I wish Lisi would've made a prequel series going into more detail about how Massie joined the Ahnnabees leading up to Claire's arrival. I didn't like the whole time jump thing. I was thirsty for more.

Overall, I thought this was a nice short fluff read. I just wish there were more aspects added to the story. 3/5 stars.

[Hanadi Khoury · Rating 5 out of 5]

: When I was in the library trying to pick a book that doesn't have to do with mysteries, I found this book that pops out from its shelf and has this wonderful cover. I decided to give the book a chance and read it, since I'm a mystery book fiend.
At the beginning I thought that the book is going to be about girlfriends and boyfriends and girlish problems. It turned out that I'm right because most of the book talks about how Dylan's sisters are so concerned about their weight, and how they look. This situation is the same all the girls around the world are always concerned about.

Since I'm not interested in things like that, I thought that I should stop reading the book, but then the way Lisi Harrison wrote the book was shocking. In three days I was almost done with the book; and I'm not that type of people whom finish books in one day.

What I liked the most in this book was the way Massie, Dylan, Kristen, and Alicia met together on New Year’s Eve. When Massie lost her bracelet’s charms in the party, I didn't expect that each one of those girls is going to find the charms and return them to Massie. That was really suspenseful, I really liked it so much how all four girls found the charms and eventually met together, even when they were far from Massie’s location. For example Kristen was babysitting and the parents of the child saw the charm at Dylan mom's party.

Since the book is a bit girlish I recommend it for girls whatever is you favorite genre, but if boys want to read it, go ahead! Who am I to stop you?!

[Charlotte · Rating 1 out of 5]

i loved this book. i just didn't really like claire's part because the her friends r boring and she doesn't wear disighner clothes yet. my only other problem was the models on the front n back do NOT look like 4th graders. like Dylan has huge boobs. last time i checked people were still pretty flat in 4th grade. i still like the book though

[Nina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty committee? More like petty committee. This is one of the worst books that I have read, EVER. The characters were the most annoying, desperate fourth graders you will ever see. This book is basically like a Gossip Girl book but with annoying kids as main characters.

[Arabela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like eating potato chips -- I'm aware this is garbage, but I can't stop.

[Kristen Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

three stars for nostalgia and the fact that massie was a bad bish in the fourth grade

[Haven Lawley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really think this should've been made because it makes no sense.

#onmybookshelf

[Erin Jochum · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one really does confirms for me that Massie would be an incredible Marketing/PR girlie. Like she’s a bitch but she has a vision!!

[Lnieves1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is NOSTALGIC. it shaped me into the woman I am today to be honest. I remember reading this series at good will because my mom refused to buy me books but I would sit there while she shopped while I read. Although, I will say younger me thought the characters were older but now that I am older they are just young middle school girls?? Crazy how that works.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s pretty terrible but also I’m obsessed.

[Elena L · Rating 2 out of 5]

The DAY that I finish this one the others arrive at the library. It was fate.

[Magpie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Superficial and containing characters rather obsessed with things that do not interest me at all (fame, celebrity, fashion in consumer terms rather than artistic), this was nevertheless surprisingly engaging. I had very little sympathy with the ambitious and shallow aims of the main characters, which seemed to revolve around leading a clique, being noticed and attaining access to the celebrity elite, but a particular character's dilemma (that her parents could not afford the things her privileged future friends could) actually managed to move me a little.

There were highs and lows for all the characters and despite not being anything like them, I couldn't help but care, which attests to Harrison's ability to get inside her characters' heads. Nevertheless, when the aforementioned 'poor' character (Kristen) faced adversity, her response was to cry until the power of narrative made it all alright again. I must admit that I rather liked Dylan, the tomboy daughter of an Oprah-like celebrity, but I found Massie thoroughly unengaging and arrogant, and Claire was deeply annoying (something I suspect was deliberate). Alicia I found sympathetic in her desire to be noticed as a dancer and seeing the 'New Year's Yves' party as her one shot at the big time, but her slightly spiteful narration meant I disliked her at the same time.

I can't really level the usual complaints at this book: it was a short prequel to the rest of the series and presumably means a lot more if you know the context of it, but none of the characters really learned anything or changed. I suppose it must be a lot more difficult to provide an arc for the prequel, like writing only the first half of an 'origins' superhero film. Still, it is enjoyable and I am curious to try the rest of the series.

[Brooke ♥booklife4life♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Find this review, plus more, on my blog: Booklikes OR Blogger

Basic Info

Format: Kindle
Pages/Length: n/a
Genre: Young Adult; Chick Lit
Reason For Reading: Needed some fluff

At A Glance

Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsession?: No
Cliff Hanger: No
Triggers: n/a
Rating: 1.5 stars

Score Sheet
All out of ten

Cover: 6
Plot: 7
Characters: 2
World Building: 7
Flow: 7
Series Congruity: n/a
Writing: 7
Ending: 6

Total: 6

In Dept

Best Part: Fast paced, short read.
Worst Part: I hate everyone in this book, haha.
Thoughts Had: Whoa, this is bad... but good...

Conclusion

Continuing the Series: Yes
Recommending: Yes

Short Review: I had a serious slump, and i know fluff always helps me, so this book was perfect. I hated all the characters thou, shallow, selfish, rude bitches. But it was good in the way of the fluff, so that's nice. It was nice to see how this "group" became a group. I am interested to see how the lost piece comes in later since there was 5charms and only 4 of them! Who has the last one!? How will she fit in?!

Misc.

Book Boyfriend: None, yet!
Best Friend Material: ha, NO!

[Katherine Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally wanted to get the second novel in the Clique series from my library but it wasn’t there so I got this one; the prequel to the entire series.

I wasn’t as taken with this book as I was the original, but it wasn’t horrible. It brought in some stuff that was mentioned in the first book, like the silver microphone charm, but the way that it was described didn’t mesh with how it was first introduced. In the first book, the microphone was stated as being bought where as in this book the microphone was a gift that later ends up being re-gifted. Still, it was interesting to see how the four main girls came together and how Claire was before she moved and went to OCD.

Side-note: OCD is a crazy acronym for a school.

Overall, though this book was a fun, easy read, it wasn’t as entertaining as the first – something that I hope doesn’t transfer to the other books in the series as well.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes back all the way to the begnning where all the clique ( Massie , Alicia , Dylan , Kristen , Claire ) all met. It was at a New Years Eve party and it was on t.v. It was big. Alciia was also performing in it. All the celebrities were there. AT that time , Massie had a different group/clique with these mean girls who were so out of her league. She wanted them out so badly , but , she wasn't the alpha(leader) of the group. At the party , Claire sneaks there because she's grounded , Dyleans mom hosts it because she's a suiperstar and Alicia is there performing. Kristen is there with Claire. Alicia got humiliated becaue she messed up on stage and Dylan helped her out and thought to herself she wa fat but alicia said no. Massie's charms were missing and each on of them found one and gave it back to her. They all were nice and cliqued togethr-it was faith. I really love this book. I recommend it to all girls

[Raquel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite a couple of mixups Lisi Harrison did (aka Claire's charm, the color purple in Massie's head origin, etc), the book is fun and fast-read. Although it is quite strange on how mature Massie seems for a fourth grader, her new friends ah-bviously look up to her in five seconds while the Ahnabees are total biatches for such a young age.

No, I am not suprised that they all wear Burberry and the like, I mean, I am no rich girl like them but I do own Burberry and Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, Alice + Olivia, etc. Still, I am so not a cocky brat like the Ahnabess and even Massie and the future PC.

Loved this prequel, but Lisi Harrison, be careful on future mistakes and mixups when writing a prequel to already written books :)

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what brought the Clique together? I sure have. In this book, it goes back in time to four years ago. Massie is in the clique The Ahnnabees, but this traps her as a beta. Alicia wants to be the dance captain that will perform at the New Years Yves party. Dylan realizes that she is overweight, and she is sick of people only liking her because of her famous mother. I don't want to spoil it, so I won't say anything else. I loved this book!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it though it was short. It seemed kinda messed up how they are in the 4th grade and acting like teenagers. It was cool to see how the characters were before the clique and it ties everything together.

[Hafshie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehmagawd!

So that's how their friendship (is there a girlish way of saying this?) started? It's the charmed bracelet! Wait, was it charmed in order to bring them together? Hmmn?

[Camialder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I READ THIS BOOK IN ONE DAY!!! I couldn't stop reading it!!! it's so cool to finally find out how the pretty committee started!!! I TOTALLY reccomend it!!! ♥♥♥♥♥

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't thrilled, although I now like how the connection was made between the night all the girls met/the microphone charm/how it symbolizes the mixed metals. :)