The Pretty Committee Strikes Back (5th book of the “Clique” series)
By: Lisi Harrison
Pages:272

This time, the girls of Octavian Country Day School is going away on a 3 day- 2 night trip into the wilderness for a geography trip. It was meant to be an wonderful learning experience, but with the Briarwood Boys going as well, this trip turned into an opportunity for something different. To keep her social status as high as ever, Massie told everyone that she was experienced with kissing (when really she didn’t even had her first kiss yet) and convinced other girls to join M.U.C.K – Massie’s Underground Clinic for Kissing. With having no clue what she is doing, Massie ask Claire to help her (this way, she might even have the courage to kiss her crush – Derrington). Claire on the other hand is bent on getting her first kiss from Cam even though he’s totally ignoring her for kissing Josh from earlier on (who just so happens to be Alicia’s crush). So Alicia is using this trip as chance to find out who Josh likes and remind her that ‘no one can compete with the oh so mighty Alicia’. Dylan, the other member of the clique has her own problems as well. Even though she is finally slim, she has other troubles to worry about; her mother (the famous host of a t.v series) has tagged along on the trip and is caught kissing her geography teacher! Lastly, there’s Kristen, who couldn’t even afford to go on the trip. She is left sulking in Westchester with nothing to do. Everything goes quite smoothly for “The Pretty Committee” until an expected event happened, which might possibly leave them…expelled!!!

This 5th book wasn’t too bad or too good. To some (a.k.a my friend), they might even think this book was “so cute!!!”, “totally loved it!!!”, and deem it their most favourite book of the entire series. But this is not the case with me. I found the plot too overloaded with the girls’ worries of “kissing”. AAAHHH, all they think about is getting their first kiss, sure it’s a big deal, but the author shouldn’t go too overboard with this idea. I thought the girls seem *a little bit too* desperate to land their kisses. Cut back that for a little and the story wouldn’t be that bad.
Rating: 7/10

s.t.e.p.h.i.e.
volunteer hours: 3 hours (total – 34 ½ )