clique Books

The Extreme Nationals cheerleading competition is all that's on the minds of the students of Del Rio Bay High School. Anybody who's anybody will be there for spring break. And now that Mina Mooney has achieved a certain status at Del Rio Bay, she will be there too. She has the boyfriend every girl wants and her friend, Sara, has helped her gain access to the cafeteria, where popularity reigns supreme. The only problem is Sara's twin sister, Jessica. Jessica hates Mina and doesn't want her in the cafeteria, but because of her sister she backs off, a little. In fact, Jessica offers Mina the olive branch of peace for the weekend at Extreme Nationals. Now just what's going on here?

For the Nationals, the gang gets separated. Some are allowed to attend, while others have to improvise to get there. Once there, the competition is fierce, the partying goes nonstop and all conspiracies are revealed. Who will be left standing? Or, in this case, who will be left at the bottom of the heap?

THAT'S WHAT UP! was a powerful trip down memory lane through the halls of high school life. Being part of the popular crew was every young girl's dream back then and it still is today. Accepted and well-liked by the "in" crowd is how most girls tend to value themselves. But as Mina and the gang find out, being popular has strings attached. Although this is my first Del Rio Bay Clique novel, I was enthralled by it and in love with the way Paul Chase portrays this age group's nuances, habits and colloquialisms. Although I felt this novel could stand alone, I would suggest everyone do as I will be doing, go read the first two novels first.

Reviewed by Brenda Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

The Del Rio Bay Clique is back! The cover may be different, but Mina Mooney and her friends from DRB High are the same old gang. This time, the clique is headed off to the O.C. to support Mina (and maybe party a little) at the Extreme Nationals Cheerleading Competition. Or at least, half of the clique is going. When the group is faced with the possibility of spending spring break apart, they take a few extreme measures of their own.

The individual voices and the descriptions Chase uses to draw out her characters really sets the Del Rio Bay Clique series apart. Mina and the gang have a strong bond, despite their sometimes very obvious differences. As with the other books in the series, the stereotypes can sometimes seem a little overbearing, but for the most part, Chase goes out of her way to point out similarities and motives that make unlikely friendships believable and fun.

Things don't get much more "now" than the happenings in this clique of books. Chapter headings always include related song lyrics, like "Break it off boy, cause ya got me feeling naughty" (Rihanna, featuring Sean Paul, from "Break it Off") for the chapter when Mina and her boy get into a little *ahem* moment. Nothing outrageously inappropriate here, though, because between everyone's cell phones blowing up and the IM chatter, the clique is too busy for a lot of one-on-one time.

I missed having Michael around as much in this latest release, but I have a feeling he'll have a more central role to play in the next book, WHO YOU WIT?, due out in November 2008. At least, I hope he does.

In any case, I'll be looking for the next book as soon as it hits shelves, because I know Paula Chase will be keeping it real!

Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince

The only thing going on in the Del Rio Bay is the extreme. While the main focus is on the varsity cheer squad, some are anticipating the partying while others are seriously plotting. The only people in the DRB who aren't buzzing about the extreme are Kelly, Jacinta and Lizzie, who will be stuck in the cove over spring break.

Mina is fly! Not only is she officially apart of the uppers, Mouthy Mi is thrilled to be attending the extreme as a freshman. And not to mention, Mi snagged a true jedi-hottie named Brian who she can't wait to get some alone time with while chilling in OC. On top of all of this, Mina's worse enemy Jessica has called a truce. Although Mina doesn't completely trust Jessica, she can't help that she wants to be liked by everyone. Will her need to see the bright side of everything cause turbulence in her world?

As usual, Paula Chase has written a great book that embraces assortment. The Del Rio Bay Clique is made up of mix-matched friends who are able to relate to one another despite their differences. I truly love how Paula has meshed suburbia and the hood and came up with books that all teens can relate to. I love this teen series and look forward to finding out what happens next at DRB.

Reviewed by Nardsbaby
for Urban Reviews

At Del Rio Bay High School in Maryland, Mina Mooney is euphoric as she has achieved her dream of making the varsity cheer squad that is competing in the Extreme Nationals at O.C. (Ocean City). She knows that being a cheerleader means hanging out with the in crowd, the Upper Circle at DRB. Mina also looks forward to spending more time with her boyfriend Brian.

However, not everyone welcomes Mina to the top social rung. The reigning queen Jessica Johnson plans to make trouble for Mina when they are in O.C., but puts on a façade of welcome. Her friends have issues too starting with the feeling Mina dumped them to enter the Upper Circle as they do not have a ticket. Lizzie has met Todd, the first boy to distract her from schoolbooks; Kelly is giving ex-hustler Angel a second chance though she has doubts; and Jacinta is thinking of ending her relationship with Raheem for slapping her. Finally Mina finds Craig hanging around her though she wants Brian. The four best friends need each other, but each member of the Del Rio Bay Clique is distracted.

The latest DBR Clique tare (see SO NOT THE DRAMA and DON'T GET IT TWISTED; neither read by me) is a fascinating look at the teen lifestyle in a Maryland high school. The cast is sold though purposely stereotyped to bring out the message that diversity in friendships is good. Readers will see how different the Clique sisters are from one another and yet in spite of their differences and recent spats remain bonded friends. Paula Chase provides a fascinating young adult relationship drama as the quartet struggle with boy problems.

Harriet Klausner

Mina Mooney and the Del Rio Bay Clique are back on the scene in That's What's Up! by Paula Chase. Mina and Brian are now officially a couple. Mina has snared the new hot boy and could not be happier about it. However, the thing that makes her happiest is that she is now considered an Upper, one of the insiders. She is finally in the cafeteria, hanging out with the most popular set and knows that she has arrived. Her arch rival, Jessica, is not at all happy about it. In fact it makes her hate Mina more because she is in the clique due to her sweetness, not because she is rich.


It is almost spring break and the Extreme Nationals are occurring at the same time. The Extreme is the huge cheerleading competition that occurs annually. All of the kids are looking forward to it, especially the cheerleaders, including arch rivals, Mina and Jessica. Jessica decides that during the weekend she is going to befriend Mina, calling a truce, after all Mina is her twin sister, Sara's friend. Sara has always wanted Jessica to be nicer to Mina, and of course. a sister will do anything for a twin, or will she? Although, Mina is leery of Jessica she decides to accept the truce. After all Mina is known for trying to make lemonade from lemons. What is not clear is will the lemonade be sour or sweet.

Before the competition is underway there are schemes and plans. The girls, particularly Mina, will be tested in ways other than their cheerleading talents. Ms. Chase has once again brought us the group from Del Rio Bay High school and it is as much fun as ever to see what they are up to and the lessons they will learn.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

This book was not worth the money. If you can borrow it and read it, you would be better off. IT was crazy that all these women revolved around one man, and they were all his baby mommas or kin to a baby momma. A clique usually likes one anotheror has some turst in one another, for the most part the girls didn't like or really know one another..... and why would they, they were all sleeping or had slept with the same man. There were no suprises and little intrigue, there was not one character I could identify with or understnad why they were doing what they did and there were planty of characters to choose from. The kidnapping didn't make sense, many of the murders were messy and didn't make alot of sense. Oh yeah the ending is pretty disappointing too. I think the author read too many books and tried to compile it in this effort.

Drama, Excitment, Suspense, Sex----Couldn't ask for more! These chics ran the show and layed it down. Great book. I want more 2! Ready for the sequel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the best book of 2008. Peolpe keep sayin there are too many characters, that's what keeps the book intresting!!!!!!!!! The author made me want to be part of the Clique. It was everything a street novel should be---Full of Heat,LOTS of drama, GREAT SEX, and off the hook characters! I'm starting Brandie's other novel DONT HATE THE PLAYER HATE THE GAME, and it starts off hotter than this one!!! Brandie is the author to watch and follow!!!!!!!

Ok dont get me wrong,This was not really a bad book,The plot was great and I knew where the author was trying to GO with it,But it just didnt quite GET there for me.It was just too many characters being introduced which made it hard to keep up with the story but what took the cake was how all the kids names began with the letter K,making everything even more complicated.The ending seemed too unbelievable and a bit rushed,And it just may be a part 2.I wouldnt highly recommend this book unless you pick it up from the library,I believe Brandie has some great potential because I really enjoyed her first novel Dont Hate the Player.But The Clique could have been better!

The beginning of this book was a little slow and slightly confusing from jump. It also named too many characters. I kept up with most of them and had to resort to making notes of who was who and who they were with etc. The middle of the book all the way to the end became a page turner for me. Once hitting the end I was disgusted at the ending. This definately wasn't a real "clique" because it was too easy to get in and became messy with too many witnesses still hanging around. I guess it's good if a sequel is coming but could have been done a lot better.

I bought the book after first reading the description. It is basically a book of 13 stories about it girls. But not just about them. How their lives are, expirences, people who are affected by it girls. It has a very strong message in each story. Teen girls will love reading it because we can relate very much to what's going on in the story. The pages are finely decorated and it's just beautiful.

Fictional stories based on the life of "It Girls," this book takes us through the ups, downs, secrets, gossip, triumphs, tribulations, and general cattiness of life as one of the popular ones. For these It Girls, it doesn't matter who you trample on to get to the top, as long as you get there - and stay there.

These girls use boys like pawns. They keep their friends close only as long as they agree with everything they say, and when they don't, then there's usually some type of scandal involved. They flaunt their bodies, they have mouths like sailors, and they have their parents tricked into believing they're princesses.

THE SECRET LIFE OF IT GIRLS is not a pretty book. It is, supposedly, a fictionalized account of true-life stories. I'm hoping, both as a woman and a parent, that it's not indicative of what so-called "It Girls" are really like. To me, being popular doesn't equate being as downright horrible as the girls in this book are. They're vicious, they're rude, and they are no one that I would want to hang around with - or would want my daughter to hang around with.

I admit that the story is an insightful look into a world that I knew little about. It's also a look into a world that I don't think I WANT to know anything about. It's scary, it's at times horrifying, and, if it really is THE SECRET LIFE OF IT GIRLS, it makes me hope that being one of them never falls onto my daughter's to-do-list.

I have no doubt that this book will appeal to teen girls the world over, whether one of the popular crowd or someone just wishing to be an It Girl. Regardless, this is a candid look into that secret world that will hopefully leave you with something to think about.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Mina has all the wit and charm and stuff that teenagers are made of. So Not The Drama by Author Paula Chase is fresh and clean. Chase brings Mina to life in such a powerful way that you just got to want to know who's that girl? Well, she's Mina! She has her own giddyness that makes being crusty-eyed so kewl, but she ain't got that mini skirt she's desperate for--oh, oh! This is a wonderful treat for the high school princess(es) in your life!

Mina and her friends, JZ, Lizzie, and Michael, also known as "The Clique," are about to leave behind their familiar middle school where they are comfortable and popular, and enter the big, unfamiliar Del Rio Bay High School. They've heard stories, and they think they know what to expect, but when the friends get to high school, they realize they're not nearly as informed as they thought they were! No matter how much you think you know, high school is a lot to handle.

Mina's got big plans for her time at Del Rio Bay High. She was popular in middle school, and she definitely wants to become one of the elite in high school, too. However, her schemes (predictably) do not go quite as planned!

While this book has been categorized as African-American fiction, and Mina is black, I don't think that only African-American teens will enjoy the book. Prejudice is an issue that is dealt with skillfully, and that's important, but there is so much more to this book!

There has to be, really; it's nearly four-hundred pages long. It dragged a little at times, but, for the most part, it was an enjoyable book, and quite readable! I made the mistake of judging SO NOT THE DRAMA by its cover and expecting yet another fluffy, forgettable novel, but this book definitely surpassed my expectations. While the dialogue didn't always strike me as completely realistic (although, admittedly, I am a middle-class white girl and don't really have the same background as many of the characters), the story as a whole was surprisingly real and deep. SO NOT THE DRAMA is well worth reading.

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

So Not The Drama is full of drama - the identity defining, personality developing, character building kind that all teenagers face. When four best friends; Mina, Michael, Lizzie and JZ take the long and winding road from junior high to high school, they hit a few unexpected potholes along the way. Mina, determined to not become a little fish in a big pond, plots to maintain high popularity as a cheerleader and all around "it" chick. Can she do it? Lizzie faces her fears and follows her acting dreams. But where does it lead? JZ's jock status remains intact, even as he's limited to the junior varsity squad. But what about his ego? Michael decides to be who he really is, instead of what's expected. Can his friends handle that?

As difficult as defining and maintaining ones identity can be, an assignment in Mina's sociology class gets thrown in the mix; causing these friends to delve even farther into their own psyches and each other's as well. As the story unfolds, they question friendship, family ties, cultural pride and whether any price is too high when it comes to being our authentic selves.

Paula Chase has written a novel that is at once engaging and inspiring, controversial and comedic. The teen's language is so catching you'll find yourself reciting it once the last page of dialogue has been turned. Ms. Chase tackles common teen problems with wit and finesse, and presents a microcosm of the world that is refreshingly diverse. If So Not The Drama is any indication, Ms. Chase will have a clique of her own, one that follows these characters and their adventures for many books to come.

Lutishia Lovely
Author, Sex In The Sanctuary
www.LutishiaLovely.com

Welcome to the wonderful world of Amina (Mina) Mooney. All that Miss JV Cheerleader can think about is that she's 63 hours, 10 minutes and 40 seconds away from entering the glamorous world of high school. While her clique (Lizzie the actress, Michael the artist and JZ the athlete) can all go without the constant updates given by Mina about the amazing world that they'll be inducted in once they mix with the uppers, it's cool because the clique already knows that Mi is doing what she does best. GO HIGH SCHOOL GO!

Mina thinks she's made major strides since she's the only one out of the crew to land a LL (life lesson) course. But when she finds herself stuck in a group with Jessica (a glam who's had it bad for Miss Mina), Jacinta (a newcomer who is too hood), and little Miss innocent Kelly, Mina wonders how her status will fair with so much competition. While Mina strives to conquer a project, she learns that although she's adapted her project into her life, just maybe she needs to make a few minor adjustments. Will Mina break the ranks of her rigid friendship, or can Miss Mi add the right elements to balance the drama that has arisen?

So Not The Drama was a shock as I didn't expect the read to be as massive as it was. I'd convinced myself that I wouldn't like the book because it dealt with cliques. But I'm happy to say that Paula Chase whipped that craziness right out! As each teen deals with their own drama and friendships, readers see how each teen's strife compares to the other. I couldn't wait to call my sisters and aunts to tell them that this is definitely a WIN! So Not The Drama is a clean teen book that they can all feel good about allowing their teens to read. I'm so looking forward to reading Don't Get It Twisted. Paula, keep it up girl!

Reviewed by Nardsbaby
for Urban Reviews

Seeing that I've just completed my senior year of high school, my cousin kept saying what a good, clean read this would be for me. Finally after receiving the books, I have to totally agree. `So Not The Drama' is adventurous and filled with so much personality, drama and special friendships. I absolutely loved Mina's positive attitude about things. I am looking forward to starting `Don't Get It Twisted.'

Reviewed by: Lauren
OOSA Teen Reviewer

Never drinking, never smoking, never kissing boys - where is all the fun in that? "Skank-ology: How I went From Brainiac to Bimbo in 10 Easy Steps (and How You Can Too!)" is a work of fiction in the form of a how-to guide. Madison Swift, the pen name of the author, used to be the perfect high school good girl. When life kicked her in the face, she embraced the "skank" culture and recorded her experiences, taking to it like fly to... you know. A parody on today's modern culture, "Skank-ology: How I went From Brainiac to Bimbo in 10 Easy Steps (and How You Can Too!)" is highly recommended for community library fiction collections.

Girls, this book can show you how not to be a skank. Guys, this book can show you what it's like to be a girl. Parents, this book can show you what your daughters are going through. Truly, it's a book for everyone and anyone who is a girl, knows a girl, dates a girl or are the parents of a girl. Mix in three parts Britney, two parts Lindsay and a generous dash of Miley and you've got Madison Swift, a fictional author who writes a self-help book teaching girls how to be skanks -- and learns all about herself in the process!

I read this book for a class about education. It is an interesting book for people who are interested in marginilized black teens. It is a short and easy read, but it really does change the way non-urban and non-minority people perceive low-income black teens. It is in fact a fairly positive look at black teens. I have met the author as my teacher knows him and so Greg came to our class to talk about the book. He is still in touch with Tony and both men have families now. I strongly recommend this book for people who would be teaching or working with teens or in urban settings. This book seriously challenges stereotypes and I have learned I still have some ways to go to address my uses of stereotypes.