It's Not Easy Being Mean

by Lisi Harrison

Book Overview

Massie Block: Getting back into Octavian Country Day was a piece of sugar-free cake, compared to Massie's next goal-finding the key that unlocks an ah-mazing legendary secret room at OCD Alpha eighth... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316115053
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Poppy
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.6" x 0.6" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

It's Not Easy Being Mean = book that is made for middle school

It's Not Easy Being Mean is an exciting book. Its filled with juicy gossip and sudden turns. This is the type of book that you don't want to put down. You feel compelled to read it and not put it down till you're done. I would recommend this book and all the other Clique books.

It's Not Easy Being Mean Review

The Pretty Committee thought for sure that they would find the key to the heavenly room, but who could be sure when Losers Beyond Repair (LBRs) like Layne Abeley had gotten one also? The key was to a room that staff did not know about and only Octavian Country Day's eighth grade alphas were given the key. However, Skye Hamilton was the alpha when Massie was in seventh grade, and she made a riddle of finding it so Massie and some LBRs would be competing. Claire Lyons, an ex-clique member, found the key and made it back in to the clique in exchange for the key, which the clique brought to Skye and saw the ahb-viously fantastic room. The whole book led an interesting and intriguing journey to that point, and I wish there were more. One good thing about It's Not Easy Being Mean was the constant humor, even when Massie was worried sick about the key. She would insult people with witty little jokes that made her look smart and other people look woefully dumb. One morning, Claire was wearing a heavy jacket and looked nothing like the other clique members who were wearing designer names and no jackets, and Massie asked her "Are you a zit?" Of course Claire said "no," and Massie asked "Then why are you all covered up?" Later, when they were deciding how the key would be given to the clique, or "...you must be poor....cuz you're not making any cents." When Dylan dropped a plastic bag on the ground with no regard for the environment, Massie asked her if she was a cat, and when she said no, she inquired "Then what's with the litter?" I also liked how Claire was always getting embarrassed, like when she was getting ready for an audition and had to wear eyebrow extensions and outrageous black hair for a few days, or when her little brother Todd sold her pajamas with a blueberry stain on the back of the pants to a fan of her stardom in the movie Dial L for Loser. Claire was also embarrassed when the Pretty Committee was rating their outfits and she didn't even want hers rated because of its insufficient level of Designer names and over use of jackets. The superlative part of the book was how Massie Block, the `alpha' (at least in seventh grade) tried to get someone to like her, even if she was alpha in the eighth grade. When she went to talk to her at her house, she brought mini doughnuts because she knew that Skye liked mini things, and when she had the key, she couldn't just walk up and tell her, she had to prance in front of her seats at the soccer game until she gave up and wrote a note, supposedly from Chris Abeley, to Skye. Massie even admitted to herself that she was covetous of Skye, though Skye and not of Skye's DSL Daters (her clique). It's Not Easy Being Mean showed the weaknesses of even the "alphas" of middle school, like Massie coveting Skye's reputation and the key and Skye writing a poem about Chris Abeley, which shows that no one is perfect. It showed that you can have innumerable friends even if you have a smaller house (l

MaryRobert's Nifty Review

"It's Not Easy Being Mean" to me was by far the best Clique book yet. This book is about one girl's flight to stardom and another's struggle to stay on top. Massie Block has been the leader and alpha of the Clique ever since the group was started, but now, Claire, a newborn star, takes the spotlight from Massie by scoring a movie deal. Massie needs to make herself the one to be around again. As she's thinking, a mysterious video arrives for her from the eighth grade alpha, Skye. The video tells of the room in their school that the teachers forgot about; the room is now a hang out spot for the eighth grade "it" clique. Skye creates a competion for the room between five groups of seventh graders, Massie's Clique being one of them. The game: the key to the room is under one Briarwood Academy boy's bed. The group to find the key gets the room, plain and simple, right? Wrong. The Pretty Committee investigates every clue and with Massie leading the way, and finds themselves in some pretty gross yet facinating plunders. When Massie learns the other teams made of social outcasts are getting closer, she knows she has to crank things up a bit. She fails to realize that Skye's crush just happens to be the older brother of Layne Abeley, a total reject and competitor for the key. Layne, however, takes advantage of her sibling and finds the key under her brother's bed. Massie will not let Layne get away with the key so she pulls the Pretty Committee and Layne in for a little meeting. Layne presents her wants in exchange for the key, while the Clique listens in awe. With Layne's demands met, she hands the key over to Massie. Massie arranges a meeting with Skye, who leads them to the room. The Pretty Committee stands in the doorway gaping at their future. I thought this book was fantastic, and I can't wait until the next book comes out. The ending is so intriguing how it leaves you just as the girls first see the room. You don't even get a hint on how the room actually is, but you can tell by the way Lisi Harrison describes the girls' reactions that the room is truely amazing. Perfect for Massie to uphold her high standings and put things back where they belong.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

The clique is back at OCD! The new school year brings drama and a treasure hunt. Throughout the years every student at OCD has heard of a secret room that teachers forgot--an urban legend. When a mysterious upperclassman named Skye brings news that the room is real, Massie is instantly intrigued. The legend of the room says that whoever holds the key is the true alpha for their grade at OCD. Massie must have it. Skye gives them a poem that will lead them to where the key is hidden, but the problem is deciphering it. The poem has been handed out to other girls in Massie's grade and the hunt begins. With tiresome soccer practice, trips to NYC for agents and auditions, and trips to the mall, the Pretty Committee finds that the time they have must be spent wisely and that they must unite as one, or the alpha-ship will fall into the wrong hands--an LBR. Lisi Harrison has done it again! This new CLIQUE novel is one you don't want to miss. The girls are sneakier, meaner, and will do anything to get what they want. Lisi Harrison has created a series all will love. Once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down! Reviewed by: Jeremey

The BEST books I have EVER read

The Clique books are the perfect books I have been looking for. They are cool, lol hilarious and much more. The seventh, was no surprise. The Pretty Comittee have to find a key that unlocks a secret room for alphas. It is under the pillow of a Briarwood boy... but which one?? Also, Claire gets offered a role in Princess Nobody... will she take the role and leave Westchester? This was definetely one of the best in the series and I can't wait for the eighth to come out in August!!!!