Search This Blog

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Cliques, Phonies, & Other Baloney

 
Cliques, Phonies, & Other Baloney. Trevor Romain. Free Spirit Publishing, c.1998. 136 pages.

Summary:

“If cliques make you sick, you might have Cliques Vomititus, otherwise known as the Clique Sickness. Or maybe you feel like throwing up because the clique is being cliquey” (Romain, 1998, p.5).

When a clique is being cliquey, it can be really hurtful! Trevor Romain’s Cliques, Phonies, & Other Baloney discusses cliques vs. friendship groups, phonies vs. true friends, and popularity vs. liking yourself. It uses humor to provide examples of these concepts and explores commonly held myths about them. It also includes a list of helpful books and organizations that readers should check out.

Review/personal thoughts:

Cliquey behavior, I believe, is one form of bullying that’s very important to address. In my own experience, it’s the most common form of bullying that isn’t always viewed as such! However, cliquey behavior is very hurtful! Thus, Trevor Romain’s Cliques, Phonies, & Other Baloney addresses this issue with humor and a friendly, reassuring attitude. Romain conveys a really positive message to his readers, stressing that real friends will like the real you, and that the “popular” kids aren’t better than everyone else!

Reading level: ages 9-12

No comments:

Post a Comment