Best Friends for Never

infobox Book |
name = The Clique: Best Friends for Never
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Lisi Harrison
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = The Clique Series
genre = Young adult novels
publisher = Little, Brown and Company
release_date = October 2004
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 196 p
isbn = ISBN 0-316-70131-9
preceded_by = The Clique
followed_by = Revenge of the Wannabes

"Best Friends for Never: A Clique Novel" is a young adult novel by Lisi Harrison, published in 2004. It is the second novel in The Clique series.

Background

Founded in 1987, 17th Street Productions was a book-packaging company focused on the young adult market.cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6503767.html |title=Alloy Makes a Go of It in Hollywood |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2007-11-19 |publisher="Publishers Weekly"] cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA256957.html |title=Schrank Joins 17th Street |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2002-11-04 |publisher="Publishers Weekly"] Responsible for conceiving the stories, hiring writers and editing the novels, it had early success with the popular "Sweet Valley High" franchise. [cite web |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article711246.ece |title=‘Lit chick’ debacle that damns the publishers |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2006-04-03 |publisher="The Times"] cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA167866.html |title=Internet Company Buys 17th Street Productions |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2000-01-17 |publisher="Publishers Weekly"] cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/books/27pack.html |title=First, Plot and Character. Then, Find an Author. |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2006-04-27 |publisher="The New York Times"] In January 2000, 17th Street Productions was acquired by Alloy Online and became a subdivision known as Alloy Entertainment, although it retained its previous function.

Harrison was working as a writer for MTV when she was approached by Alloy Entertainment about producing a series of young adult novels. She said of this proposal, "Always being a closeted wannabe author - I jumped at the opportunity. I loved the idea."cite web |url=http://www.myseacoastjob.com/2005news/07012005/communit/50543.htm |title=Meet the guys behind the girl book craze |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2005-07-01 |publisher="Portsmouth Herald" (Associated Press)] Alloy's involvement in the process of writing varies from series to series; Harrison said that in her case they functioned as a sounding board, but otherwise, "they left me to my own devices. It's very much my book." The end result was "The Clique", published in May 2004 by Little, Brown and Company. It received mixed reviews but was selected as a "Quick Pick For Reluctant Young Adult Readers" by YALSA.cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA478269.html |title=Children's Notes |accessdate=2008-09-07 |date=2004-11-08 |publisher="Publishers Weekly"] [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0316701297/ Editorial reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist, as archived at Amazon.com] ] [cite web |url=http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA508022.html |title=ALA Book Picks 2005--Best Books for Young Adults |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2005-03-01 |publisher="School Library Journal"]

ynopsis

Characters

*Massie Block—rich, pretty and composed, Massie is the leader of the "Pretty Committee", the most popular clique in the seventh grade.
*Claire Lyons—unfashionable and naïve, Claire is new in town and lives with her family in the Blocks' guesthouse.
*Alicia Rivera—beautiful and moneyed, Alicia is Massie's second-in-command in the Pretty Committee.
*Dylan Marvil—stubborn and self-conscious about her weight, Dylan is a member of the Pretty Committee.
*Kristen Gregory—both intelligent and athletic, Kristen is the fourth member of the Pretty Committee.

Plot summary

After an argument about clothes, Massie and Claire make a bet that Massie cannot go the next month without buying any new clothes and Claire cannot last over the same period without re-wearing the same outfit. At school, competition to throw the best Halloween party is intensifying. In order to be allowed to invite boys to her party, Massie convinces Claire that they should pretend to be friends to use as bargaining material with her parents; it works, but Massie's mother insists that the two girls be co-hosts of the party.

The Pretty Committee's idea for their costume theme is "Dirty Devils". Massie brings the revealing outfits to school so that the whole group can wear them, as her bet with Claire means she is running out of clothes. This causes an outrage, resulting in the Principal being informed and the girls being forced to change into clothes from the lost and found.

When the anticipated Halloween party occurs, it results in a whirlwind of flirting and socialising. Alicia makes friends with Olivia Ryan, who has recently returned to the area. Kristen and Dylan fight for the attention of Derrick Harrington—but unbeknownst to them he actually likes Massie. Claire and Cam Fisher (the boy that Massie secretly has a crush on) develop feelings for each other after she flirts with him.

The following day, the Principal announces that the school is going to introduce mandatory uniforms, with the design to be decided by a competition. Massie and Claire both decide to compete but their practice uniforms are accidentally thrown away by the maid. They then abandon their bet and agree to work together, using Kristen and Dylan as their models. The competition is won by Alicia and Olivia after they cheat and switch the vote boxes. Although Massie and the other girls discover this, they decide not to act on it yet.

The novel ends with Massie finding out that Cam likes someone else—unaware that the "someone else" is Claire—and swearing vengeance on her.

Reception

The novel reached "The New York Times" bestseller list in early February 2005, four months after it was published, but remained there only one week. [cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/06/books/bestseller/0206bestchildren.html |title=Best-Seller Lists - Children's Books |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2005-02-06 |publisher="The New York Times"] It returned in late February for another week, reaching #7. [cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/books/bestseller/0227bestchildren.html |title=Best-Seller Lists - Children's Books |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2005-02-27 |publisher="The New York Times"] Following the release of the next volume in the series, "Best Friends for Never" entered the bestseller list twice more: the first time in late March, when it again dropped out after one week, and the second time in late April, which resulted in a three week stay. [cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/20/books/bestseller/0320bestchildren.html |title=Best-Seller Lists - Children's Books |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2005-03-20 |publisher="The New York Times"] [cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/17/books/bestseller/0417bestchildren.html |title=Best-Seller Lists - Children's Books |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2005-04-17 |publisher="The New York Times"] [cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/books/bestseller/0501bestchildren.html |title=Best-Seller Lists - Children's Books |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2005-05-01 |publisher="The New York Times"] In late March it also made an appearance on the "Publishers Weekly" bestseller list, coming in at #9. [cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA512631.html |title=The Book Sense/NAIBA Bestseller Lists |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2005-03-24 |publisher="Publishers Weekly"] Copies of the novel have continued to sell in large numbers: nearly 150,000 in 2005, [cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6318932.html |title=Potter Leads the Pack |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2006-03-27 |publisher="Publishers Weekly"] over 200,000 in 2006, [cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6427355.html |title=Children’s Paperback Backlist |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2007-03-26 |publisher="Publishers Weekly"] and over 150,000 in 2007. [cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6543965.html |title=Farewell to Harry |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2008-03-24 |publisher="Publishers Weekly"]

Reviewers' general descriptions of the novel focused on its lightweight nature and entertainment value: "Book Loons" called it "good soap operatic fun",cite web |url=http://www.bookloons.com/cgi-bin/Review.asp?bookid=4149 |title=Best Friends for Never by Lisi Harrison |accessdate=2008-09-13 |publisher="BookLoons"] "The Virginian Pilot" said it was "a fairly quick and easy read",cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-124343685.html |title="Best Friends for Never" simple but has some appealing twists. |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2004-11-05 |publisher="The Virginian Pilot"] "Teen Reads" found it to be "another quick, fun, enjoyable read",cite web |url=http://www.teenreads.com/series/series-clique-titles.asp |title=THE CLIQUE Series by Lisi Harrison |accessdate=2008-09-13 |publisher="TeenReads"] while "Romantic Times" thought that it was "sinful, nasty fun" and gave it three stars.cite web |url=http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=23671 |title=Review of BEST FRIENDS FOR NEVER by Lisi Harrison |accessdate=2008-09-13 |publisher="Romantic Times"] More negative comments that were made included "The Virginian Pilot"'s assertion that it "lacks the sophistication and style of deeper novels". On the behavior of the characters—something the first volume was criticised for—"Romantic Times" said, "Good news for fans—the girls are just as catty now as they were before." "Book Loons" added that it "does capture both the occasionally unpleasant verbal interactions and emotional vulnerability of pre-teen girls." The book's cliffhanger ending was described as "perfect" by "Teen Reads" and according to "The Virginian Pilot" is, along with the "mild twists", what made the novel an "interesting read."

"Best Friends for Never" was nominated for the 2005 Quill Awards in the "Young Adult/Teen" category. [cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA626031.html |title=And the Nominees Are... |accessdate=2008-09-13 |date=2005-07-18 |publisher="Publishers Weekly"]

References