Amelia Fattore

Amelia Fattore

These Boots Are Made For Stalking

Lisi Harrison

Realistic Fiction

Holiday

I am on page 168

1. What is going on in your book?

Pup-A-Palooza has just begun! The Pretty Committee as well as Layne and Claire have found themselves at this ninth-grade charity auction at the Westchester Dog Park. The Pretty Committee, dressed in evening attire, are there to “upgrade” from eighth-grade to ninth-grade crushes. Massie has also planted a camera in Bean’s (Massie’s pug) booties in search for “AnkleBird”, a girl suspiciously found in Landon’s (Massie’s crush) room. On the other hand, Claire, dressed in jeans, with the help of Layne is searching for new friends. Claire feels she needs to branch out, risking her Pretty Committee spot, as she doesn’t want to lose Cam, her eighth-grade crush. She finds the Pretty Committee’s actions to be insane!

2. How do you feel about the book?

I have mixed feelings about These Boots Are Made For Stalking. I absolutely LOVED the Clique Series last year; however, they seem to be juvenile and lacking in many key components. I feel I am still reading because I love the analogies Harrison makes with brand names. For example, “Parenting was beyond stressful. No wonder Jon and Kate had cracked under the pressure” (160). Luckily, this is a holiday book that I will fly through. In addition, I find this series completely predictable. This quality also acts against me reading everyday. I really like reading a book that I can ponder for hours about what will happen next and the Clique series doesn’t do that for me.

3. What is a theme you see in the book?

One theme that is key to this book is friendship. The “mega” friendship of the Pretty Committee members, Dylan, Massie, Alicia, Claire and Kristen, is mildly torn at the beginning when the idea of upgrading does not set well with Claire. Though the remaining members of the group act like they are done dealing with Claire’s quirks, they really miss and long for her. This is the same on the other end of the tear. Claire tries to portray that she is over the Pretty Committee and everything that comes with that but truly she wants to be there. She would rather feel restricted in the Pretty Committee with friends she loves then being out in the world alone, free.

4. Who is your favorite character?

My favorite character at the moment is Claire. Though the Pretty Committee doesn’t like her, I completely understand her motives. Why should she have to give up something she loves because her friends are getting ninth-grade crushes? They don’t always have to have the exact same thing. Massie, Alicia, Dylan and Kristin should want to be Claire’s friend regardless of what she wears or who her crush is.

5. Who is your least favorite character?

My least favorite character is Massie. She is the conductor of this unnecessary behavior. I also find it horrible that she is trying to keep her crush, Landon, captive. When she accidentally tripped over his dog, Bark, she bought him a mini camera that allows him to watch his dog while he is at school. While that is a very kind thing to do, she also kept the username and password for herself. Massie has the ability to look into Landon’s room whenever she pleases. I believe Massie needs to overcome the fact that she does not rule the world and she cannot always have what she wants.

6. What do you think is going to happen next?

I believe Massie and the rest of the Pretty Committee realize that ninth-grade crushes aren’t a must. You should like a person because you enjoy being with them, not because of their age. Once they come to their senses, they will apology to Claire and everything will go back to normal.