The Diamonds

June 1, 2009
Gr 8 Up-Marni is one of a foursome of the most popular, beautiful, and, above all, plastic girls in Bennington School's senior class. "The Diamonds" never do anything partway, so when opportunity knocks, they not only join a class originally designed to teach students about government by reenacting famous court cases, but also take it over. Under the direction of alpha-girl and ice-queen Clarissa, the activity morphs into a twisted version of peer mediation as the teens become judges and mete out punishments designed to bring Bennington's social order to its knees. When Marni gets drunk and is caught in a compromising position with Clarissa's ex-boyfriend, she finds herself in the defendant's chair. In stereotypical "sidekick who has seen the light" fashion, she spearheads a group of students from across the social spectrum to reveal to the administration Clarissa's draconian methods. This novel aims to join the ranks of the "alpha-girl lit" world, but it falls short of its peers. The characters are largely flat representations of social stereotypes and the adult endorsement of the Diamonds' status feels far-fetched. For intrigue, plot twists, and fully realized ice queens, send readers to old standbys like Cecily von Ziegesar's "Gossip Girl" series or Lisi Harrison's "Clique" books (both Little, Brown)."Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT"

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