Cliques: Where Do You Fit In?

Aimed at an audience of upper-elementary and middle school students, this straightforward program offers a solid guide to navigating the choppy waters of friendships and “belonging,” focusing in particular on cliques—why they develop and how they differ from simple friendship groups, the ways that leaders control who is “in” and “out,” and relative pros and cons of belonging to a clique. Honest testimonials from a group of middle schoolers (representing both insiders and outsiders) add authenticity to the presentation, while older teen hosts and an adult guidance counselor offer advice on how to deal with exclusion, avoid social bullying, and find support from friends. Well-done animations add a nice touch, and a clever “yearbook” theme keeps this production from simply becoming a montage of talking heads. Both the film and the thorough accompanying curriculum promote diversity, individuality, and authenticity. Recommended. Aud: J, P. (E. Gieschen)