Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com

The Del Rio Bay Clique is back! The cover may be different, but Mina Mooney and her friends from DRB High are the same old gang. This time, the clique is headed off to the O.C. to support Mina (and maybe party a little) at the Extreme Nationals Cheerleading Competition. Or at least, half of the clique is going. When the group is faced with the possibility of spending spring break apart, they take a few extreme measures of their own.

The individual voices and the descriptions Chase uses to draw out her characters really sets the Del Rio Bay Clique series apart. Mina and the gang have a strong bond, despite their sometimes very obvious differences. As with the other books in the series, the stereotypes can sometimes seem a little overbearing, but for the most part, Chase goes out of her way to point out similarities and motives that make unlikely friendships believable and fun.

Things don't get much more "now" than the happenings in this clique of books. Chapter headings always include related song lyrics, like "Break it off boy, cause ya got me feeling naughty" (Rihanna, featuring Sean Paul, from "Break it Off") for the chapter when Mina and her boy get into a little *ahem* moment. Nothing outrageously inappropriate here, though, because between everyone's cell phones blowing up and the IM chatter, the clique is too busy for a lot of one-on-one time.

I missed having Michael around as much in this latest release, but I have a feeling he'll have a more central role to play in the next book, WHO YOU WIT?, due out in November 2008. At least, I hope he does.

In any case, I'll be looking for the next book as soon as it hits shelves, because I know Paula Chase will be keeping it real! ( )