Clash (Click #4)
Published July 20th 2021 by Etch/Clarion Books, Paperback 224 pages
Olive, meet Natasha.
There’s a new kid in town! From the moment Natasha sets foot in class, it’s clear she’s one of the coolest kids in sixth grade. Everyone wants to be her friend, including Olive . . . but things might not be so easy.
Olive tries her best to befriend Nat, but it seems like the only thing they have in common is that they both want to hang out with Olive’s friends! Watching as Natasha gets closer with some of her best buds, Olive can’t help but worry that they’re starting to like Nat more than they like her . . . and who could blame them? Nat is just that cool . . . and Olive is, well, just Olive.
User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
I don't have an opening quote for this book.
I wasn't really a fan of this book's message. I have been reading Miller's work and enjoying it, but she kind of lost me on this one.
A new girl (Natasha) comes to Olive's school. Olive is nothing but nice to this girl, takes her around, introduces her to everyone, and goes out of her way to make her feel welcome and included.
However, Natasha is an asshole, she treats Olive like crap. She bullies her (even going so far as to egg her house at one point) and basically makes Olive miserable.
My main problem is that the book is like, "Oh, they should be FRIENDS! Olive should be UNDERSTANDING! It must be HARD for Nat being the new girl in school!" Etc. etc. What a terrible message. Natasha is toxic and Olive does NOT have to be friends with her.
The book ends with the girls (view spoiler)
[making peace, but not being exactly 'friends' (hide spoiler)] but I was aggrieved. Nat's an asshole. I mean, the interview in the back of the book makes it seem like the author views Nat and Olive as 'just not getting along' and 'rub each other the wrong way' or some shit but in reality Olive is nothing but kind and welcoming to Nat and Nat is a total asshole to her. I mean, unquestionably an asshole. Mean, manipulative, bullying. That's not okay. That's not justified by the fact that (view spoiler)
[Nat's parents are getting a divorce. (hide spoiler)] I don't give a fuck. If Olive was my daughter I'd tell her to stay the hell away from Nat and, if need be, stand up to her. Stop just taking the abuse and being submissive. Teaching girls to take abuse and be submissive because 'you always have to be nice' and 'good girls are nice' is SO toxic. Teach your daughters to tell people to 'Fuck off!' when needed. Nat definitely needs to be told to fuck off. And telling Nat to fuck off would not be 'mean' on Olive's part, or make her 'a bad kid,' she should be able to defend herself emotionally against bullies.
The book could have been worse, they could have been (view spoiler)
[true friends at the end (hide spoiler)] but it was bad enough that I was peeved.
The art is nice, as always.
TL;DR I was not on board with this message to children. I am against any book that preaches befriending your bully, forgiving them, being submissive and accepting abuse because 'maybe the bully has a bad home life.' Fuck that shit. Please teach your children to stand up for themselves (nonviolently if at all possible) because NO ONE ELSE WILL DO IT FOR THEM. Olive's own mother was throwing her under the bus in this book, for fuck's sake. Poor Olive.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK:
(view spoiler)
[
Natasha f Nat
Olive f
Sawyer m
Tyler m
Trent m
Beth f
Chanda f
Dave m
Nicole f
Jessie f
Hugh m
Emilie f
Grace f
Marc m
Molly f
Lucy f
Ava f
Simon m
Franny f
Bree f
Franny f
Nick m
Dan m
(hide spoiler)]
Rating: really liked it
Watch out, Olive Branche! The new girl in class is coming after you in full
Single White Female and
Mean Girls mode! You gonna extend your namesake branch or flip it and put the business end to use?
Mild but enjoyable middle school drama from a series that is pretty consistently good.
Rating: really liked it
[ I did not like that aunt's opinion was dismissed, or that when Liv did try to talk to people, her concerns were downplayed. I did not like that even when we
Rating: really liked it
The ending is amazing. My daughter got to learn the lesson that not everyone has to be liked or a friend as long there is mutual respect.
Rating: really liked it
Katy rated it 4 stars.
Rating: really liked it
This was an amazing book. It teaches people to not be rude to other people.
Rating: really liked it
Wow. I have to say that this was a well done book and touches on something I think many people, young and old, find challenging, namely when someone just doesn't want to be your friend. Despite everything Olive does, Nat just isn't interested. And I genuinely disliked Nat from start to finish because of how she treats Olive. She was never able to reciprocate in a way that was comparable to Olive even at the end. I liked how Olive's mom and aunt debated the two ways to play it out at the dinner table. I sided with her aunt all the way, but I could also see what her mom was striving for.
In the end, there's a good lesson. And Olive has grown through all the books into someone who is genuinely a likeable character.
Rating: really liked it
3.5 Stars
Rating: really liked it
This series is a perfect Raina Telgemeier read-a-like, and one that I would pick up before some of the others on that list. Olive is such a relatable, easy going, friendly kid, and the topics that Miller picks to address, and how she attacks them really lends itself to a positive learning experience for the reader.
In Clash, people person Olive has her positivity tested when new girl Natasha arrives and becomes friends with all of Olive's friends, while leaving Olive out. Trying everything from inviting Nat to dinner with her friends, to watching a show Nat talks about with others, Olive is at a loss for what to do. Conflicting advice from her mom and her aunt only leaves Olive more confused. Can Olive find some common ground and become friends with Natasha? Or will Natasha's presence fracture Olive's friendships down the middle?
Rating: really liked it
Honestly, I’m disappointed. This was a classic mean girl thing and it was boring and very predictable.
Rating: really liked it
Ugh, I just love these books SO MUCH. And this one was another great example of WHY I love them so much! You should never let someone just talk to or treat you however they want to because of whatever they’re dealing with. That’s not fair! You can’t let that behavior continue. You have to stand up for yourself!
Rating: really liked it
“So, what? If someone doesn’t like you instantly, that’s it?” “That’s not what I’m saying, Lucy. I just don’t think that it’s healthy to worry so much about making other people like you”- Clash (Click #4) by Kayla Miller
The fourth entry in the popular and bestselling middle grade graphic novel series by Kayla Miller, Clash follows protagonist Olive as she and her school friends welcome a new kid into their fold. From previous novels, readers know and love Olive as the kid who is friendly and friends with everyone. In Click, we met Olive as she was trying to figure out her niche and wondering where or how exactly she fit in at school; in Camp, Olive found herself opening up to the possibilities of more friends and new interests (and at odds with her more reticent friend Willow!); and Act sees student council and school politics at the forefront when Olive goes up against friends Trent and Sawyer during a school election. Now, in Clash, Olive finds herself struggling and worrying as a new, seemingly cool and sophisticated sixth-grader named Natasha just…doesn’t seem to like Olive. “I was just thinking about Nat…it’s not like she’s being really mean to me or anything, but I get the feeling…I dunno…that she doesn’t like me?” While Olive does her best to welcome Nat to the school, show her the ropes, and introduce her to all of her friends, Nat seems strangely detached. By asking Olive whether she’s a cheerleader or dating Trent, Nat finds out that Olive is actually friendly with just about everyone- and everyone likes and respects Olive back! As days go by, however, small and hurtful things Nat does push Olive the wrong way: after a volleyball incident in gym class, a lie about hanging out, and belittling Olive’s love of the supposedly juvenile Teen Swamp Creature television series, Olive starts to wonder…What do you do when you think someone doesn’t like you- no matter what you do? A climactic moment and reveals during a Halloween party are so well done, and Miller brings the story to an insightful finale. A thoughtful and heartwarming dive into friendship and all the uncertainties, highs and lows it can bring; as well as touching upon emotions of jealousy and loneliness, Clash is an excellent series entry, likely to be hugely resonant with readers. In an already-fantastic middle grade series, Clash might just be the strongest entry yet and I cannot wait to see where author and illustrator Kayla Miller goes next with Olive’s story. Readers can also look forward to a new graphic novel called Besties: Work It Out, starring Olive’s friends Chanda and Beth. Besties: Work It Out, written by Kayla Miller and Jeffrey Canino, illustrated by Kristina Luu, is set to release in October 2021. Clash’s Extra Credits: Lettering by Micah Myers, Colour by Jess Lome.
I received a copy of this title courtesy of Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.
Rating: really liked it
I aspire to one day be as cool as Olive's Aunt.
Rating: really liked it
A girl in one of my workshops recommended this to me (she’s 9 ok), and it’s a cute sweet read about gregarious Olive, who i assume is the main character of this series. However, I felt a lil meh about the message of this book (and that’s largely what I’m rating).
A new girl moves to town (Nat) and she and Olive immediately clash. This is because Nat wants to be cool so takes Olive’s kindness for weakness and takes advantage of her in a variety of ways (befriending her friends, then saving no space for Olive at their lunch table). Throughout, Olive is basically told to suck it up (except her Aunt Molly who tells her to IGNORE!!) and the idea is that like people can be cordial without being friends. Also, that we don’t know what others are going through which is TRUE but like Nat is actively mean … idk Olive is a good role model for kids tho i guess.
Rating: really liked it
I love Olive, her family and her friends. When a new student joins her class, Olive offers to show her around and make her feel welcome. But, Nat isn't really interested in being friends with Olive. Miller, in her recognizable style, has created a story about real life. As Miller says in an interview, she wanted to write how Olive handles a difficult situation much better than Miller did as a kid. I can totally identify with Miller. This is an excellent addition to Olive's story. Can't wait to read more about her.
