DearLord,It’s“DearSister.”

by SB Sarah Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 05:54 AM

Dear SisterIn order to at least attempt to restore any credibility I might have in the “*squee* I LOVE YA” department, I’m going to review a Sweet Valley High novel. Specifically, the one that was such a tease that it drove me towards romance for more direct sexual explanation: Dear Sister book 7, where Elizabeth gets in a motorcycle accident, and is in a coma for all of, I think, 2 chapters. Not that the book’s cover copy led you to believe that. The copy and blurbs make it sound like she’s going to linger for pages.

And yes, this is also the book wherein Bruce Patman puts his hand on Elizabeth’s breast - and whoa, nelly. That’s about as far as anyone got in Sweet Valley, I think.

The best part: I bought it used for .01, though I did have to pay for shipping.

The next best part? A quiz! With prizes! I have a truckload of signed books, and shall send you two for your reading pleasure, should you be able to accurately guess the following questions:

1. How long will it take SB Sarah to read this book?

2. How many pages will be dog-eared as a marker for “This page contains outrageous badness and should be referenced in review?”

3. What grade will she ultimately assign the book?

Put your guesses in the comments, and I shall post the answers in my review. She or he who guesses most accurately will get 2 signed books of romance content to add to their library. 

Picture of {name}
87 comments Bookmark to del.icio.us Add to Technorati favorites Digg this post on digg.com RSSadd to sk*rt
Categories: Go Ahead, Win Some Shit

Tags: This entry has not been tagged yet.

Comments

Picture of Carrie Lofty Carrie Lofty said on...
07.25.07 at 06:22 AM |

65 minutes; 35 pages; D+

“Dear Sister” was a defining moment of my pre-adolescencececee, a word I still cannot spell.

Picture of SB Sarah said on...
07.25.07 at 06:26 AM |

No question, salome, me, too. I about passed out when I read the word “breast.”

If I’d only known what kinds of words I’d read in my future exploration of romance novels.

Picture of Gail K. Gail K. said on...
07.25.07 at 06:29 AM |

holy crap!  I read this book in high school.  During class.  I *knew* I wasn’t imagining this breast scene, LOL.  Bruce Patman, evil rich boy, right?  I passed the book, dogeared to specific boob page, around under the desks to my girlfriends, heh.  I can’t believe you managed to track down the exact title.  I need to order this asap.  In fact, I wonder if the whole SVH set is available somewhere on eBay?  Thanks.

Picture of Teddy Pig Teddy Pig said on...
07.25.07 at 06:30 AM |

1. How long will it take SB Sarah to read this book?

1 day

2. How many pages will be dog-eared as a marker for “This page contains outrageous badness and should be referenced in review?”

12

3. What grade will she ultimately assign the book?

Grade D-
Because she found the one where Bruce was sexually molested by several members of the Sweet Valley High Male Swim Team in the Sweet Valley High School boys locker room shower HAWT.

Picture of Carrie Lofty Carrie Lofty said on...
07.25.07 at 06:36 AM |

My SVH shock and awe was then surpassed, in order, by Wifey, the Clan of the Cave Bear series, and Susan Johnson’s Outlaw. Woooodamn! My course was set, as were my sexual expectations.

Picture of Nanna said on...
07.25.07 at 06:37 AM |

1. 75 minutes

2. How many pages are there in the book? Kidding. 26.

3. C- Because it’s a trip down memory lane.

I must admit I never read the Sweet Valley High books. I only ever watched the series. *headdesk*

Picture of Najida Najida said on...
07.25.07 at 06:39 AM |

I have to admit, in HS, I never read YA romances, I went straight to the hardcore Avon Ladies adult passion stuff.

Sheesh, I mean, breast touching is so silly when your study hall buddy is telling you about the WMS she’s having with her jock BF under the bleachers after football practice.  I may have been a virgin, but I wasn’t stupid.

ANYHOW---
1. How long will it take SB Sarah to read this book?

3 hours, 16 minutes, 32 seconds.

2. How many pages will be dog-eared as a marker for “This page contains outrageous badness and should be referenced in review?”

>50%

3. What grade will she ultimately assign the book?
---F

Picture of bam bam said on...
07.25.07 at 06:40 AM |

ZOMG, I love this book!

umm… 75 mins, 30 pages, C+

Picture of taybug taybug said on...
07.25.07 at 06:49 AM |

Am I un-American if I didn’t read the SVH books? I went straight from “The Black Stallion” series (oh yes, I wanted a wild Arabian stallion, not some stupid little pony) to Kathleen Woodiwiss and Silhouette’s. Maybe I missed part of my childhood there.

Time to read: 1 day if she’s still laid up in bed

Dog-ears: 15 I couldn’t find a page count online (obviously I’m too lazy to look very hard) but I figure Sarah will have to find only the BEST referernces for the review

Score: D

Picture of Beth said on...
07.25.07 at 06:56 AM |

Oooh, a contest!  Let’s see…

1.  90 minutes
2.  30 pages
3.  D+

Picture of Liz C Liz C said on...
07.25.07 at 06:56 AM |

1. How long will it take SB Sarah to read this book? 2 days. Allowing for time spent away from the book so as not to go insane.

2. How many pages will be dog-eared as a marker for “This page contains outrageous badness and should be referenced in review?” 20.

3. What grade will she ultimately assign the book? D.

Side note: I don’t remember this book at all and I had an extensive collection of SVH books in my younger years. I’m talking bags full that may or may not still be in a closet at my dad’s so I could possibly hook anybody up who wants to relive the badness.

Picture of December Quinn/Stacia Kane December Quinn/Stacia Kane said on...
07.25.07 at 07:02 AM |

I’m not guessing, but oh I can’t wait for the review...and oh I loved me some SVH when I was 11 and 12.

Sigh. Now I want to hunt up some for my own.

Picture of KellyMaher KellyMaher said on...
07.25.07 at 07:04 AM |

1. How long will it take SB Sarah to read this book?

6 hours, 13 minutes.

2. How many pages will be dog-eared as a marker for “This page contains outrageous badness and should be referenced in review?”

33

3. What grade will she ultimately assign the book?

D+

And, I’ll go for extra credit and say Sarah will throw the book against the opposite wall once.

This is the only SVH book I remember reading any part of...yes, the part I remember is the breast-touching.  I did read a lot of the SVTwins books, though.

Picture of E.D'Trix E.D'Trix said on...
07.25.07 at 07:10 AM |

1. 2 hours and 27 minutes
2. 32 pages
3. C+

Picture of Danielle said on...
07.25.07 at 07:10 AM |

I must admit I was more enamored to the Caitlin books, also by Francine Pascal.  Anyone, anyone? 

I was thoroughly titliated at the word “breast” appearing in the book.  This was made even better because her rancher boyfriend, Jed, I believe, was touching it.

I definitely have to drag those out of storage.

As for the quiz:

1. 47 minutes
2. 19 dog eared pages
3. Overall grade of D+

Enjoy :)

Picture of Najida Najida said on...
07.25.07 at 07:10 AM |

Am I un-American if I didn’t read the SVH books? I went straight from “The Black Stallion” series (oh yes, I wanted a wild Arabian stallion, not some stupid little pony) to Kathleen Woodiwiss and Silhouette’s. Maybe I missed part of my childhood there.

Ditto-- I wanted a horse!  As for the books, I don’t remember ever reading a ‘romance’ that only had handholding..... Maybe we both just were quick bloomers (or our bloomers were quick) ;)

Picture of SB Sarah said on...
07.25.07 at 07:14 AM |

YES. The “Caitlin” triple-trilogy, with the rich girl learning to not be a complete douchebag.

If I recall correctly, they had some of the most colorfully opulent cover art, sort of the visual equivalent of purple prose. There wasn’t a single issue without gorgeous Caitlin standing in front of some gorgeous sunset with her giant flawless head of 80’s hair puffed out in luxurious, impossible splendor. It was like porn for people with cloudy skies and flat hair.

Picture of Karen said on...
07.25.07 at 07:15 AM |

1.  48 minutes

2.  17

3.  D

Picture of t. said on...
07.25.07 at 07:16 AM |

How long? 12 hours, allowing for many breaks from the ridiculousness of SVH.

How many pages? 35

Grade: D+

I read a couple of SVH in middle school, but this is the one that I remember best.  It was a pivotal moment in both my life and the series. *giggle*

Picture of MaryKate said on...
07.25.07 at 07:30 AM |

1. One hour, 23 minutes
2. 26 pages
3. D+ for nostalgia’s sake.

Picture of Joanna S. said on...
07.25.07 at 08:08 AM |

I actually wanted to clarify a bit because I think that this book shocked me for other reasons - wasn’t this the book where Jessica is sooooo incredibly jealous of Bruce’s attention toward her sister that she spikes Elizabeth’s drink at the big dance, and the reason Elizabeth’s boyfriend crashes is because they’re both drunk?  (I think it’s also the reason that Bruce is able to sneak in the grope...but maybe not)

I remember being so utterly horrified that someone would do that to their sister that I think I began to hate Jessica too much to read any more of the series.  Thus, it kinda overshadows the whole breast touchy-touchy thing - especially because at the time I also was reading Judy Blume.  How can a breast grope compare to the loss of virginity on a faux bearskin rug or reunion sex in a sleeping bag?!

Anyhoo - my guesses are:

1. 10 min. (so as to review only the all-important breast scene)

2.  Any page that DOESN’T include the aforementioned scene

3. D+ (for the sake of nostalgia, and the one redeeming grope by the fratboy-in-training)

Picture of Chris Chris said on...
07.25.07 at 08:11 AM |

1. 3 hours

2. 23 pgs

3. C-

SVH weren’t that bad, were they? I’m tempted to go to the ole thrift shop and pick up a bagful for $1 just to see.

Picture of Julie said on...
07.25.07 at 08:43 AM |

Hmm, didn’t Caitlin have a horse?  As I recall she rode ‘English-style’, whatever that means (I’m English, and as far as I’m concerned there’s only one way to ride a horse which is to sit on it).

Picture of nitenurse said on...
07.25.07 at 08:44 AM |

54 minutes

47 dog ears

Mark:  A for being a great rep. of a bad genre.

Picture of jennifer echols jennifer echols said on...
07.25.07 at 08:51 AM |

1. 90 minutes
2. 15 pages
3. C

Picture of Julie said on...
07.25.07 at 08:58 AM |

Ooops I forgot to include my guesstimates:

1. 72 minutes

2. All of ‘em.

3. C- (for the humour factor).

Picture of thebooklass thebooklass said on...
07.25.07 at 09:17 AM |

Life was so simple for me back then.  Elizabeth’s boyfriend (Todd) just got a motorcycle and Elizabeth was on it, after having being sooo against it (because she’s the goody-goody twin, Jessica is the naughty twin) she was feeling brave and decided to jump a ride with him. I don’t think drugs or DWI was involved. Anyway, they ended up in a accident and she got a total personailty re-vamp and made Jessica look like nothing.  It took me a while to realize Francine Pascal didn’t write most of these books. I also remember reading Sweet Valley Twins when Jessica got her period. That was so shocking to me in 5th grade.  Then I went off and read Adora by Betricia Small and giggled at the naughty parts.

Picture of Eunice said on...
07.25.07 at 09:41 AM |

2 hours 35 minutes

15 pages

D+

Picture of Dr. Strangelove said on...
07.25.07 at 09:46 AM |

Three hours 14 minutes (with two hysterical laughter breaks)

Half the book is dog-eared resulting, when closed, in a book twice as thick

Grade C for the pure camp

Picture of KristenMary said on...
07.25.07 at 10:08 AM |

Okey doke.. here are my guesses.

1. 63 minutes
2. half the book
3. C- because its campy fun

Picture of wavybrains wavybrains said on...
07.25.07 at 10:10 AM |

77 minutes. I’m betting at least 21 marked pages. And I’m betting a grade of D. Can’t wait to read the review!

Picture of December Quinn/Stacia Kane December Quinn/Stacia Kane said on...
07.25.07 at 10:26 AM |

I remember Caitlin and her prodigious use of cold cream, which seemed to come up at least twice in every book.

Ddn’t like her much, though. I didn’t understand why I should want to read about some girl who had everything she wanted.

My favorite SVH was where Jessica dyed her hair black and affected an English accent.

Picture of Tracy said on...
07.25.07 at 10:30 AM |

I remember that hand on the breast scened. I almost had a heart attack, then I dog-eared the page for future reference ;)

1. 70 minutes
2. 25
3. D

Heh, word verification: result46. As in, I hope my results win my some stuff!!

Picture of Tracy said on...
07.25.07 at 10:32 AM |

SCENE not SCENED and ME some stuff, not MY. Sheesh.

heh, another46, as in, “I hope this idiot proof reads this comment and doesn’t have to post another one with corrections!” LOL

Picture of tonithegreat said on...
07.25.07 at 10:39 AM |

1. How long will it take SB Sarah to read this book? 2 hours and forty five minutes

2. How many pages will be dog-eared as a marker for “This page contains outrageous badness and should be referenced in review?” 17

3. What grade will she ultimately assign the book? C, for c’mon it wasn’t _that_ bad for kid stuff.

Picture of Kaite Kaite said on...
07.25.07 at 11:38 AM |

I’ll have a guess! I’m always up for fun....

1: 1 1/2 hours.
2: 52
3: D-

I never read SVH books. I did get lots of the YA Silouhettes, though. I still have some of them. I’ll have to go check the authors; I wonder if any of them are still writing....

Picture of Sabrinad said on...
07.25.07 at 11:58 AM |

1. I’ll take 1 hour 32 minutes!

2. I would say about 100.

3. I think a C since their is nostalgia involved!

Also I loved the Caitlin books and SVH, I was about 10 or so when I read them. I then discovered Judy Blume and Norma Klein who was pretty graphic for YA and finally started reading my grandmother’s harlequin presents…

Picture of Deb Deb said on...
07.25.07 at 12:28 PM |

I now feel completely ancient.  Because while I only read a handful of SVH, I did so as an adult to see what all the fuss was about and why all the kids liked them.  I was determined that they be part of the YA collection that I was in charge of, no matter how many of my fellow librarians were against them!

Now, as for the questions…

I predict 2 hours and 10 minutes, due only to lingering over some of the badness and memories.

18 pages for references to said badness in review (if it were for just the badness itself, the page count would be much higher)

Final grade of D, boosted up because of the impact of the boob touching scene on your life.

Picture of Claire Claire said on...
07.25.07 at 12:37 PM |

3 hrs 5 min
53 pgs
D+

Picture of Minx said on...
07.25.07 at 12:39 PM |

I say:
- 1h 45 minutes ( it’ll take time because of all the manic dog-earing with a look of utter disbeleaf on her face)
- 45 pages (give or take 50, teehee.GIVE)
- D (she may get mushy and give it a higher grade but… let’s be honest here, shall we?)

And I’ve never read this particular book but I have read a few other Valley books. Yep, I was soo not impressed. Maybe it’s because I’ve been on grandma ‘s Harlequin and mom’s Sandra Brown’s since, like, ten. Hmmm…

Picture of Lyra Lyra said on...
07.25.07 at 12:55 PM |

1) 80 minutes, including breaks for eyerolling and reading choice bits out loud
2) 7 pages (kind of a short book)
3) D, probably salvaged by the fact that it was a lot of people’s “gateway drug” to real romance.

My personal favorite SVH book was the sequel to the one where a girl that looked exactly like Jessica and Liz tried to take over one twin’s life, where this crazy psycho girl ALSO has a twin and the two dark haired twins conspire to take over the SV twins’ lives. So ridiculously over the top.

Picture of sara sara said on...
07.25.07 at 01:12 PM |

Oh, I’m so looking forward to this. I hope you’ll go on to review The One Where Regina The Formerly Deaf Girl Who’s Dating Bruce Patman Does Coke Once AND DIES OMG, because that one is my very favorite SVH of all times. Oh, it’s soooooooo bad. But it did scare me and every girl I know off of coke for life.

1. 1 hour, 15 minutes

2. 60

3. C-

Picture of karibelle said on...
07.25.07 at 01:32 PM |

OMG!!!!!!  SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!  I LOVED this book.  It was the first thing even remotely like a romance I ever read.  I was either 11 or 12.  I know I was in the 6th grade when it was making the rounds between my girlfriends and me.  We all thought it was so dirty because of that breast groping scene.  I hope like hell my own daughter will be that innocent in 5 years, but somehow I doubt that is possible in this day and age unless I lock her in her room.

Picture of Stephanie Stephanie said on...
07.25.07 at 02:25 PM |

Ladies, you are taking me to the way back machine. Le sigh. The Caitlin books. Man she was a stuck up bitch but I still really enjoyed her. I think because the goody goody people in those books were so cavity-causing in their righteousness, or boring. Whatever!

As for guesses:

1. 2 hours, 10 minutes
2. 28 pages
3. D

I can’t wait to read your review, Sarah!

Picture of Maya Maya said on...
07.25.07 at 02:33 PM |

1. taking into account being preggers, net-surfing obligations, time needed to chant new mantra “my bookdeal! my bookdeal!” and having to run around after a toddler and, i think, some catbabies (right? right?)i’m going to say: a day and a half

2.a dozen, since more would be unneccesary to give as examples in the review

3. tough one. can’t be an all-out F because that would be like shooting fish in a barrel. equally, can’t be a reverse psychology sort of A to salute spectacular baditude, since new readers might not get it.  i’m going to go with a dead centre C: text, cliches, etc deserving of worse, but pulled upwards on the grade scale in recognition of the poignant role this series/this book played for so many in shaping young reading habits - it would cause too great a tsunami of backlash if graded worse among the army of bitches who remember it fondly.

the fine print: i’m not in any way suggesting that SBSara would ever skew her true evaluation to pander to the masses.  what i am suggesting is that sometimes, even smart bitches can have nostalgic moments

Picture of belmanoir belmanoir said on...
07.25.07 at 02:52 PM |

1. 2 days (because you won’t be able to read for long at a stretch)

2. 25 pp.

3. D

I was seriously traumatized by book 6, which has the motorcycle accident at the END, with a cliffhanger.  I must have been really young because just reading the next book to see what happens didn’t occur to me.  I was sure that Elizabeth was permanently braindamaged now.

Picture of Devon Devon said on...
07.25.07 at 02:57 PM |

What a walk down memory lane!  Didn’t Elizabeth wake up from the coma and start acting like Jessica?  And didn’t Bruce Patman cop a feel on Jessica too, in one of the first books?  Naughty Bruce.  I was trying to remember the name of the girl he fell for.  Someone got it--sweet, deaf Regina. 

They were in HS forever.  People came and went, left and moved back.  Elizabeth had two super serious boyfriends…

Quiz guesses:
1) 100 min.

2)15

3)D+

Picture of --E --E said on...
07.25.07 at 03:01 PM |

90 minutes (including time for you to pass out from the pain)

25 pages (twenty in the first fifty pages, and then you will decide this is crazy and only dog-ear the very worst of the worst)

Grade: D

Picture of Elyssa said on...
07.25.07 at 03:39 PM |

Did any of you read the Sweet Valley series when they went to college?  I remember reading the first one where Elizabeth puts on the dreaded freshman fifteen and---gasps!---goes up to a size 10 instead of her perfect size 6.  I blame SVH and the Babysitters’ Club for my addiction to romances that are trilogies or a series. 

Here are my guesses:
1.  3 hours
2.  14 pages
3.  B- because SB will think it’s not that bad.

Picture of Ava Rose Johnson Ava Rose Johnson said on...
07.25.07 at 03:40 PM |

Wow I remember this book so well. Wasn’t it Todd’s motorcycle?
And I remember the book where Jessica gets with Bruce and he cops a feel too. Man, that guy got around, lol.

Sara said: “I hope you’ll go on to review The One Where Regina The Formerly Deaf Girl Who’s Dating Bruce Patman Does Coke Once AND DIES OMG, because that one is my very favorite SVH of all times. Oh, it’s soooooooo bad. But it did scare me and every girl I know off of coke for life.”

ME TOO! I loved that book so much, it broke my heart!

Picture of Josie said on...
07.25.07 at 03:42 PM |

1. An hour and 23 mins

2. 37 pages

3. C-

The SVH books were like crack to me when I was in my early teens. I think I may have come quite close to reading the entire series…
Can’t wait for your review Sarah!

Picture of thebooklass thebooklass said on...
07.25.07 at 03:48 PM |

Playing with Fire, which I think is #3 in the series I could be wrong, is the one where Bruce touches Jessica’s boob. Jessica lost her virginity in the college ones. Oh the drama!

Picture of Nat Nat said on...
07.25.07 at 03:50 PM |

When weeding the SVH’s at work a few years back, I admit to flipping through them for nostalgia’s sake. I only really read the first 30 and then graduated the bigger abd better things. BTW, SVH: Senior Year wasn’t half bad. Liz gets herself a bad boy boyfried Connor.

My guess:

Time to read: 65 minutes

Dog eared pages: at least 50%

Grade: D-

Picture of Ann Bruce Ann Bruce said on...
07.25.07 at 04:11 PM |

I only ever watched the series. *headdesk*

There was a series?  Really?  Was it as bad as I fondly remember the books being And were the twins blonde with blue-green eyes like the ocean?

Picture of Katie Dickson Katie Dickson said on...
07.25.07 at 04:14 PM |

lovelysalome, I sure _hope_ your expectations weren’t set by the Clan of the Cave Bear series.

If so, are you still pining for that 8’ foot tall, blonde-blue-eyed-hard-jawed-large-able-bodied warrior/hunter to come rescue you with his giant schlong (that would be about the size of a Stegodon’s trunk)...? Y’know, the one who just can’t go down on a women too many times in one day?

(giggle)

Picture of Liz C. Liz C. said on...
07.25.07 at 05:24 PM |

Did any of you read the Sweet Valley series when they went to college?

I absolutely did. I remember when Elizabeth dumped long-term boyfriend Todd in favor of a new guy whose name I can’t remember. I think it was Tim. Or Tom. Or something. And didn’t Jessica get involved with a professor? So scandalous.

Did anyone read the books about their ancestors? I remember one grandmother or great aunt ran away to the circus and one was a flapper.

Picture of MamaNice MamaNice said on...
07.25.07 at 05:51 PM |

150 minutes
30 pages
D

Ah sweet, sweet Sweet Valley High. Those books were passed around the 5th grade girls more than Keds and Benetton shirts!
Was that Playing With Fire book the one with the dude on the cover with the porno stache?

I read all the main series, never touched the college series - and there’s an ancestor series? Oh lord.

I remember reading the Caitlin series too - couldn’t tell you a thing about the books, but remember those covers!

My word: firm18. Don’t we all wish for the firm boobs and thighs of our 18 year old selves. Lucky sweet valley tarts are immortalized forever.

Picture of MamaNice MamaNice said on...
07.25.07 at 05:58 PM |

I couldn’t help myself - pornostache boy wasn’t on “Playing With Fire” - it was on this one:

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Picture of muguet said on...
07.25.07 at 06:05 PM |

I say 2 hours reading time,
28 pages,
and C+ for nostalgia and virgin boobage.

I never read SVH but I did read all six of the spinoff series the Unicorn Club---anyone else??

I did dress up as one of the Sweet Valley Twins in fourth grade with my bff at the time! :)

Picture of Maggie said on...
07.25.07 at 07:19 PM |

1 day

13 pages

and

C-

Picture of Carrie Lofty Carrie Lofty said on...
07.25.07 at 07:20 PM |

Katie Dickson said: lovelysalome, I sure _hope_ your expectations weren’t set by the Clan of the Cave Bear series.

Jondular and his mammoth schlong. Yes, my expectations were warped. I was actually a little frightened by the whole thing. REALLY? That’s what people do? Like, my PARENTS do that?? Then Susan Johnson had the hero from Outlaw put special jewelry in the heroine’s magic hoohoo to make her cum while she danced at a ball. Took me years to recover, all to find out that sex is fun but pretty damn normal in comparison. 

*donesharing*

Picture of carolh said on...
07.25.07 at 07:24 PM |

3 hours, 36 minutes
29 pages dog-eared
C+

I ate these up.  Also favorites: the Nancy Drew Files...even though her hair kept changing color.

Picture of Jenna R. Jenna R. said on...
07.25.07 at 08:38 PM |

Yes! I think SVH was my first brush with romance as well.

And I think those historical books about the Wakefield ancestors were called Sweet Valley Sagas. Besides doing the paternal and maternal sides of Elizabeth and Jessica’s family, there were also Sweet Valley Sagas about the Lila Fowler’s and Bruce Patman’s families. Those would be amazing to see a review of as well. Basically 80s type romance novels with no sex.

Also, I totally remember the book where Regina dies. It scarred my 13 year-old self!

Picture of kpsr. said on...
07.25.07 at 08:46 PM |

--Did anyone read the books about their ancestors? I remember one grandmother or great aunt ran away to the circus and one was a flapper.--

ok, I will totally admit that I read the first 2 of the Sweet Valley Saga books. (I just looked them up on Amazon and apparently there were 4 of them.) I did, in fact, recommend the first one for review on this lovely site. Dear Sister is probably a much better choice. The great thing about the Saga books(great? really? was anything about Sweet Valley ever great?) was just how much history they could mangle or turn into a cliche in JUST ONE BOOK. Yes, one of Jessica and Elizabeth’s relatives ran away to join the circus. Yes, another set of twins were flappers. And on their dad’s side, one great great something or other was a frontiersman who married a Native American and oh, man, the fun never stops. I almost wish I still had copies of those. Almost.

oh, and aside from that pointless rant I say
1: 2 hours, 14 minutes
2: 17 pages
3: D+

Good luck.

Picture of Angela Angela said on...
07.25.07 at 08:57 PM |

Oh, the memories!

The Sweet Valley’s were outside of the YA section at the library beside my elementary school and I used to sneak over to get them out of an irrational fear that librarians would pounce on me if I left the children’s section.

My favorite was the miniseries where Jessica and Elizabeth were stalked by a woman who looked exactly like them, and then it turns out the woman has a twin herself. When Jessica was murdered I was so traumatized--I even cried!

1. How long will it take SB Sarah to read this book? A few hours

2. How many pages will be dog-eared as a marker for “This page contains outrageous badness and should be referenced in review?” 34 pages

3. What grade will she ultimately assign the book? A++++

Picture of Ruth said on...
07.25.07 at 09:26 PM |

OMG, the Sagas. I was randomly thinking about those the other day. The twins had a brother and I remember that one of the stories had to do with his ancestor who was involved with some woman who was on the Hindenburg. And then there was the one with one of the sisters running away to San Francisco with a guy who she is going to marry the next day. She sleeps with him and then she wakes up to the great SF earthquake and I think she has to go home ashamed and pregnant.

I must find those books again. The already mentioned Regina book is solely responsible for keeping me drug free all my life.

Picture of OpenChannel OpenChannel said on...
07.25.07 at 09:28 PM |

Never read any SVH. I must have been some kind of tramp, I went straight for Wifey.

1) 92 minutes
2) 36 pages
3) D+

(I hope I didn’t repeat anyone’s guess)

Picture of Angel said on...
07.25.07 at 11:20 PM |

1. Hour and a half 2. 67 3. D-

Picture of Trisha Trisha said on...
07.25.07 at 11:51 PM |

I suck too much at this kind of quiz, so I won’t even bother guessing.

I never read Dear Sister. I think I read the first couple of SVH books, then skipped ahead to the 70s or wherever the series was when I started reading them. (They had those girls who wrote about what the books meant to them on the inside covers. Anyone else remember this?) I did read the first couple of SVU books, but, man, did they need some copyediting.

Anyway, I don’t know how many people saw this article.

...Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High, which Laurel Leaf is relaunching next April with Double Love and Secrets, due out with new covers and 65,000-copy first printings, and the inclusion of cell phoning, e-mailing and the like.


Scariest thing I read last week.
Picture of Ayla said on...
07.26.07 at 12:30 AM |

I;m hoping no one has said this already.

1, 3-4 hours tops.
2, im gonna say roughly half - call it 70 pages?
3, D

Picture of Lindsay Lindsay said on...
07.26.07 at 05:29 AM |

--The great thing about the Saga books(great? really? was anything about Sweet Valley ever great?) was just how much history they could mangle or turn into a cliche in JUST ONE BOOK.--

Oh man, I remember reading those too. Half of the ancestors were twins as well which was just crazy. The other great thing about them is how Jessica and Elizabeth’s maternal and paternal ancestors basically kept falling in love and then having tragic things happen to keep them apart just so one day Jessica and Elizabeth’s parents could get married without being related. And in the Sagas Jessica and Elizabeth’s mother was engaged to Bruce Patman’s father until she broke it off to be with Jessica and Elizabeth’s Dad.

The historical cliches were crazy--the flapper, having one ancestor die on the Hindenburg, their grandmother was a French resistance fighter (whose true love tragically dies as they try to escape France), one becomes a movie star...and lots of twins betraying their twins (all over different guys of course) in them too!!

And I am sad to say I also read the Lila Fowler and Bruce Patman Sagas. The Fowler one was pretty crazy. Her ancestors were French nobility who almost all die in the French Resistance and then a few generations later there is a romance between one Lila’s ancestors who works as a servant and the son of the family she works for.  Wow, this almost makes me want to find one just to see how they would seem to me now.

Picture of Angela Angela said on...
07.26.07 at 06:26 AM |

Stop it Lindsey! You’re making me want to revisit the books too. LOL. Now I’m experiencing a wave of nostalgia for my (admittedly not so distant) childhood. Teh 80s& 90s rawk!

Picture of Sheryl Sheryl said on...
07.26.07 at 07:02 AM |

I think YA in general has come a long way since SVH.  I highly recommend Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.  Each chapter alternates between the male and female viewpoints, and it is excellent!  The “sex” scene is hotter and better written than many of the ones I’ve read in adult romances.

Picture of asrai asrai said on...
07.26.07 at 08:16 AM |

“I actually wanted to clarify a bit because I think that this book shocked me for other reasons - wasn’t this the book where Jessica is sooooo incredibly jealous of Bruce’s attention toward her sister that she spikes Elizabeth’s drink at the big dance, and the reason Elizabeth’s boyfriend crashes is because they’re both drunk?  (I think it’s also the reason that Bruce is able to sneak in the grope...but maybe not)”

Nope that was a much later book. Jessica spiked the punch at the prom or something. Which led to Elizabeth and Jessica’s boyfriend (seth or something) be driving drunk and crashing. Killing the boyfriend and Jessica blames Liz and they don’t talk for like 3 books.

But then some crazy foster-care kid who looks EXACTLY like the twins tries to kill Liz and then Jessica forgives her (even tho it was her fault).

Wow, I remember way too much of these books.

-Asra

Picture of Emily said on...
07.26.07 at 08:44 AM |

Man, I was all over the Sweet Valley books...although I read more of the Sweet Valley twins books when I was younger. I think I lost interest a bit when I started reading the SV High series.

My guesses:

1. 1.5 hours
2. 15 pages
3. C

Picture of Bailey said on...
07.26.07 at 09:05 AM |

Seriously dating myself here...I read some of these after graduating from Trixie Belden. Yes. Trixie Freakin’ Belden! Why aren’t heroines named Trixie anymore? Seriously. That has potential.

My guesses:

66 minutes to read, 3 days to recover from the migraine

17 pages

C+ (for the nostalgia factor)

Picture of L. Francesca L. Francesca said on...
07.26.07 at 09:51 AM |

1. 54 minutes

2. 32 pages

3. D

I think I stayed far away from these when I was in junior high.

Picture of thebooklass thebooklass said on...
07.26.07 at 10:31 AM |

I can’t beileve they are re-listing these books out and updating them.  I think that’s sweet!

Picture of Danielle said on...
07.26.07 at 11:06 AM |

It is so exciting to see so many people who remember Caitlin.  No one else I know remembers them!  And yes, Sarah, there was a lot of swirly purple and big hair.  I ahve always lusted after “raven tresses” as her hair was described 83 times. 

There was an abundance of cold cream, a lovely horse...and, as any rich girl must face, a fall in a mine.  Only the dirt of the mines could make Caitlin less douchy.  Maybe I should try that with others I know.

Picture of Kelly Anne Kelly Anne said on...
07.26.07 at 02:43 PM |

Oh my goodness!  This was my absolute favourite SV book cos of the angst and romance and such.  I will guess!

1. 2 hours, tops.
2. 20
3. C+

Picture of Rebekah said on...
07.26.07 at 07:03 PM |

1. 4 hours
2. 14 pages
3. D+

Picture of Jaynie R Jaynie R said on...
07.26.07 at 08:06 PM |

I used to read them as a kid.  I loved them so much that my mother regularly used them as bribes.

My guesses

40 mins
36 pages
D+

I think I still have all mine in storage at the Parentals’ house.

Picture of Katie Dickson Katie Dickson said on...
07.26.07 at 09:35 PM |

lovelysalome,

I was fascinated by the whole Clan of the Cave Bear thing as a youngster. My books still fall open to the pages where Jondalar performs his Oral Sex Magic (not to be confused with the Red Hot Chili Peppers album of similar name).

And they fall open to those pages because I read them. Over. And. Over. And. Over. Again. In shock, and awe, and with the general feeling of WTF?!

I was young, remember.

Picture of Julie said on...
07.27.07 at 04:21 AM |

TRIXIE BELDEN!!!!

How I *loved* Trixie!

However I am now eternally suspicious of Waldorf Salad thanks to the apple-seed poisoning incident.....

Picture of Abby D. said on...
07.27.07 at 09:20 AM |

1.5 hours, 42 pages, B-

Picture of Phyllis said on...
07.28.07 at 06:03 PM |

1. How long will it take SB Sarah to read this book?

2 hours. But with interruptions from kids and life, I’ll say 2 days

2. How many pages will be dog-eared as a marker for “This page contains outrageous badness and should be referenced in review?”

approx 30% of the total

3. What grade will she ultimately assign the book?

C-

Picture of Elegist said on...
07.29.07 at 08:08 AM |

My personal favorite SVH book was the sequel to the one where a girl that looked exactly like Jessica and Liz tried to take over one twin’s life, where this crazy psycho girl ALSO has a twin and the two dark haired twins conspire to take over the SV twins’ lives. So ridiculously over the top.

OMG yes! That’s actually the only one I have ever read (back in middle school), and I throroughly enjoyed the total insanity and over the top drama. Also, I think the “bad boy” guy was kind of hot. Also, it took place during Christmas, and TEH EBIL LOOKALIKE sent scare cards saying things like “Deck the Halls with Bloody Bodies” to the twins. Holy crap.

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL: