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Sweet Valley Twins #9
Against the Rules
Sophia Rizzo is a good writer on the school newspaper, she's nice, and Elizabeth likes her. But all the other kids at Sweet Valley Middle School—including Elizabeth's twin sister, Jessica—make fun of Sophia because her family is poor and her brother is always in trouble. Even Elizabeth's parents tell her to stay away from Sophia.
To show Sophia that she's her friend no matter what anybody says, Elizabeth decides to go against strict orders from her parents and throw a secret birthday party for Sophia. But is Elizabeth willing to pay the price if she's caught?
To show Sophia that she's her friend no matter what anybody says, Elizabeth decides to go against strict orders from her parents and throw a secret birthday party for Sophia. But is Elizabeth willing to pay the price if she's caught?
10 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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359 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,139 books1,845 followersFrancine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.
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January 27, 2025
Against The Rules (Updated)
Jessica finds out that Liz is walking home with Sophia Rizzo and makes no secret she disapproves. She says “If you keep picking up strays, one of these days you’re going to get bitten.” Liz says if Sophia bites her she hopes she infects her with her way of words. Sophia recently wrote an article for the Sixers and it blew Liz away with how funny and well written it was. Thus, she’s not thinking about the Rizzo’s bad reputation (especially Sophia’s brother).
Sophia’s brother (Anthony) broke into someone’s house and stole a VCR. In Jessica’s eyes Sophia is a criminal by association. There’s a play coming up and Liz says she has to meet up with Sophia because their going to try to squeeze some info out of Mr. Bowman and she wants Sophia to help write it. Jessica (who can’t wait to try out) wants a splashy musical with lots of dancing and singing. She dumps her books on Liz to carry home and heads off to the Dairi Burger to meet up with the Unicorns.
Sophia says she wishes she was as popular as Jessica. Liz says she’s not missing out on much. Basically there are some of them that are okay on an individual basis but when they get together they bring out the worse in each other. Sophia says she know what she means and shows Liz a note that says “We don’t need your kind in SV. Get out, and take your brother with you.” At the bottom is a clumsily drawn horse with a big horn in the center of it’s head. Liz is pissed off and says she didn’t think they’d go this far. Liz makes a mental note to talk to Jessica later and apologizes. Besides they don’t even know her brother. Sophia says her *mother* feels the same way. Ever since their Papa left, Tony doesn’t listen to anyone.
Mr. Bowman gives them the scoop. This years he’s decided to let the students write their own play. The department has picked a writing committee composed of the two best English students from each grade in the school. Liz and Sophia are the sixth grade representatives. Sophia is happier than Liz’s ever seen. Mr. Bowman gives them the name of the members and says they can call them and set up a first meeting. Liz asks Mr. Bowman to be their advisor and he says he’d be honored. Liz wants to call the article “Student Play to Feature Students’ Own Story, by Sophia Rizzo and Elizabeth Wakefield. Sophia tho wants her name left off (like all the other articles she’s helped write). She says no one would want to read anything with her name on it. Liz in short says screw the Unicorns. They both wrote it. If there’s a problem it’s with her too.
They’re friends. Sophia agrees. Sophia asks Liz if she’d like to walk home with her and read some of the plays she wrote. Liz says she’d be glad to (hoping Sophia doesn’t notice her unease). Sophia shows Liz some of her poems, stories, and plays and Liz is extremely impressed. Its hard tho for her to imagine her and her brother acting these out. She asks where her brother is and she says in school and he should be home any minute. Liz gets a bad feeling and says she should be going. (Not wanting to be there when he gets there). Liz asks Sophia to hand out the Sixers issues the next day but Sophia says she has to help her mother. Her leg isn’t as good now and they don’t have a lot of help. Her brother use to help but now.. Liz again compliments her on her work and says she likes the one about the older sister being jealous of her little sister. Sophia says she outgrew fairy tales and now she likes to write about real things that happen to people.
Even tho she doesn’t have a baby sister she says she can just imagine what it would be like to have one. On the way home, Liz thinks about how she wishes some of the other SV kids could be as feeling are Sophia. Jessica has big news when Liz gets home. They’ll be going to LA next month. One of their dad’s clients has a daughter and she’ll need company. They’ll go shopping, stay at a big hotel, and best of all they’ll get to see Shout (a musical). They both start coming up with all these plans, but Alice says it’ll only be for 2 days. Alice goes to pick up Steven, but he’s gotten a ride home. Liz tells him and Jessica about the play (and for some reason thinks they’ll be excited). Instead, they warn her against associating with the Rizzo’s.
Liz can’t believe they can be so shallow and heartless. She brings up the note. Jessica just says it wasn’t her idea alone. They voted on it. But she did agree with it. Steven throws in his two cens about what bad news Tony is. He doesn’t care about what he says, how he dresses, and he doesn’t show up at school half the time (because he’s probably out hitting up stores and houses). Liz tho is unphased. Their dad comes home with bad news. Only one of the twins can go to LA. He says he’d buy an extra ticket but it’s been sold out for months. Liz says Jessica can go. Her father says no. They’ll draw straws. They find out Alice and Ned will be going to a friend’s anniversary party on their boat so, whichever twin doesn’t get to go will be home by themselves. Steven says he’ll write a number on a piece of paper whoever picks closet will win. Of course, Liz wins. Jessica is upset. Good things are happening for her parents, Liz, and Steven (whose team is on a winning streak. One more win and Ned’s offered to buy all the team ice-cream sundaes at Casey’s).
Liz offers to get the cast to autograph a program and get her a shirt. Jessica says it’s not the same. To top things off Liz tells her they’re having the first meeting about the play and it’s at their house. Only Jessica has invited Lila over that day. Jessica uses Liz’s guilt to manipulate her to do her long-division homework while she practices cheers with Lila. Jessica tries to get her to keep Sophia upstairs, but Liz tells her she and Sophia are friends and she’s not about to hide it. Liz speaks to Lila and acknowledges Sophia. Lila doesn’t say anything. Jessica appears and tells Sophia she’s glad she came to pick up the old box of clothes her mother had. This offends Sophia but Liz tells her don’t worry about it. Jessica just got mixed up.
Everyone is full of questions for Liz the next day before school. Bruce even says his father will be video taping it and he can have people over to watch it at his place. He also throws in having a part for him. Liz says since he likes the spotlight he can do the lights for the show. At lunch, Julie, Amy, and Liz agree they want the play to be about what it’s like to be in middle school. They note that she’s never there for lunch and plan to invite her to join them. They plan to have a picnic with sandwiches, drinks, fruit, and potato salad. Liz gives Sophie the invitation and when she gives it to her Sophia smiles and says she’ll bring some of her mother’s fruit punch. She also tells her to bring some of her plays to the committee meeting.
Mary is on the committee and also a friend of Bruce’s (Peter Jefferies). Liz worries about how they’ll take Sophia’s writing. Liz gives a great speech about how it’s time they started to write what’s important to *them*. There’s an argument about how can they show what’s important to each of them, but Liz points out they all have things in common like family problems. Sophie then reads a scene about a girl that wants to start out late. There’s silence. Then a boy named Nort says that’s definitely them. Then they all get excited and start to pour out ideas. When she gets home it’s too quiet and the fridge is full. She finds Steven who has a black eye from Tony. He was standing with a group of kids that were talking about Tony and then Tony came from out of nowhere and knocked him the hell out.
Liz finds out that there was a projector missing from the AV room and some of the kids were blaming Tony. One boy called him “Hot Fingers” and Steven started talking ish about checking his books for burn marks. Then some boys tried to get his science book. Steven says he tried to stop them (claiming he was thinking of Liz’s words about how they shouldn’t judge Tony without a fair trial and he tried to tell them this but then Tony came and punched his lights out. He says it taught him a lesson. Never to listen to her. Steven doesn’t come downstairs for breakfast so Liz doesn’t hear what her parents say. The anticafeteria lunch group have their first outside picnic and vow to do it every week. They find out Sophia’s birthday is next month when they talk about celebrating birthdays. Sophia thanks Liz later for the best lunch she’s ever had. It feels like the party she never had.
Liz says then they’ll have to have a party. She tells her to meet her in front of the office after school. Jessica finds her and wants to tell her what their parents said but she says she has to talk to Sophia. Just as Sophia is coming up the steps, Jessica says as long as Liz is talking to “Hot Fingers” sister she should tell her she hopes she likes putting on a play with no one in it. Sophia asks Liz what she means (confused). Liz says they’ll talk about it later but first they have to talk about her party. She says it’s the day after the play. Sophia worries that anyone will show, but Liz says by them she’ll be a famous playwright. They hang out at Sophia, until Liz hears Tony come home. Sophia introduces him and Tony holds out his hand. Liz wonders if it’s the same one that hit Steven and practically runs out of there.
Her parents are waiting for her when she gets home, and tell Liz they are no longer allowing her to spend time with Sophia outside of school. Liz tries to argue that what her brother does isn’t Sophia’s fault, but her father’s made up his mind. They’re better off having nothing to do with the Rizzo’s. Jessica asks later what happened. Liz tells her don’t act like she doesn’t know. She’s probably the one that instigated it. Jessica says she was just trying to *protect* her, but she is happy about the outcome. Jessica has written a fan letter to the lead man (Terrance) and wants Liz to give it to her. (She’ll be going backstagged). She says of course. Then Liz finds out “Shout” is the day after the play (Sophia’s birthday). Jessica says she’s decided to focus on becoming the chairman of the mini-Olympics which is coming up after the play.
Liz again tries to get Jessica to go instead of her to see “Shout” but her parents say no. Liz gets out of going to Sophia’s the next day by saying she doesn’t feel well. Her stomach feels funny and her throat is scratchy. (Instead of just telling Sophia the truth). Sophia says that’s too bad. But when she says she doesn’t know what she more excited for the play or the party. Steven suggests to Liz to do the ol switchero, but she decides not to tell her about the party. Jessica is suspicious of why Liz doesn’t want to go. She just brings up the play. She tries to get Jessica to read some of it but she says she wants nothing to do with it and neither do the rest of the Unicorns. She pleads with Jessica to give Sophia and chance but she says there’s no way in hell.
Lila bumps into Sophia and knocks her books to the floor. She grabs her play and starts to mockingly read it in an overly dramatic way. This makes Sophia run off and cry. She says the play’s over before it starts. She says everyone was laughing. They laugh at her clothes. They laugh at her family. Her brother even hit a boy that was laughing. Liz asks what was the boys name. Sophia says it doesn’t matter. Basically, Tony will always be on trial there and as long as he is he’ll never change. (And he use to be the one that encouraged *them*, Now he’s just angry all the time). She says she doesn’t think she’ll ever get her brother back and she’s scared and needs a friend. So, Liz agrees to go back to her house.
Liz continues to sneak over to see Sophie after school. On the day of the auditions, the Unicorns have gotten to the other students and hardly anyone shows up. They decide to use the committee members and hold some in class auditions. Sophia and Peter’s readings stand out above all the rest. Sophia gets the main role. Liz gets her sister. They call the play “Straight Talk” Bruce gets the role of the father. Jessica says she doesn’t see what the big deal is and count her out coming to the play. Liz says if she doesn’t, she can forget about going to LA. She says “well maybe she can drop by”. Everything goes great! All the cast performs beautifully! Someone yells “Author! Author!” and Sophia (escorted by Bruce) takes the stage again to wild applause.
Jessica says she still thinks she dresses like a toad but someone who can write like that can dress however she wants. Even her parents admit she has talent. The Martins come to get Jessica. Liz notices their daughter is snobby and is glad Jessica will be going. Jessica is hoping she can remember her name is Elizabeth. Alice and Ned have to come back early because of a random storm and are surprised when everyone jumps out and yells “Happy Birthday”. Liz tells them about the swap and says she just wanted to give Sophia her first party ever. All the guests start to clean up. Sophia shows up and walks in and is touched. Liz says she has something to tell her. Her parents say yes they do then he and Alice say happy birthday. Liz sees they aren’t going to punish Sophia for her mistake. Liz knows this is her father’s way of saying he’ll give the situation another more fair chance.
Sophia gets a tiara. Liz says she deserves it. Then she proposes a toast to friends-friends you’ll never forget-. Then Sophia opens her presents. She gets a video-tape of play from Bruce and a lilac sweater from Lila. Alice says her firm will let Sophia’s mom design her rugs and afghanistan’s for them at home like she did in her shop in Italy. They’ll also pay for her to take English classes.
Then Ned says he gave Tony the name of a psychiatrist. Sophia thanks them all and especially for giving her Liz as a friend. When Jessica comes home she’s in seventh heaven, but Liz tells her they still have a punishment coming up.
My Thoughts.
I really liked the message here and that was not to judge a book by its cover. So appropriate because Sophia is a writer. Sophia probably has more talent in her little finger than all the Unicorns put together. Sophia will probably go on to be a novelist and what will the Unicorns be doing after SVH. Oh, that's right no one knows. Except for Lila who’s a rich heiress and marries Ken.
I thought that Alice and Ned are HORRID! They're PARENTS! You think they'd take the higher road. They're just as judgmental as the Unicorns. I'm sure my mother didn't approve of a lot of the people I spent time with but she let me decide on my own about who people were. Then in another parent of the year worthy moment, Elizabeth doesn't care about missing SHOUT. Jessica wants to see SHOUT. So, who gets chosen? That just doesn't make any kind of sense. Clearly only one twin matters in this family. If I was Jessica, I'd be upset too about that.
I couldn’t feel too (too) bad for Steven because COME ON Steven! One minute you're with a group of guys dogging Tony out then you've got his back and are hoping to his defense. You can't talk smack about someone behind their back and be nice in their face. And you wonder why he hit you. Should he have hit all of em and not just Steven? Probably! But I do think Tony needs some serious anger management therapy. You can’t just go around jumping people because you have daddy issues.
I really liked the sense with the picnic. I remember the (sandwiches, potato salad, and fruit punch) on the school lawn sounds really nice. Something again that I never heard of tho. A picnic on the school ground definitely isn't a thing here.
RATING: I probably give it a 7. Ned gets Tony help. Alice gets Miss Rizzo a job. And because the plays a success they all accept Sophia for more than just her outward appearance. Then she has a great birthday to boot. So, all is well in the world of Sweet Valley. If only it would be this easy sometimes for people to accept someone that's from a lower background or basically anyone not just for what they have but who they are inside. But sadly, we don't all live in the perfect sunny world of SV where things don't get resolved by the end of the book.
Jessica finds out that Liz is walking home with Sophia Rizzo and makes no secret she disapproves. She says “If you keep picking up strays, one of these days you’re going to get bitten.” Liz says if Sophia bites her she hopes she infects her with her way of words. Sophia recently wrote an article for the Sixers and it blew Liz away with how funny and well written it was. Thus, she’s not thinking about the Rizzo’s bad reputation (especially Sophia’s brother).
Sophia’s brother (Anthony) broke into someone’s house and stole a VCR. In Jessica’s eyes Sophia is a criminal by association. There’s a play coming up and Liz says she has to meet up with Sophia because their going to try to squeeze some info out of Mr. Bowman and she wants Sophia to help write it. Jessica (who can’t wait to try out) wants a splashy musical with lots of dancing and singing. She dumps her books on Liz to carry home and heads off to the Dairi Burger to meet up with the Unicorns.
Sophia says she wishes she was as popular as Jessica. Liz says she’s not missing out on much. Basically there are some of them that are okay on an individual basis but when they get together they bring out the worse in each other. Sophia says she know what she means and shows Liz a note that says “We don’t need your kind in SV. Get out, and take your brother with you.” At the bottom is a clumsily drawn horse with a big horn in the center of it’s head. Liz is pissed off and says she didn’t think they’d go this far. Liz makes a mental note to talk to Jessica later and apologizes. Besides they don’t even know her brother. Sophia says her *mother* feels the same way. Ever since their Papa left, Tony doesn’t listen to anyone.
Mr. Bowman gives them the scoop. This years he’s decided to let the students write their own play. The department has picked a writing committee composed of the two best English students from each grade in the school. Liz and Sophia are the sixth grade representatives. Sophia is happier than Liz’s ever seen. Mr. Bowman gives them the name of the members and says they can call them and set up a first meeting. Liz asks Mr. Bowman to be their advisor and he says he’d be honored. Liz wants to call the article “Student Play to Feature Students’ Own Story, by Sophia Rizzo and Elizabeth Wakefield. Sophia tho wants her name left off (like all the other articles she’s helped write). She says no one would want to read anything with her name on it. Liz in short says screw the Unicorns. They both wrote it. If there’s a problem it’s with her too.
They’re friends. Sophia agrees. Sophia asks Liz if she’d like to walk home with her and read some of the plays she wrote. Liz says she’d be glad to (hoping Sophia doesn’t notice her unease). Sophia shows Liz some of her poems, stories, and plays and Liz is extremely impressed. Its hard tho for her to imagine her and her brother acting these out. She asks where her brother is and she says in school and he should be home any minute. Liz gets a bad feeling and says she should be going. (Not wanting to be there when he gets there). Liz asks Sophia to hand out the Sixers issues the next day but Sophia says she has to help her mother. Her leg isn’t as good now and they don’t have a lot of help. Her brother use to help but now.. Liz again compliments her on her work and says she likes the one about the older sister being jealous of her little sister. Sophia says she outgrew fairy tales and now she likes to write about real things that happen to people.
Even tho she doesn’t have a baby sister she says she can just imagine what it would be like to have one. On the way home, Liz thinks about how she wishes some of the other SV kids could be as feeling are Sophia. Jessica has big news when Liz gets home. They’ll be going to LA next month. One of their dad’s clients has a daughter and she’ll need company. They’ll go shopping, stay at a big hotel, and best of all they’ll get to see Shout (a musical). They both start coming up with all these plans, but Alice says it’ll only be for 2 days. Alice goes to pick up Steven, but he’s gotten a ride home. Liz tells him and Jessica about the play (and for some reason thinks they’ll be excited). Instead, they warn her against associating with the Rizzo’s.
Liz can’t believe they can be so shallow and heartless. She brings up the note. Jessica just says it wasn’t her idea alone. They voted on it. But she did agree with it. Steven throws in his two cens about what bad news Tony is. He doesn’t care about what he says, how he dresses, and he doesn’t show up at school half the time (because he’s probably out hitting up stores and houses). Liz tho is unphased. Their dad comes home with bad news. Only one of the twins can go to LA. He says he’d buy an extra ticket but it’s been sold out for months. Liz says Jessica can go. Her father says no. They’ll draw straws. They find out Alice and Ned will be going to a friend’s anniversary party on their boat so, whichever twin doesn’t get to go will be home by themselves. Steven says he’ll write a number on a piece of paper whoever picks closet will win. Of course, Liz wins. Jessica is upset. Good things are happening for her parents, Liz, and Steven (whose team is on a winning streak. One more win and Ned’s offered to buy all the team ice-cream sundaes at Casey’s).
Liz offers to get the cast to autograph a program and get her a shirt. Jessica says it’s not the same. To top things off Liz tells her they’re having the first meeting about the play and it’s at their house. Only Jessica has invited Lila over that day. Jessica uses Liz’s guilt to manipulate her to do her long-division homework while she practices cheers with Lila. Jessica tries to get her to keep Sophia upstairs, but Liz tells her she and Sophia are friends and she’s not about to hide it. Liz speaks to Lila and acknowledges Sophia. Lila doesn’t say anything. Jessica appears and tells Sophia she’s glad she came to pick up the old box of clothes her mother had. This offends Sophia but Liz tells her don’t worry about it. Jessica just got mixed up.
Everyone is full of questions for Liz the next day before school. Bruce even says his father will be video taping it and he can have people over to watch it at his place. He also throws in having a part for him. Liz says since he likes the spotlight he can do the lights for the show. At lunch, Julie, Amy, and Liz agree they want the play to be about what it’s like to be in middle school. They note that she’s never there for lunch and plan to invite her to join them. They plan to have a picnic with sandwiches, drinks, fruit, and potato salad. Liz gives Sophie the invitation and when she gives it to her Sophia smiles and says she’ll bring some of her mother’s fruit punch. She also tells her to bring some of her plays to the committee meeting.
Mary is on the committee and also a friend of Bruce’s (Peter Jefferies). Liz worries about how they’ll take Sophia’s writing. Liz gives a great speech about how it’s time they started to write what’s important to *them*. There’s an argument about how can they show what’s important to each of them, but Liz points out they all have things in common like family problems. Sophie then reads a scene about a girl that wants to start out late. There’s silence. Then a boy named Nort says that’s definitely them. Then they all get excited and start to pour out ideas. When she gets home it’s too quiet and the fridge is full. She finds Steven who has a black eye from Tony. He was standing with a group of kids that were talking about Tony and then Tony came from out of nowhere and knocked him the hell out.
Liz finds out that there was a projector missing from the AV room and some of the kids were blaming Tony. One boy called him “Hot Fingers” and Steven started talking ish about checking his books for burn marks. Then some boys tried to get his science book. Steven says he tried to stop them (claiming he was thinking of Liz’s words about how they shouldn’t judge Tony without a fair trial and he tried to tell them this but then Tony came and punched his lights out. He says it taught him a lesson. Never to listen to her. Steven doesn’t come downstairs for breakfast so Liz doesn’t hear what her parents say. The anticafeteria lunch group have their first outside picnic and vow to do it every week. They find out Sophia’s birthday is next month when they talk about celebrating birthdays. Sophia thanks Liz later for the best lunch she’s ever had. It feels like the party she never had.
Liz says then they’ll have to have a party. She tells her to meet her in front of the office after school. Jessica finds her and wants to tell her what their parents said but she says she has to talk to Sophia. Just as Sophia is coming up the steps, Jessica says as long as Liz is talking to “Hot Fingers” sister she should tell her she hopes she likes putting on a play with no one in it. Sophia asks Liz what she means (confused). Liz says they’ll talk about it later but first they have to talk about her party. She says it’s the day after the play. Sophia worries that anyone will show, but Liz says by them she’ll be a famous playwright. They hang out at Sophia, until Liz hears Tony come home. Sophia introduces him and Tony holds out his hand. Liz wonders if it’s the same one that hit Steven and practically runs out of there.
Her parents are waiting for her when she gets home, and tell Liz they are no longer allowing her to spend time with Sophia outside of school. Liz tries to argue that what her brother does isn’t Sophia’s fault, but her father’s made up his mind. They’re better off having nothing to do with the Rizzo’s. Jessica asks later what happened. Liz tells her don’t act like she doesn’t know. She’s probably the one that instigated it. Jessica says she was just trying to *protect* her, but she is happy about the outcome. Jessica has written a fan letter to the lead man (Terrance) and wants Liz to give it to her. (She’ll be going backstagged). She says of course. Then Liz finds out “Shout” is the day after the play (Sophia’s birthday). Jessica says she’s decided to focus on becoming the chairman of the mini-Olympics which is coming up after the play.
Liz again tries to get Jessica to go instead of her to see “Shout” but her parents say no. Liz gets out of going to Sophia’s the next day by saying she doesn’t feel well. Her stomach feels funny and her throat is scratchy. (Instead of just telling Sophia the truth). Sophia says that’s too bad. But when she says she doesn’t know what she more excited for the play or the party. Steven suggests to Liz to do the ol switchero, but she decides not to tell her about the party. Jessica is suspicious of why Liz doesn’t want to go. She just brings up the play. She tries to get Jessica to read some of it but she says she wants nothing to do with it and neither do the rest of the Unicorns. She pleads with Jessica to give Sophia and chance but she says there’s no way in hell.
Lila bumps into Sophia and knocks her books to the floor. She grabs her play and starts to mockingly read it in an overly dramatic way. This makes Sophia run off and cry. She says the play’s over before it starts. She says everyone was laughing. They laugh at her clothes. They laugh at her family. Her brother even hit a boy that was laughing. Liz asks what was the boys name. Sophia says it doesn’t matter. Basically, Tony will always be on trial there and as long as he is he’ll never change. (And he use to be the one that encouraged *them*, Now he’s just angry all the time). She says she doesn’t think she’ll ever get her brother back and she’s scared and needs a friend. So, Liz agrees to go back to her house.
Liz continues to sneak over to see Sophie after school. On the day of the auditions, the Unicorns have gotten to the other students and hardly anyone shows up. They decide to use the committee members and hold some in class auditions. Sophia and Peter’s readings stand out above all the rest. Sophia gets the main role. Liz gets her sister. They call the play “Straight Talk” Bruce gets the role of the father. Jessica says she doesn’t see what the big deal is and count her out coming to the play. Liz says if she doesn’t, she can forget about going to LA. She says “well maybe she can drop by”. Everything goes great! All the cast performs beautifully! Someone yells “Author! Author!” and Sophia (escorted by Bruce) takes the stage again to wild applause.
Jessica says she still thinks she dresses like a toad but someone who can write like that can dress however she wants. Even her parents admit she has talent. The Martins come to get Jessica. Liz notices their daughter is snobby and is glad Jessica will be going. Jessica is hoping she can remember her name is Elizabeth. Alice and Ned have to come back early because of a random storm and are surprised when everyone jumps out and yells “Happy Birthday”. Liz tells them about the swap and says she just wanted to give Sophia her first party ever. All the guests start to clean up. Sophia shows up and walks in and is touched. Liz says she has something to tell her. Her parents say yes they do then he and Alice say happy birthday. Liz sees they aren’t going to punish Sophia for her mistake. Liz knows this is her father’s way of saying he’ll give the situation another more fair chance.
Sophia gets a tiara. Liz says she deserves it. Then she proposes a toast to friends-friends you’ll never forget-. Then Sophia opens her presents. She gets a video-tape of play from Bruce and a lilac sweater from Lila. Alice says her firm will let Sophia’s mom design her rugs and afghanistan’s for them at home like she did in her shop in Italy. They’ll also pay for her to take English classes.
Then Ned says he gave Tony the name of a psychiatrist. Sophia thanks them all and especially for giving her Liz as a friend. When Jessica comes home she’s in seventh heaven, but Liz tells her they still have a punishment coming up.
My Thoughts.
I really liked the message here and that was not to judge a book by its cover. So appropriate because Sophia is a writer. Sophia probably has more talent in her little finger than all the Unicorns put together. Sophia will probably go on to be a novelist and what will the Unicorns be doing after SVH. Oh, that's right no one knows. Except for Lila who’s a rich heiress and marries Ken.
I thought that Alice and Ned are HORRID! They're PARENTS! You think they'd take the higher road. They're just as judgmental as the Unicorns. I'm sure my mother didn't approve of a lot of the people I spent time with but she let me decide on my own about who people were. Then in another parent of the year worthy moment, Elizabeth doesn't care about missing SHOUT. Jessica wants to see SHOUT. So, who gets chosen? That just doesn't make any kind of sense. Clearly only one twin matters in this family. If I was Jessica, I'd be upset too about that.
I couldn’t feel too (too) bad for Steven because COME ON Steven! One minute you're with a group of guys dogging Tony out then you've got his back and are hoping to his defense. You can't talk smack about someone behind their back and be nice in their face. And you wonder why he hit you. Should he have hit all of em and not just Steven? Probably! But I do think Tony needs some serious anger management therapy. You can’t just go around jumping people because you have daddy issues.
I really liked the sense with the picnic. I remember the (sandwiches, potato salad, and fruit punch) on the school lawn sounds really nice. Something again that I never heard of tho. A picnic on the school ground definitely isn't a thing here.
RATING: I probably give it a 7. Ned gets Tony help. Alice gets Miss Rizzo a job. And because the plays a success they all accept Sophia for more than just her outward appearance. Then she has a great birthday to boot. So, all is well in the world of Sweet Valley. If only it would be this easy sometimes for people to accept someone that's from a lower background or basically anyone not just for what they have but who they are inside. But sadly, we don't all live in the perfect sunny world of SV where things don't get resolved by the end of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2015
In this one, the majority of Sweet Valley exposes their classism (that they miraculously overcome in a couple weeks, daaaamn), Elizabeth Wakefield remains the sanest human in this town, and we learn Jessica Wakefield's dumbassery was a result of genetics (How Mr. and Mrs. Wakefield survive darwinism??)
February 12, 2017
Yep, Jess is still a bitch. lol
September 13, 2009
I really love this book! I recommend this book to everyone!
Read
October 26, 2025Elizabeth's new found character arc ended up in a crashing heap on the floor in this book. Starting out as her usual goody two shoes self, Elizabeth rallies round Sophia Rizzo when the rest of the class are busy judging her for being related to her brother and his thieving ways. It turns out Sophia is a talented writer, and when Mr Bowman breaks the news that Elizabeth and Sophia can be part of the writing team of the school play, Elizabeth practically wets her pants in a bid to champion Sophia as lead writer and turn people's perception of her around. In the meantime, Mr Wakefield's friend has invited only one of twins to spend a weekend in LA with their family. Why? Who knows. Of course, it's Elizabeth who fairly wins the chance to go but Jessica is FUMING. The trip is the day after the school play and turns out, it's also Sophia's birthday that day. Elizabeth and Jessica naturally pull a switcheroo so Jessica can go to LA, and Elizabeth can throw a surprise party for Sophia at her house despite Mr & Mrs W having expressly told her not to see Sophia outside of school! Mr & Mrs W come back from their beach trip early, only to walk in on the surprise party and 40 kids in their house. Do they throw everyone out and ground Elizabeth? No of course not, they apologise to Sophia, go and pick up her mum, offer her mum a job and her criminal brother a counsellor. You weren't expecting anything different, were you?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2018
There's a lot of detailed reviews of this book so I'll keep this short.
Elizabeth befriends the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Her surprisingly progressive and understanding family goes nuts apparently because they all have decided that she should have nothing to do with Sophia because of her home situation (single mom, brother in trouble, poor as dirt) so Liz does the Jessica thing - she starts lying. And even goes so far as to plan a party for Sophia when the Wakefield family is out of town for the weekend. Whoa, Liz!
(In today's terms, who would leave a 12-year-old on her own like that for an entire day anymore?)
As a side note: Liz's idea of a party is pretty tame, but then she IS Liz.
Overall, not the best book in the series. Everyone is acting pretty unreasonably. I really liked the character of Sophia but I'm worried that she disappears into the Sweet Valley vortex after this book. Which is too back, she's one of the more interesting people that we've met thus far.
Elizabeth befriends the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Her surprisingly progressive and understanding family goes nuts apparently because they all have decided that she should have nothing to do with Sophia because of her home situation (single mom, brother in trouble, poor as dirt) so Liz does the Jessica thing - she starts lying. And even goes so far as to plan a party for Sophia when the Wakefield family is out of town for the weekend. Whoa, Liz!
(In today's terms, who would leave a 12-year-old on her own like that for an entire day anymore?)
As a side note: Liz's idea of a party is pretty tame, but then she IS Liz.
Overall, not the best book in the series. Everyone is acting pretty unreasonably. I really liked the character of Sophia but I'm worried that she disappears into the Sweet Valley vortex after this book. Which is too back, she's one of the more interesting people that we've met thus far.
April 29, 2025
The basics: there's a family, the Rizzo family, where the son has spent time in reform school. Sophia is the daughter and is a really nice person, but the prejudice against the family from almost everyone else is very strong.
This impacts the school, Elizabeth, Jessica and others.
There's going to be a school play and Elizabeth is involved in the writing team which also includes Sophia. So, this part is about how others react to that, major prejudice against the play because of Sophia and how Elizabeth sticks up for her.
The second theme is a minor one with the twins parents getting to go to something very special that Jessica wants to see but it looks like Elizabeth will get to go rather than her.
The main plot is centered strongly on the theme of prejudice and the condemning of a person because of what someone else in the family has done. It's all handled rather well.
This impacts the school, Elizabeth, Jessica and others.
There's going to be a school play and Elizabeth is involved in the writing team which also includes Sophia. So, this part is about how others react to that, major prejudice against the play because of Sophia and how Elizabeth sticks up for her.
The second theme is a minor one with the twins parents getting to go to something very special that Jessica wants to see but it looks like Elizabeth will get to go rather than her.
The main plot is centered strongly on the theme of prejudice and the condemning of a person because of what someone else in the family has done. It's all handled rather well.
July 25, 2017
Once again, Ned and Alice prove they are the worst parents ever.
And seriously, who extends an invitation to their friend's twin daughters for a weekend trip but then suddenly says that only one twin can go?
And seriously, who extends an invitation to their friend's twin daughters for a weekend trip but then suddenly says that only one twin can go?
December 31, 2020
Another skip one to this one. Slightly better than the others but still seriously showcasing the extreme prejudices this entire school/town has over anyone even slightly different. Jess wasn’t the complete devil incarnate in this one so gets a few extra points.
March 21, 2022
I love Elizabeth! She is a true friend. She pushes the envelope in this book for all the right reasons. Elizabeth sees beyond a classmate’s exterior and supports her new friend’s talent helping her school community and family see what she sees in Sophia and her family.
March 17, 2018
Against the Rules was one of my favorite books in the whole Sweet Valley Twins series.
September 8, 2021
Yup, the Wakefields are still garbage humans.
June 14, 2024
It should have been those cafeteria pizza-burgers that were against the rules! 😁
December 31, 2024
anak sebaik Elizabeth pun pst pernah ngelawan aturan
August 4, 2023
Whoa, kind of cringey in the Italian stereotypes but I still enjoyed spending time in the town of Sweet Valley with these characters.
Read
April 26, 2022This one is basically a SVT mash-up of the prejudice against Trisha Martin in the first SVH books and Jessica's trip away in SVH: Too Good to be True. The main story is that everyone thinks that Sophia Rizzo is bad news because her brother is a violent thief. Except, of course, for Elizabeth, who is always willing to find the good in absolutely everyone. The side plot is that one of Ned's clients has invited one twin to join their family for a trip to Los Angeles. Liz wins the number game to decide which twin will go, but it's Jess who is desperate to do so because she's in love with the musical Shout and the lucky twin will get a backstage tour. Oh, and there's also a school play, because why keep things simple?
This is one of the many books in which Ned and Alice are terrible parents. Sophia's brother Tony gives Steven a black eye, so they decide that Liz isn't allowed to see Sophia at all out of school. It would be one thing if they just didn't want her to go to Sophia's house out of the fear that Tony might do the same to her. But that would be too sensible. Instead, they ban any contact, because there's no better way of judging a person than by other people's actions, amiright?
For once of only a few times in her life, Liz is a rebel, and continues to spend most of her time at Sophia's house.
This isn't one of the most interesting Twins books, largely because the ghost writer tries to fit too much into such a short novel. I think it would've been better if the LA plot was cut, irrelevant and glossed-over like it is.
This is one of the many books in which Ned and Alice are terrible parents. Sophia's brother Tony gives Steven a black eye, so they decide that Liz isn't allowed to see Sophia at all out of school. It would be one thing if they just didn't want her to go to Sophia's house out of the fear that Tony might do the same to her. But that would be too sensible. Instead, they ban any contact, because there's no better way of judging a person than by other people's actions, amiright?
For once of only a few times in her life, Liz is a rebel, and continues to spend most of her time at Sophia's house.
This isn't one of the most interesting Twins books, largely because the ghost writer tries to fit too much into such a short novel. I think it would've been better if the LA plot was cut, irrelevant and glossed-over like it is.
May 31, 2022
Sweet Valley Twins 9 - Against the rules
Sophia Rizzo is an outcast because her brother is bad news. But Liz of course, thinks Sophia is just dandy. They are working together on a writing committee for the school play, and Liz starts spending a lot of time with Sophia, and no one approves, even her parents after he punches out Steven and they ban Lis from seeing Sophia after school! Meanwhile, Jess is devastated that Liz gets to go to LA to see ‘Shout!’ with one of Ned’s clients daughters instead of her. Liz decides to throw Sophia a birthday party despite the ban, but then realises it falls on the same day she’s going to see Shout! So Liz convinces Jess to switch, and wants to throw Sophia a secret party while the rest of her family is away. Even after getting what she wants, Jess refuses to participate or see the play, because of Sofia but despite Liz. Some sister! Liz blackmails her into coming 🙄 And the play is such a hit (even with Sofia playing a main part, alongside Liz as her sister and Bruce and Caroline as her parents) now everyone loves Sofia… 🤔 The switch and secret party plans go off without a hitch… until of course, the Wakefields decide to go get Jess to take with them, ruin the surprise and find out Liz’s scheme. Of course Liz us never wrong so they apologise and all is forgiven! Alice even offers Sofias mum a job at her work 🥹 Of course Ned referred Tony to a Psychologist, so the Wakefields really did save all of the Rizzo’s lives 🙄
My rating - 4/10 - While Jess got rewarded for being nasty and everyone loved Sofia magically, it was nice seeing Liz break the rules. Even though she got off scot free (a grounding may have been coming but I doubt it!).
#sweetvalley #sweetvalleykids #sweetvalleytwins #unicornclub #sweetvalleyjnrhigh #sweetvalleyhigh #sweetvalleysenioryear #sweetvalleyuniversity #sweetvalleyseries #bookreview
Sophia Rizzo is an outcast because her brother is bad news. But Liz of course, thinks Sophia is just dandy. They are working together on a writing committee for the school play, and Liz starts spending a lot of time with Sophia, and no one approves, even her parents after he punches out Steven and they ban Lis from seeing Sophia after school! Meanwhile, Jess is devastated that Liz gets to go to LA to see ‘Shout!’ with one of Ned’s clients daughters instead of her. Liz decides to throw Sophia a birthday party despite the ban, but then realises it falls on the same day she’s going to see Shout! So Liz convinces Jess to switch, and wants to throw Sophia a secret party while the rest of her family is away. Even after getting what she wants, Jess refuses to participate or see the play, because of Sofia but despite Liz. Some sister! Liz blackmails her into coming 🙄 And the play is such a hit (even with Sofia playing a main part, alongside Liz as her sister and Bruce and Caroline as her parents) now everyone loves Sofia… 🤔 The switch and secret party plans go off without a hitch… until of course, the Wakefields decide to go get Jess to take with them, ruin the surprise and find out Liz’s scheme. Of course Liz us never wrong so they apologise and all is forgiven! Alice even offers Sofias mum a job at her work 🥹 Of course Ned referred Tony to a Psychologist, so the Wakefields really did save all of the Rizzo’s lives 🙄
My rating - 4/10 - While Jess got rewarded for being nasty and everyone loved Sofia magically, it was nice seeing Liz break the rules. Even though she got off scot free (a grounding may have been coming but I doubt it!).
#sweetvalley #sweetvalleykids #sweetvalleytwins #unicornclub #sweetvalleyjnrhigh #sweetvalleyhigh #sweetvalleysenioryear #sweetvalleyuniversity #sweetvalleyseries #bookreview
August 8, 2019
RATING: 4 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
I picked up one of the Sweet Valley Twins novel at the library (before my strict read in order only rule) and fell in love with the California twins and their friends and family. I had just started reading thicker chapter books, and joining the library summer reading club, I went through these books pretty quick. I was excited that I could read and really fell in love with books and reading. I believe I was about 7-9 when I read these books so it was exciting to read about 12 year old popular preteens. I could relate to both Elizabeth and Jessica, and really could not pick which twin I liked better. I would not finish this series as I would quickly move on to Sweet Valley High (Double Love). These are very tame books, and any age could read them. First crushes and bullying were the big issues that I can remember. This is very Full House (TV series) kind of books.
***This is a series review***
(Review Not on Blog)
I picked up one of the Sweet Valley Twins novel at the library (before my strict read in order only rule) and fell in love with the California twins and their friends and family. I had just started reading thicker chapter books, and joining the library summer reading club, I went through these books pretty quick. I was excited that I could read and really fell in love with books and reading. I believe I was about 7-9 when I read these books so it was exciting to read about 12 year old popular preteens. I could relate to both Elizabeth and Jessica, and really could not pick which twin I liked better. I would not finish this series as I would quickly move on to Sweet Valley High (Double Love). These are very tame books, and any age could read them. First crushes and bullying were the big issues that I can remember. This is very Full House (TV series) kind of books.
***This is a series review***
April 17, 2014
Elizabeth is always in a great place in school but know that she is being friends with Sophia even after her parents warning. Will she get bulled like Sophia? But no instead Sophia is a star! And Elizabeth was already a star! She proved everybody wrong they thought that she was a terrible kid like her brother, even though he gets into trouble a lot he perfect to Sophia before her dad left. Sophia was a good kid and she was smart! These books are so good because they teach you a lesson, never judge people that might have happen because something had gone on in the past, but now look at them you can't judge somebody for their surroundings!
April 29, 2009
Aw, Elizabeth was just so good. Such a little crusader. But in this case, I'm on her side. It's unfair of everyone to tar and feather Sophia - a 12-year-old girl for heaven's sake - for how the older members of her family behave! So maybe you don't let your kid go to her house, okay, but there's nothing wrong with inviting her over and/or associating with her at school.
January 15, 2011
I thought this book really shows how sweet Elizabeth's disposition is. Even though no one liked the new girl, Elizabeth was willing to risk her reputation at school and her closeness with her family to help the new girl feel better about herself and so that she could have a good friend.
August 20, 2009
I used to love Sweet Valley Twins when I was a kid :)
October 24, 2010
Such a great way to spend my childhood in books...I loved these girls and I loved their stories. I never wanted them to end.
Read
July 4, 2011added it
Read
August 29, 2011From "Books I have read this summer" list that I found at home in NJ.
May 6, 2021
Loved these books as a child
June 22, 2013
I remember the cover just not the story.
Read
February 5, 2009JAR4-Pas
Read
February 19, 2009JAR5-Pas
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