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Sweet Valley Jr. High #1
Get Real
Elizabeth thought switching to a new school would be horrible. How could she have known that she'd make incredibly cool friends right away? Or that she'd meet a really cute guy? Jr. High is terrific!Jessica thought a new school would mean new friends and new boys. Not quite. Everyone at Sweet Valley Jr. High is so unfriendly she had to eat lunch with her dorky locker partner. Jr. High is the worst!
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First published January 12, 1999
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About the author
Francine Pascal
1,139 books1,851 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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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 9, 2015
I LOVED the SVJH books when I was a kid. Born in 1987, I came too late in the game to dig the original Sweet Valley. It all seemed too stuffy to me. But late in 1999 and early 2000, I began reading the late SVH books (the miniseries) in addition to SVU (mostly), SVH Sr. Year, and SV Jr. High. Part of me really misses going into stores like Target and Wal-Mart and seeing the latest MK & A or Sweet Valley book. Those were good times. There are still quotes I will snark below (there always will be), but I always felt that SVH Sr. Year and Jr. High were a bit better and more elevated than the original cannons. Perhaps because Liz & Jess WERE less frightening as individuals in these books (and the first person narration) made it why not many people consider these to be cannon. Well, I do. Got a problem? It's refreshing not to read about Liz & Jess behaving as total lunatics for a change.
Who are Our Friendly Neighborhood Narrators?: Jessica, Elizabeth, Anna, and Salvador
Individual Synopses: Jessica: Jessica knows that she will LOVE SVJH. If you read SVT's "Good-bye, Middle School," than you know that certain families got "re-zoned" to Jr. High instead of SVMS. You also know that SVMS used to be called SVJH, so this makes no sense at all. Jess & Liz are now 8th graders, and they would have ruled the school at SVMS if they hadn't been re-zoned to SVJH, where 9th grade is the highest grade (my school used to be like that too). Everybody except Jess & Liz gets to stay at SVMS (hmmmm. Could be they got sick of the Wakefields?). So, no Lila. No Unicorns (thank GOD). But Lila does go shopping for an outfit in Seventeen with Jess the day before school. They buy a hideous, hideous plaid skirt (kilt) and a blazer, a vest... ugh. It's a mess. Jess actually wears it, thinking that Lila will too. Lila grows a brain and realizes how hideous the outfit looks and doesn't wear it. Liz doesn't have the balls to tell Jess that she looks incredibly stupid. So nothing has changed on that front. Because Jess thought she would love SVJH she, naturally, ends up hating it. Her locker partner is dorky Ronald Rheece, her kilt makes her a laughingstock, she actually doesn't know ANYONE (GASP), and she has to eat lunch with Ronald or else sit alone. Plus, she constantly talks about Lila to the most popular girls in school, Lacey and Kristin. You know from later on that Jess & Lacey are the Jess & Melissa of SVJH. Comically, she thinks she has a real shot at being friends with Lacey. After all, JESSICA called all the shots at SVMS. It ends with Lacey thinking Jessica's brother, Steven, is actually her boyfriend. Ay yi yi.
Elizabeth, Anna, and Salvador: Since Liz thinks she will HATE SVJH and leaving all her friends behind, she ends up LOVING it, natch. Her locker partner is the ultra-popular Brian Rainey, boyfriend of Kristin. Brian explains how the schedules work to Liz so she isn't lost. In her first class the editor of the school paper, Charlie, asks for new volunteers for five open positions on the Spectator. Liz raises her hand at the last minute. Her gym class is horrible, where there is actual mention of growing breasts and menstruation (things you just don't do in SV books!). Anna, a sweet Asian girl, is told to get a bra, and Elizabeth stands up for her. Liz ditches the class (for shame!) to go to the mall and help Anna buy a sports bra. They meet up with Salvador, who has been Anna's best friend since she was a wee tot. They watch movies together every Saturday. Anna and Sal invite Liz to get pizza with them at Vito's (no more Casey's, I guess). All three make the newspaper staff. Meanwhile, Salvador has a crush on Elizabeth, which becomes an increasing problem for Anna, especially when she catches Liz (who didn't know) and Sal at a concert together on a Saturday night. She throws Gatorade on both of them, and this causes Liz to get really upset with Sal, because he told her that Anna was fine with everything. Anna is also dealing with her brother Tim's passing, and this is a slow reveal and never said outright. All's well that end's well (for now) when Sal apologizes to Anna with a pepperoni pizza and Anna calls Liz over to join in the movie night as well.
Alternate Title : "Life's Tough, Get a Helmet"
What's the Main Gripe?: Jessica thinks that she will love SVJH; Elizabeth is convinced she will hate it.
Lingering Questions: What are the names of the gorgeous twin models on the front cover? And why does SVJH suddenly exist when SVMS used to be CALLED SVJH (see SVT's "Claim to Fame")?
Cover: Good or Bad?: Excellent! The Jr. High and Senior Year twins look exactly like Liz and Jess should - too perfect, too pretty. They are all four gorgeous and yet normal looking at the same time. I was obsessed with this cover when I was younger.
Fantabulous Quotes (With Commentary): "'What do you think?' she asked eagerly. 'It was Lila's idea to get purple tartan instead of green and yellow.' Jessica twirled around, and I actually got a little nauseated from watching the green and purple in motion."
Whoever said that Elizabeth Wakefield doesn't have a sense of humor?
"'The second favor,' Brian said, 'is that I'd like to stick all our used chewing gum to the inside of the locker door so that we can use cultures from it for extra credit in biology next semester.'"
What?
"I'd forgotten how hard it is to walk up to someone and start a conversation as opposed to having THEM come up to YOU, which is how things usually went for me at SVMS."
Welcome to the real world, Jess.
"That made me feel really happy, although I guess you probably shouldn't get a good feeling from saying bad things about someone."
Nah, Liz, it's totally normal. I will let Jess explain that one to you.
"Today I would sit with the cool people. After all, I was one of them."
Jessica Wakefield, ladies and gentleman.
"I decided that Jessica was actually prettier than Elizabeth, but maybe that's because her eyes were so bright and her cheeks were flushed." -Anna
Salvador: "All I wanted to do was stand next to [Elizabeth] for the rest of my life."
Sounds like the general consensus.
Final Rating: Three stars. Jess & Liz are so much more tolerable in SVJH and SVHSY.
Who are Our Friendly Neighborhood Narrators?: Jessica, Elizabeth, Anna, and Salvador
Individual Synopses: Jessica: Jessica knows that she will LOVE SVJH. If you read SVT's "Good-bye, Middle School," than you know that certain families got "re-zoned" to Jr. High instead of SVMS. You also know that SVMS used to be called SVJH, so this makes no sense at all. Jess & Liz are now 8th graders, and they would have ruled the school at SVMS if they hadn't been re-zoned to SVJH, where 9th grade is the highest grade (my school used to be like that too). Everybody except Jess & Liz gets to stay at SVMS (hmmmm. Could be they got sick of the Wakefields?). So, no Lila. No Unicorns (thank GOD). But Lila does go shopping for an outfit in Seventeen with Jess the day before school. They buy a hideous, hideous plaid skirt (kilt) and a blazer, a vest... ugh. It's a mess. Jess actually wears it, thinking that Lila will too. Lila grows a brain and realizes how hideous the outfit looks and doesn't wear it. Liz doesn't have the balls to tell Jess that she looks incredibly stupid. So nothing has changed on that front. Because Jess thought she would love SVJH she, naturally, ends up hating it. Her locker partner is dorky Ronald Rheece, her kilt makes her a laughingstock, she actually doesn't know ANYONE (GASP), and she has to eat lunch with Ronald or else sit alone. Plus, she constantly talks about Lila to the most popular girls in school, Lacey and Kristin. You know from later on that Jess & Lacey are the Jess & Melissa of SVJH. Comically, she thinks she has a real shot at being friends with Lacey. After all, JESSICA called all the shots at SVMS. It ends with Lacey thinking Jessica's brother, Steven, is actually her boyfriend. Ay yi yi.
Elizabeth, Anna, and Salvador: Since Liz thinks she will HATE SVJH and leaving all her friends behind, she ends up LOVING it, natch. Her locker partner is the ultra-popular Brian Rainey, boyfriend of Kristin. Brian explains how the schedules work to Liz so she isn't lost. In her first class the editor of the school paper, Charlie, asks for new volunteers for five open positions on the Spectator. Liz raises her hand at the last minute. Her gym class is horrible, where there is actual mention of growing breasts and menstruation (things you just don't do in SV books!). Anna, a sweet Asian girl, is told to get a bra, and Elizabeth stands up for her. Liz ditches the class (for shame!) to go to the mall and help Anna buy a sports bra. They meet up with Salvador, who has been Anna's best friend since she was a wee tot. They watch movies together every Saturday. Anna and Sal invite Liz to get pizza with them at Vito's (no more Casey's, I guess). All three make the newspaper staff. Meanwhile, Salvador has a crush on Elizabeth, which becomes an increasing problem for Anna, especially when she catches Liz (who didn't know) and Sal at a concert together on a Saturday night. She throws Gatorade on both of them, and this causes Liz to get really upset with Sal, because he told her that Anna was fine with everything. Anna is also dealing with her brother Tim's passing, and this is a slow reveal and never said outright. All's well that end's well (for now) when Sal apologizes to Anna with a pepperoni pizza and Anna calls Liz over to join in the movie night as well.
Alternate Title : "Life's Tough, Get a Helmet"
What's the Main Gripe?: Jessica thinks that she will love SVJH; Elizabeth is convinced she will hate it.
Lingering Questions: What are the names of the gorgeous twin models on the front cover? And why does SVJH suddenly exist when SVMS used to be CALLED SVJH (see SVT's "Claim to Fame")?
Cover: Good or Bad?: Excellent! The Jr. High and Senior Year twins look exactly like Liz and Jess should - too perfect, too pretty. They are all four gorgeous and yet normal looking at the same time. I was obsessed with this cover when I was younger.
Fantabulous Quotes (With Commentary): "'What do you think?' she asked eagerly. 'It was Lila's idea to get purple tartan instead of green and yellow.' Jessica twirled around, and I actually got a little nauseated from watching the green and purple in motion."
Whoever said that Elizabeth Wakefield doesn't have a sense of humor?
"'The second favor,' Brian said, 'is that I'd like to stick all our used chewing gum to the inside of the locker door so that we can use cultures from it for extra credit in biology next semester.'"
What?
"I'd forgotten how hard it is to walk up to someone and start a conversation as opposed to having THEM come up to YOU, which is how things usually went for me at SVMS."
Welcome to the real world, Jess.
"That made me feel really happy, although I guess you probably shouldn't get a good feeling from saying bad things about someone."
Nah, Liz, it's totally normal. I will let Jess explain that one to you.
"Today I would sit with the cool people. After all, I was one of them."
Jessica Wakefield, ladies and gentleman.
"I decided that Jessica was actually prettier than Elizabeth, but maybe that's because her eyes were so bright and her cheeks were flushed." -Anna
Salvador: "All I wanted to do was stand next to [Elizabeth] for the rest of my life."
Sounds like the general consensus.
Final Rating: Three stars. Jess & Liz are so much more tolerable in SVJH and SVHSY.
April 29, 2024
After finishing recapping every Sweet Valley Twins book (check out SweetValley.Online), we moved on to High. And that was awful.
This was the exact opposite. This felt like a natural continuation from Twins, if Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant made a triumphant return to the ghostwriting brigade.
The format feels inspired by Making Out (by Team Grapplegate), the characters are more real and actually encounter problems more relatable to teens than "a famous actor moved to the neighbourhood and I want to be in his next movie!".
The mild downside is that it's written in first person from multiple points of view. However, with the solid upturn in quality, I can definitely overlook my personal preferences to read more about characters I'm fond of before they turn into the soul-sucking harpies that attend Sweet Valley High.
A big fat win.
(On the subject of fat, Jessica encounters a chubby girl and not only does she not fat-shame her, she actively praises the girl's pretty hair. Progress. Isn't it nice not to hate the lead characters?)
This was the exact opposite. This felt like a natural continuation from Twins, if Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant made a triumphant return to the ghostwriting brigade.
The format feels inspired by Making Out (by Team Grapplegate), the characters are more real and actually encounter problems more relatable to teens than "a famous actor moved to the neighbourhood and I want to be in his next movie!".
The mild downside is that it's written in first person from multiple points of view. However, with the solid upturn in quality, I can definitely overlook my personal preferences to read more about characters I'm fond of before they turn into the soul-sucking harpies that attend Sweet Valley High.
A big fat win.
(On the subject of fat, Jessica encounters a chubby girl and not only does she not fat-shame her, she actively praises the girl's pretty hair. Progress. Isn't it nice not to hate the lead characters?)
July 2, 2017
I've actually never read any of the books in this series, because I was busy reading SVH Senior Year while they were being published. However, I saw that my library had exactly three of these books on the shelves and I just could not resist.
This was actually really cute, and the twins were a lot more relatable here. Continuity-wise it makes zero sense, but that was never a high priority for Sweet Valley books anyway.
This was actually really cute, and the twins were a lot more relatable here. Continuity-wise it makes zero sense, but that was never a high priority for Sweet Valley books anyway.
February 5, 2025
Still a banger 25 years later LOL
Read
December 4, 2024Get Real
Lila wales Jessica up by shoving a fashion magazine in her face. It’s a picture of a girl in a white blouse, vest, and pleated skirt. Lila says they have to get the outfit. She can wear it on the first day of school at Sweet Valley Middle School and Jessica can wear it at Sweet Valley Junior High. The twins have got rezoned to a new school. Sweet Valley Junior High is from the 7th to the 9th grade. So, they head to the mall to look for the skirts in purple.
Liz isn’t feeling the change. Jessica sees it as an opportunity to meet new cute guys and impress her teachers. Steven meanwhile is on a kick to get a new car. While he’s not sympathetic with Liz’s worries, he does offer to take the twins to school-if he can borrow the car-. Alice tho says it’s probably good for them to get use to getting up and catching the bus. Liz doesn’t think much of Jessica’s tartan skirt but feels better when she hears Lila’s wearing the same thing.
Anna and Salvador are also talking about school. Anna has been trying to find something to wear to school. Salvador complains about not wanting go to go school. They make plans to hang out Saturday and make toffee popcorn. Anna tries to get Salvador join “The Spectator” (the school paper). Anna isn’t on it but she’s been writing a lot and plans to try out for it. But he he doesn’t want to join a paper that writes about “talking dogs” However, he says he maybe. He gets off the phone when Anna starts to talk about clothes. He hands it over to his grandmother (who has great taste).
The twins are giving their schedules by Mrs. Scarlet. When she asks are they sisters, Jessica says they aren’t related. (Uh, does Jessica think she’s BLIND!?) Liz is surprised to see that they don’t have homeroom. She then gives them their locker numbers and combinations. They don’t have any classes together and their lockers aren’t together. Jessica rushes off to find her locker. Liz finds hers and sees that a long-haired blond guy is putting things in her locker. It’s Brian Rainy-her locker partner-. It’s a new thing the school is doing. He asks for two favors. 1) Not to put up a makeup mirror 2) To put all their used gum in their locker. So they can use cultures for it for extra credit in biology? He offers that they can be biology partners, if they take the same class.
Before leaving he says they only have three classes a day (plus gym) but the classes change every other day. Brian then introduces her to Salvador who says he can’t wait to see her again. Jessica’s locker partner turns out to be a skinny guy with big brown eyes (that looks like a puppy). His name is Ronald Rheece He’s on the nerdy side. HE tells her he likes math, building castles out of matchsticks, constructing ham radios using toaster parts and trying to find the world’s largest prime number. He’s on the chess team and the debate club.
Jessica’s first class is Algebra. She goes to sit by a girl named Sally but she says she’s saying a seat for Deana. Possibly because Jessica told her a hairstyle looked like a pineapple. Jessica brushes it off. Neither she or Sally are at the top of her list. She immediately notices a brown-haired girl and a ski-jump nose that says her name is Lacy. Jessica tries to smile at Lacy, but she just smirks at her outfit. She has on jeans and a sleeveless shirt. Jessica vows to wear something similar the next day. The bell rings and Jessica gets up -forgetting that the bells ring every 50 minutes but the class isn’t over yet-.
Salvador is in Liz’s next class and she thinks she’s cute. Charmine (the editor of The Spectator) comes in and says tryouts for being held for five spots on the paper. There’s a girl named Charlie that seems to intimidate Salvador from trying out. Liz doesn’t think she stands a chance to get on this paper. (Charlie btw is Charmaine). Liz waits until Charlie almost walks out the door to decide to ask for an application-changing her mind when Salvador takes an application-. In gym, the teacher hands out swimsuits. Jessica and Lacey make a comment at the same time about their hair. Then Jesica throws in something Lila said about swimming being the worse thing for your hair. A popular girl named Kristen says she knows Lila. This seems to get Lacy’s attention because she knows Lila (but not for long). Jessica leaves for lunch and finds the only ones she knows are Sally and Deana. She ends up sitting with Ronald. He tells her he likes her skirt. She vows to burn it.
Liz is about to talk to Anna in gym class, but Mrs. Scarlet calls her out -in front of everyone- for not having a sports bra. Anna says she dropped it. Liz offers her one of her extra ones. Then Salvador says his feet itch and the teacher has to examine everyone for athlete’s foot (feet?). Anna didn’t drop her bra and Liz doesn’t have an extra one. So, Liz suggests they cut and go get her one. On the way there, they get into a strange conversation about bras and cramps. Liz brings up her mother asking in front of her father and brother if she had cramps and how Steven nearly passed out. Anna says her brother would have felt the same way. Then she chides herself, but Liz doesn’t seem to think this is weird.
The bras are expensive and Liz says she has 10.00 on it, but Anna says she can put it on her mom’s card. Anna starts to see the weirdness in this, but thinks at least it’s not Salvador. Then he shows up to buy a brazier for his grandmother (which surprises the rude sales lady). He tells her he thinks his grandmother is her size. He asks her what’s a Zebra (the largest size) Uh. YEEEAH! It turns out Salvador cut and they all go to Vito’s pizza. They all list the top 10 bad things about Charlie.
Right before his eyes, the notebook went up in flames. It was so sudden that ‘lunch” jumped to his feet and immediately tried to think of where the fire extinguisher was. He tried to think of the last time he’d used it. Was it under the sink or in the closet? Should he call the fire department? He went to look in the closet. It was the closet and right by the door. It was there, but when he turned back around and aimed it at the table all he saw was a pile of ashes.
. Lila calls and Jessica tells her she meet someone that knows her. Lila says she doesn’t remember Kristen. Lila however says she has a new teacher that’s going to bring the class doughnuts every day. They also have a salad bar. There’s also a new teacher that spits when he talks. A cute guy switched seats with her and she got to sit by Ellen. Jessica asks what everyone thought of her outfit, and Lila said she didn’t wear it. It was too bright and she’s going to return it. Jessica is pissed! She wanted everyone to hate it (so she wouldn’t be alone) or love it (meaning the ones in her JH had no taste). Lila invites her over after school the next day.
Salvadora’s grandmother “The Dona” and he talk about the first day of school. (He lives with her because his parents move around a lot). She tells him she’s proud of him making it through the first day without getting into trouble and asks what the best part was. He says Elizabeth. Jessica continues to make a fool of herself in front of Lacy and Kristen. In gym, she rambles on and on about Lila’s mansion and swimming pool. They just look at her. Probably wondering if Lila is her girlfriend. I don’t know what’s up with this teacher. She asks the girls are they menstrating because they can’t get in the pool if they are. The class isn’t just girls.
Jessica tho does an impressive breast stroke and the boys tease her about it all day (rolling my eyes-yeah I can really tell this is JUNIOR high). They even tell Liz. At the bus-stop, (after they turn in their applications) Anna meets Jessica for the first time. Jessica and Salvador don’t exactly hit it off. He calls her “the girl who wore the purple rug the day before” and she calls him “El Salvador”. Anna thinks Jessica is the prettier twin but when she asks Salvador, he says it’s Liz. Hands down! This kinda upsets Anna a little. (By this time, we can clearly see she has a thing for him-other than platonically- but he just thinks of her as a friend).
Anna thinks about inviting Liz on their Saturday movie night but then decides she wants Salvador to herself. Then she has a bad thought. What if they make the paper and she doesn’t. Then she brushes it off. Lila cancels on Jessica, but invites her to a sleepover that weekend (that starts with a movie). The next morning, Jessica tells Liz she should join the yearbook so she can make her look like she’s involved in a lot of activies (which Liz finds strange because she usually is). Since they don’t take the same classes, she doesn’t know what’s been up with Jessica. She asks if she misses SVMS (where it was all about them) and Liz admits she did at first, but she likes junior high.
When she gets to school, they find out they all have made the paper. Charlie tells them the first meeting is that night. Meetings are on Fridays. They usually order pizza but they all go out after. Before on the way to check to see if they made it, Salvador had his arm around Liz and it felt awkward. Now when he puts it around her it feels right. In gym, Jessica thinks about using Lila’s address so she can go to SVMS (because of something Liz said about it not being fair that an address could change your life). Jessica catches Lacy smoking in the girl’s room, but she lets her know she’s good.
She starts babbling about Lila again when Lacey says Kristen is at cheerleading practice. When Jessica asks why Lacey isn’t on the squad, she tells her its lame and then leaves. When Anna comes by to pick Salvador up for school, he’s wearing a new shirt and he’s in a hurry to get to school. His mind clearly isn’t there. At the first meeting, Anna gets assigned looking for advertisers. Charlie tells Liz and Salvador to mail the contributors so they can see where their money went. Liz and Salvador share a moment when he notices some news print on her cheek, but then Liz sees Anna looking at them,
Jessica spends the night at home with her father. When Anna comes home, her parents are sleep. She listens to a few minutes of a demo her brother Tim made. The next morning, Salvador sees a list of all the staff of the Spectator and is happy he joined when he finds Liz’s name. Dona gives Salvador tickets to see a band called Splendora and says he can take Anna, but he calls Liz instead and asks her. Liz calls to ask Anna if she’s going but no one answers so she figures she is. Jessica lends Liz her green velvet jacket with the Mondrian collar.
Jessica waits for Lila at the movies, but she doesn’t show. She runs into other parents and then Ned starts talking to one of his lawyer friends whose son turns out to be Ronald. She convinces her parents to go back inside and she’s still out there she’ll ride home with them or she’ll wait for Steven. She runs into Lacie and lies and tells her she’s waiting for Lila who’s in the bathroom.
Liz finds out Anna’s not coming, but Salvador says she doesn’t like Splendora so Liz thinks it’s ok. Jessica finally get through to Steven after getting the operator to get the call through the busy line by saying it’s an emergency. Steven has been talking to Lila who said she told Jessica to meet her at the Cinema. Jessica could have sworn it was the Regent. One the way out, she sees Lacie again who wants to know what she’s still doing there and where is lila. Jessica tells her again she’s in the bathroom. Not worrying about lying to her this time. Anna sees Liz and Salvatore at the concert. She then spills her drink on the both of them. Jessica’s jacket is ruined. Liz and Salvatore and are clueless, but then Salvatore realizes that “sometimes they watch videos on Saturday”. Liz can’t believe he’d forget that and he says he’d better go see her. Liz calls Steven to pick her up.
When Jessica gets to Lila’s, she meets Lila’s three new friends (Ashley, Mary, Courtney). Rachel, Mandy, and Ellen aren’t coming. These new girls just made the Boosters. (Lila is now the captain). They all spell their names with double ee’s. Their ditzy and because they’re talking about stuff that goes on at SVMS, Jessica loses interest in the conversation. The next morning, Jessica would stay until the afternoon, but she leaves early. When she leaves it’s awkward between her and Lila. Lila says she’ll call her. Jessica knows she won’t.
Liz tells Jess what happened to her jacket. Jess says first to call Anna, but Liz says she won’t answer her calls. Jessica says she’s better off without either of them. But Liz thinks she needs them and she doesn’t want to start over. Salvadore comes over with a pizza for Ana that says I’m a low Sal (amender) in peperoni. She forgives him, and he offers to watch Titanic with her but first she calls Liz. Because Liz goes to Anna’s, Jessica is stuck going out with her parents. She runs into Lacey and she says she understands and won’t tell anyone. She thinks Steven is her boyfriend. She thinks she lied to her parents so she could meet him. Jessica wants to tell her the truth but she goes along with it. Liz and Salvatore tell Anna it wasn’t a date, but Liz is super aware of their elbows touching.
My Thoughts:
This series has just always felt odd to me because I’d gotten so use to them at SVMS. I kinda remember the first time I saw these at the library. This one felt familiar. Although I might have read the book, or I might have just read the summary on 1 Bruce 1. But then again it feels odd to me today to see how schools are grouped so bizzarely from when I was in school. When I went elementary was K-5. Middle was 6-8. High school was 9-12th. Now there’s a school up the street from me that’s “intermediate” and it’s 4rth and 5th. We didn’t even have a “junior high”. I don’t know if I’ll ever get use to Ana, Salvatore, and Lacey but we’ll see. This was a so-so start. It’ll be interesting to see Liz and Salvatore *attempt* to be friends not to hurt Anna and Jessica pretend she’s dating Steven to be down with Lacey.
Rating: 5
Lila wales Jessica up by shoving a fashion magazine in her face. It’s a picture of a girl in a white blouse, vest, and pleated skirt. Lila says they have to get the outfit. She can wear it on the first day of school at Sweet Valley Middle School and Jessica can wear it at Sweet Valley Junior High. The twins have got rezoned to a new school. Sweet Valley Junior High is from the 7th to the 9th grade. So, they head to the mall to look for the skirts in purple.
Liz isn’t feeling the change. Jessica sees it as an opportunity to meet new cute guys and impress her teachers. Steven meanwhile is on a kick to get a new car. While he’s not sympathetic with Liz’s worries, he does offer to take the twins to school-if he can borrow the car-. Alice tho says it’s probably good for them to get use to getting up and catching the bus. Liz doesn’t think much of Jessica’s tartan skirt but feels better when she hears Lila’s wearing the same thing.
Anna and Salvador are also talking about school. Anna has been trying to find something to wear to school. Salvador complains about not wanting go to go school. They make plans to hang out Saturday and make toffee popcorn. Anna tries to get Salvador join “The Spectator” (the school paper). Anna isn’t on it but she’s been writing a lot and plans to try out for it. But he he doesn’t want to join a paper that writes about “talking dogs” However, he says he maybe. He gets off the phone when Anna starts to talk about clothes. He hands it over to his grandmother (who has great taste).
The twins are giving their schedules by Mrs. Scarlet. When she asks are they sisters, Jessica says they aren’t related. (Uh, does Jessica think she’s BLIND!?) Liz is surprised to see that they don’t have homeroom. She then gives them their locker numbers and combinations. They don’t have any classes together and their lockers aren’t together. Jessica rushes off to find her locker. Liz finds hers and sees that a long-haired blond guy is putting things in her locker. It’s Brian Rainy-her locker partner-. It’s a new thing the school is doing. He asks for two favors. 1) Not to put up a makeup mirror 2) To put all their used gum in their locker. So they can use cultures for it for extra credit in biology? He offers that they can be biology partners, if they take the same class.
Before leaving he says they only have three classes a day (plus gym) but the classes change every other day. Brian then introduces her to Salvador who says he can’t wait to see her again. Jessica’s locker partner turns out to be a skinny guy with big brown eyes (that looks like a puppy). His name is Ronald Rheece He’s on the nerdy side. HE tells her he likes math, building castles out of matchsticks, constructing ham radios using toaster parts and trying to find the world’s largest prime number. He’s on the chess team and the debate club.
Jessica’s first class is Algebra. She goes to sit by a girl named Sally but she says she’s saying a seat for Deana. Possibly because Jessica told her a hairstyle looked like a pineapple. Jessica brushes it off. Neither she or Sally are at the top of her list. She immediately notices a brown-haired girl and a ski-jump nose that says her name is Lacy. Jessica tries to smile at Lacy, but she just smirks at her outfit. She has on jeans and a sleeveless shirt. Jessica vows to wear something similar the next day. The bell rings and Jessica gets up -forgetting that the bells ring every 50 minutes but the class isn’t over yet-.
Salvador is in Liz’s next class and she thinks she’s cute. Charmine (the editor of The Spectator) comes in and says tryouts for being held for five spots on the paper. There’s a girl named Charlie that seems to intimidate Salvador from trying out. Liz doesn’t think she stands a chance to get on this paper. (Charlie btw is Charmaine). Liz waits until Charlie almost walks out the door to decide to ask for an application-changing her mind when Salvador takes an application-. In gym, the teacher hands out swimsuits. Jessica and Lacey make a comment at the same time about their hair. Then Jesica throws in something Lila said about swimming being the worse thing for your hair. A popular girl named Kristen says she knows Lila. This seems to get Lacy’s attention because she knows Lila (but not for long). Jessica leaves for lunch and finds the only ones she knows are Sally and Deana. She ends up sitting with Ronald. He tells her he likes her skirt. She vows to burn it.
Liz is about to talk to Anna in gym class, but Mrs. Scarlet calls her out -in front of everyone- for not having a sports bra. Anna says she dropped it. Liz offers her one of her extra ones. Then Salvador says his feet itch and the teacher has to examine everyone for athlete’s foot (feet?). Anna didn’t drop her bra and Liz doesn’t have an extra one. So, Liz suggests they cut and go get her one. On the way there, they get into a strange conversation about bras and cramps. Liz brings up her mother asking in front of her father and brother if she had cramps and how Steven nearly passed out. Anna says her brother would have felt the same way. Then she chides herself, but Liz doesn’t seem to think this is weird.
The bras are expensive and Liz says she has 10.00 on it, but Anna says she can put it on her mom’s card. Anna starts to see the weirdness in this, but thinks at least it’s not Salvador. Then he shows up to buy a brazier for his grandmother (which surprises the rude sales lady). He tells her he thinks his grandmother is her size. He asks her what’s a Zebra (the largest size) Uh. YEEEAH! It turns out Salvador cut and they all go to Vito’s pizza. They all list the top 10 bad things about Charlie.
Right before his eyes, the notebook went up in flames. It was so sudden that ‘lunch” jumped to his feet and immediately tried to think of where the fire extinguisher was. He tried to think of the last time he’d used it. Was it under the sink or in the closet? Should he call the fire department? He went to look in the closet. It was the closet and right by the door. It was there, but when he turned back around and aimed it at the table all he saw was a pile of ashes.
. Lila calls and Jessica tells her she meet someone that knows her. Lila says she doesn’t remember Kristen. Lila however says she has a new teacher that’s going to bring the class doughnuts every day. They also have a salad bar. There’s also a new teacher that spits when he talks. A cute guy switched seats with her and she got to sit by Ellen. Jessica asks what everyone thought of her outfit, and Lila said she didn’t wear it. It was too bright and she’s going to return it. Jessica is pissed! She wanted everyone to hate it (so she wouldn’t be alone) or love it (meaning the ones in her JH had no taste). Lila invites her over after school the next day.
Salvadora’s grandmother “The Dona” and he talk about the first day of school. (He lives with her because his parents move around a lot). She tells him she’s proud of him making it through the first day without getting into trouble and asks what the best part was. He says Elizabeth. Jessica continues to make a fool of herself in front of Lacy and Kristen. In gym, she rambles on and on about Lila’s mansion and swimming pool. They just look at her. Probably wondering if Lila is her girlfriend. I don’t know what’s up with this teacher. She asks the girls are they menstrating because they can’t get in the pool if they are. The class isn’t just girls.
Jessica tho does an impressive breast stroke and the boys tease her about it all day (rolling my eyes-yeah I can really tell this is JUNIOR high). They even tell Liz. At the bus-stop, (after they turn in their applications) Anna meets Jessica for the first time. Jessica and Salvador don’t exactly hit it off. He calls her “the girl who wore the purple rug the day before” and she calls him “El Salvador”. Anna thinks Jessica is the prettier twin but when she asks Salvador, he says it’s Liz. Hands down! This kinda upsets Anna a little. (By this time, we can clearly see she has a thing for him-other than platonically- but he just thinks of her as a friend).
Anna thinks about inviting Liz on their Saturday movie night but then decides she wants Salvador to herself. Then she has a bad thought. What if they make the paper and she doesn’t. Then she brushes it off. Lila cancels on Jessica, but invites her to a sleepover that weekend (that starts with a movie). The next morning, Jessica tells Liz she should join the yearbook so she can make her look like she’s involved in a lot of activies (which Liz finds strange because she usually is). Since they don’t take the same classes, she doesn’t know what’s been up with Jessica. She asks if she misses SVMS (where it was all about them) and Liz admits she did at first, but she likes junior high.
When she gets to school, they find out they all have made the paper. Charlie tells them the first meeting is that night. Meetings are on Fridays. They usually order pizza but they all go out after. Before on the way to check to see if they made it, Salvador had his arm around Liz and it felt awkward. Now when he puts it around her it feels right. In gym, Jessica thinks about using Lila’s address so she can go to SVMS (because of something Liz said about it not being fair that an address could change your life). Jessica catches Lacy smoking in the girl’s room, but she lets her know she’s good.
She starts babbling about Lila again when Lacey says Kristen is at cheerleading practice. When Jessica asks why Lacey isn’t on the squad, she tells her its lame and then leaves. When Anna comes by to pick Salvador up for school, he’s wearing a new shirt and he’s in a hurry to get to school. His mind clearly isn’t there. At the first meeting, Anna gets assigned looking for advertisers. Charlie tells Liz and Salvador to mail the contributors so they can see where their money went. Liz and Salvador share a moment when he notices some news print on her cheek, but then Liz sees Anna looking at them,
Jessica spends the night at home with her father. When Anna comes home, her parents are sleep. She listens to a few minutes of a demo her brother Tim made. The next morning, Salvador sees a list of all the staff of the Spectator and is happy he joined when he finds Liz’s name. Dona gives Salvador tickets to see a band called Splendora and says he can take Anna, but he calls Liz instead and asks her. Liz calls to ask Anna if she’s going but no one answers so she figures she is. Jessica lends Liz her green velvet jacket with the Mondrian collar.
Jessica waits for Lila at the movies, but she doesn’t show. She runs into other parents and then Ned starts talking to one of his lawyer friends whose son turns out to be Ronald. She convinces her parents to go back inside and she’s still out there she’ll ride home with them or she’ll wait for Steven. She runs into Lacie and lies and tells her she’s waiting for Lila who’s in the bathroom.
Liz finds out Anna’s not coming, but Salvador says she doesn’t like Splendora so Liz thinks it’s ok. Jessica finally get through to Steven after getting the operator to get the call through the busy line by saying it’s an emergency. Steven has been talking to Lila who said she told Jessica to meet her at the Cinema. Jessica could have sworn it was the Regent. One the way out, she sees Lacie again who wants to know what she’s still doing there and where is lila. Jessica tells her again she’s in the bathroom. Not worrying about lying to her this time. Anna sees Liz and Salvatore at the concert. She then spills her drink on the both of them. Jessica’s jacket is ruined. Liz and Salvatore and are clueless, but then Salvatore realizes that “sometimes they watch videos on Saturday”. Liz can’t believe he’d forget that and he says he’d better go see her. Liz calls Steven to pick her up.
When Jessica gets to Lila’s, she meets Lila’s three new friends (Ashley, Mary, Courtney). Rachel, Mandy, and Ellen aren’t coming. These new girls just made the Boosters. (Lila is now the captain). They all spell their names with double ee’s. Their ditzy and because they’re talking about stuff that goes on at SVMS, Jessica loses interest in the conversation. The next morning, Jessica would stay until the afternoon, but she leaves early. When she leaves it’s awkward between her and Lila. Lila says she’ll call her. Jessica knows she won’t.
Liz tells Jess what happened to her jacket. Jess says first to call Anna, but Liz says she won’t answer her calls. Jessica says she’s better off without either of them. But Liz thinks she needs them and she doesn’t want to start over. Salvadore comes over with a pizza for Ana that says I’m a low Sal (amender) in peperoni. She forgives him, and he offers to watch Titanic with her but first she calls Liz. Because Liz goes to Anna’s, Jessica is stuck going out with her parents. She runs into Lacey and she says she understands and won’t tell anyone. She thinks Steven is her boyfriend. She thinks she lied to her parents so she could meet him. Jessica wants to tell her the truth but she goes along with it. Liz and Salvatore tell Anna it wasn’t a date, but Liz is super aware of their elbows touching.
My Thoughts:
This series has just always felt odd to me because I’d gotten so use to them at SVMS. I kinda remember the first time I saw these at the library. This one felt familiar. Although I might have read the book, or I might have just read the summary on 1 Bruce 1. But then again it feels odd to me today to see how schools are grouped so bizzarely from when I was in school. When I went elementary was K-5. Middle was 6-8. High school was 9-12th. Now there’s a school up the street from me that’s “intermediate” and it’s 4rth and 5th. We didn’t even have a “junior high”. I don’t know if I’ll ever get use to Ana, Salvatore, and Lacey but we’ll see. This was a so-so start. It’ll be interesting to see Liz and Salvatore *attempt* to be friends not to hurt Anna and Jessica pretend she’s dating Steven to be down with Lacey.
Rating: 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2008
In this book I read things about two twin sisters,Elizabeth and Jessica. At Jr. High Elizabeth loved it, while Jessica hated it.Elizabeth loved the school because she made a new friend. Her lockermate,Brian.
Back to Jessica. She made a new friend her lockermate too but she hated her lockermate. She hated her lockermate because he was a dorky,skinny,tall boy who no one likes
Back to Jessica. She made a new friend her lockermate too but she hated her lockermate. She hated her lockermate because he was a dorky,skinny,tall boy who no one likes
June 10, 2022
My super young, younger, youngest book.
Read this when I was in HS, along with some of those pocketbook Filipino romances I usually lent in a sari-sari store.
Liked this series, wish I could continue reading it, but my 30-something "maturity" already outgrew them.
Ah, the good ol' days where you have lots of free time to just read, and read, and then read some more.
Read this when I was in HS, along with some of those pocketbook Filipino romances I usually lent in a sari-sari store.
Liked this series, wish I could continue reading it, but my 30-something "maturity" already outgrew them.
Ah, the good ol' days where you have lots of free time to just read, and read, and then read some more.
Read
October 17, 2023Oh my gosh, I forgot about this series! I haven’t read a SVJH book in a hot minute, but this was one of my favorite sweet valley spinoff series. I know it’s unpopular, but it was always just so good to me? I need to reread these/get my hands on the ones I haven’t read.
March 6, 2021
I really do love this series. It’s fun returning to it after so long. It’s still engaging and they’re very fast paced reads. Love the twins more than ever!
December 31, 2024
This wasn’t as bad as I was expecting it to be. Read it for the nostalgia (of course). But at the same time, there wasn’t much to the story! Very forgettable.
January 7, 2023
I've been revisiting childhood faves lately and the results have not always been positive. After re-reading the first book of the Sweet Valley High series I was scared to even think about Jr. High. Because of the fact that Sweet Valley Jr. High holds a very very special place in my heart. I was OBSESSED with this series! And I can see why. These characters feel like real Jr. High kids! They're not perfect nor insufferable. Jessica is conceited and a bit annoying, but not mean-spirited! This is exactly as lovely as I remembered it being. I am trying to find all 30 books to re-read them.
July 11, 2016
This book was soooo good! I mean it talked about boys and dating a lot, (,I am not that really into that stuff) but I still really loved it! I nearly flipped when my mom brought it home! (I can't flip lol) I was soo excited that I started reading it as soon as I got to my room! when I was reading it I knew from the start that Elizabeth and Salvador really had a crush on each other. lol. but Anna got soo mad because Salvador was "her" friend. (Gosh, get a grip not everything you want belongs to you) I thought it was really rude of her to thought that Gatorade at Elizabeth! what a jerk! it's not all about you! sheesh! but then at the end I was very happy they were all friends again. (because I hate to see people fight) I hope you enjoy this book and give it a five star rating!!!
May 12, 2018
This series makes absolutely no sense in the world of Sweet Valley at all. New school, new friends (none of which will ever be mentioned again ever, as though they disappear off the planet when the twins get to SVH, which doesn't seem realisitic - they're all in the SAME CITY!)
But I liked it anyway. I liked Jessica's uncertainty. I liked the fact that Elizabeth is on the cool side of the equation (somewhat, still kind of dorky, but still...better than before). I like that Liz isn't getting pulled into the world of her crazymaking sister. I like a lot of things about it.
I just wish I could make it make sense with the rest of the books. Autistic me can't stop trying to make it fit.
I definitely want to read more of these books and see where this goes.
But I liked it anyway. I liked Jessica's uncertainty. I liked the fact that Elizabeth is on the cool side of the equation (somewhat, still kind of dorky, but still...better than before). I like that Liz isn't getting pulled into the world of her crazymaking sister. I like a lot of things about it.
I just wish I could make it make sense with the rest of the books. Autistic me can't stop trying to make it fit.
I definitely want to read more of these books and see where this goes.
December 14, 2013
"I swallowed. I hoped Salvador was sighing because he was bored. And not because he was wondering what it might be like to be in a darkened room on a couch with me... alone."
Was does this mean? One minute Anna, Salvador and Elizabeth were sitting on the couch watching a movie. But then Elizabeth feels Salvador's elbow is touching hers so she moves slightly to her side. And now this? How can she be all alone with Salvador? Where's Anna?
Was does this mean? One minute Anna, Salvador and Elizabeth were sitting on the couch watching a movie. But then Elizabeth feels Salvador's elbow is touching hers so she moves slightly to her side. And now this? How can she be all alone with Salvador? Where's Anna?
June 29, 2014
I read these because my sister used to read them, and they were hers (I found 'em in the basement) but I found that these books were quite good, and I recommend them to others (I've seen sets on eBay and Amazon that are very inexpensive.) I strongly advise, like any series, that you read them in order. While the first one is not as high quality as the next few books in the series, it is worth reading. :/
September 22, 2008
In this book there were two twin sisters, Jessica and Elizabeth. When they started Jr. high they both had different opinions. Elizabeth thought she would not meet new friends, but she did. Therefore,Jessica thought she would be popular and have a bunch of friends,but she didn't. Elizabeth started to make a lot of friends, while Jessica only had one friend, her dorky lockermate.
November 19, 2007
I read this book ages ago in junior high, and still like it till now :) this book starts with Jessica getting no friends in her new school, but Liz seems to be having a good time.
I like how the story develops. This first one is definitely promising, but the later editions are much better.
I like how the story develops. This first one is definitely promising, but the later editions are much better.
April 29, 2009
Ye gods, a Sweet Valley AU! They sure milked this series for everything it was worth... An interesting idea, but the first book was the only really okay one. After that it just seems like they were trying too hard and it's better to stick with what's tried and true.
March 3, 2011
I remember when I was so hooked on the Sweet-Valley high world (and even the tv-series). It was fun and realistic with a touch of romance (typical in a school)
Swedish title: Jessica & Elisabeth -Två världar
Swedish title: Jessica & Elisabeth -Två världar
February 5, 2008
It is good. i learned that when you are at a new school/place it is not impossible to meet some one that you really like and you want to be friends with.
April 14, 2009
I read a whole bunch of these books when I was nine, before moving on to the SVH, Senior Year and SVU. These were definitely the cutest, and on par with Senior Year for realism.
Currently reading
August 15, 2009that changing school is not so bad it's somthing great to meet new people and maybe old friends.
November 12, 2009
good book and funny too
May 10, 2021
Loved these books as a child
July 8, 2013
I have read so many of these books I can't remember all of them.
Want to read
February 17, 2014How do you read them?
Read
March 2, 2016Good book
Read
May 7, 2019Goodreads definitely left the wrong summary here.... they definitely did not go into a cave here. They started junior high and became separated from their friends here because of the districts.
Currently reading
July 15, 2017really great story!
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