Won't Someone Help Anna?

Sweet Valley Twins #69

by Francine Pascal

From the minute she arrives at Sweet Valley Middle School, everybody loves Anna Reynolds. She's outgoing and funny—and almost as boy-crazy as the Unicorns! All of Anna's new friends are especially impressed that she can handle the pressures of school as a hearing-impaired student.

The only one who isn't impressed is Cammi Adams. For some reason, Cammi is convinced that Anna won't last long at SVMS. When her prediction starts to come true, Cammi realizes that she may be the only one who can help Anna. But if she does, it will mean revealing a secret she wants to keep hidden forever!

Genres: Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade

135 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1993

About the author

Francine 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.

Reviews

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember a part of this well - how Anna coped in classes until the teachers would turn to the board and suddenly she could no longer lip-read what was going on.

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the cover just not the story.

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The library needs a new mural and the students in the class decide they will do one as a class project. Jessica starts off the story with yet another lie and it ends up causing a lot of trouble for her, yet in the end has an unexpected benefit.

Elizabeth is assigned to work with Sophia and Sarah and it's not long at all before she finds out that the two girls seem to absolutely hate each other. They even end up damaging a schoolroom. Sarah's mother is dead and Sophia's father is also not there. The girls continue to fight until they find something that can unit them - their parents seem to have fallen for each other and now they job, as they see it, is to stop any developing romance

It's a good story.

[Cws]

JEAR3-Pas

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl being raised by deaf parents and hiding it is tested when a new deaf student transfers to the school.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the better SVT books. Anna, a deaf girl, is the new student at SVMS. New kids are always the shiny new toy at school, but it gets more interesting because Anna is deaf.

In this book, we learn that Cammi Adams also has deaf parents. This is why she’s so hesitant to be Anna’s friend at first- because she KNOWS what it’s like to be different.

Also, i’m sort of a sweet valley snob. I’ve read every spinoff series (not EVERY book in EVERY spinoff, but i’ve made a good way through the whole series…. except for senior year and confidential, and that one series where Elizabeth is in London.)

So yes, I have read Sweet Valley junior high.

In SVJH, Anna is one of the girls that Elizabeth has become friends with. Anna is NOT the same Anna that’s in this book, but they’re both asian. (sorry if me pointing that out seems racist. i just thought it was strange that they couldn’t change some names around since they’re obviously not the same character.)

In this book, Anna has a cat named Toby.

WELL GUESS WHAT!! In SVJH, Anna has a brother (who has recently passed away) named Toby.

I guess i just thought this was a weird mixup in the Sweet Valley multiverse of madness.

Also, despite being about a more serious topic, the one liners in this book were actually hilarious.

Here are some highlights-

“”Play dumb if you want to, but everyone else in the school knows about the high-school girl who’s warm for your form.””(WHAT??)

“”I don’t know,” Elizabeth replied as she walked out the door. “But if they ever have an election for most insane sixth grader, you’ve got my vote for sure.””

“”yeah, i know i just talked to you,” Steven said, “but i’m calling to ask you something very important. Jessica has gone nuts. Would you talk her into seeking professional treatment?” He handed the phone to Jessica, grinned, and took off.
“Hello? the voice on the line said. “Jessica?”
“Um…. wrong number!” Jessica blurted, slamming down the phone.”

“”Nice job, Lila,” Mandy said. “You really patched that up. Maybe you should get a job at the United Nations.””

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fact that not a single teacher makes any sort of accommodations for Anna is ridiculous. Then again, this is Sweet Valley so what do I expect?

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

20/25
4 original
4 good topic
5 fast read
4 plot
3 opinion

[Amy]

Popular Asians in books = Awesome.