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Sweet Valley Twins #18
Center of Attention
Alice Wakefield is ill and Jess thinks it's much worse. When she gets sympathy from everyone she lets her imagination run wild, but Elizabeth and Steven think she's take it too far.
104 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1988
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,149 books1,885 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 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 20, 2025
We never find out what virus Alice has, but I’m fairly certain we just found COVID’s Patient Zero.
August 4, 2023
Cute little reads.
June 17, 2025
Dear lord, is there no low that this girl won’t stoop to? 😬
January 21, 2022
Center of Attention
Jessica comes home all excited because she saw the perfect sweater (light violet with a unicorn on the front) and she HAS to have this sweater. She tries to tell Alice about it but she says tell her at dinner. She says she’s tired and goes to her room. Jessica is a lil annoyed because just before she was listening to Elizabeth talk about the Sixers. Jessica decides to make a special dessert for dinner (chocolate parfait). Ned said he has a case coming up in San Francisco and Alice would be coming alone with him. He tells her maybe she needs to go to the Dr. since the “cold” she says she’s had has been going on for weeks now. She says she will if it doesn’t clear up before the trip. By the time Jessica is ready to serve her dessert, Alice is too tired to have any. Elizabeth expresses her concern to Jessica later that Alice has been tired a lot lately. The twin's grandmother is supposed to come down to watch them).
The next morning, Alice leaves to work early so the twins think she must be feeling better. At school, Jessica learns there’s an audition coming up. SVMS is going to put on the musical “Carnival”. Carnival is about an orphan girl who joins a circus, falls in love with a magician, gets her heartbroken, and then ends up with a puppeteer. According to the Sixers, a girl named Dana Larson will also be auditioning. She has a great voice, but with the encouragement of the Unicorn, Jessica knows that role is hers. And to make it even better Bruce will be trying out for the magician’s part. (If that’s not a sign-he wants the role of the heartbreaker-). After school, Jessica goes to her ballet lesson (when did Elizabeth drop) and Madama Andre tells her Alice calls and isn’t feeling good so she’ll be riding home with Kerry Glenn. Kerry Glenn puts the idea in Jessica’s head that because her mother showed all the same signs as Alice, Alice might also be pregnant. Jessica thinks noooo. But could she be?
Thankfully Alice shuts this down pretty quick. She also shuts down getting Jessica the sweater and tells that if she wants it she’ll have to save half. At school, theres a special announcement about the musical and the auditions. Afterward, Caroline tells Jessica even though Dana’s good, Bruce has been saying he wants her (Jessica) to get the lead. Later it’s decided that Alice will stay home because she’s fallen behind at work. Jessica picks a song called “Look At Me” from a musical called Shout. When she gets home the doctor calls and she overhears Alice and the doctor talking about the results from her blood work. Alice explains that she has a lump on her neck that’s probably from a virus but when the lump disappears so will the virus. Jessica decides to take charge and gives Steven and Elizabeth chores to do while she goes up to “take care of” Alice. Steven doesn’t like it but Elizabeth tells him not to tell Alice because it won’t help.
Alice takes another test and they still aren’t sure what she has. She tries to tell the kids that it’s probably nothing more than a virus, The doctors will biopsy the lump and go from there. She tells them that there’s a slight chance it might be cancerous, but she doubts it. But she tells them that of course Jessica gets carried away and by the end of the night, she’s already got Alice in a grave. Jessica confides her fears to Elizabeth who admits she’s scared also, but she’s just trying to wait and see. Jessica finds out when she gets back from a cooking class with Lila (yeah RIGHT? Like Lila would ever COOK) that her mother again has to wait for the results. Alice realizes she’s frightened Jessica and offers to buy the sweater for her. Caroline calls and asks for Elizabeth but Jessica tells her they’re both busy and their mother is sick. The next day practically the whole school thinks Alice is dying. Caroline says she got the news from Jess and Elizabeth confronts her but Jessica looks so upset that Elizabeth lets it go when she doesn’t correct Ellen who offers her friend sympathy. The Unicorns pressure Jessica to audition. She feels like she should be “taking care” of her mother, but she doesn’t want to let the Unicorns down. The day of their mother’s biopsy is hard on Jessica. She cries in different classes and her teachers all excuse her to spend their class periods in the bathroom. (Why didn’t she just stay at home or check out?). Her mother finally tells her that the tests just showed she had a virus. Jessica goes to the audition, but Dana Larson tells her she’s going to drop out and the role is hers. Jessica feels slightly guilty but not enough, to tell the truth. She’ll wait a couple of days.
Her father comes home and they're all goofing around outside when Brooke, Sandra (the girl with the red bra that the Unicorns were scandalized by in the first book), and Danna come by to show sympathy for Jessica and ask about her mom. Jessica is a lil nervous because Ned, Elizabeth, and Steven aren’t making the kinds of noises you’d make if your mother was dying. Elizabeth comes in laughing over a practical joke Steven pulled on Ned and all the girls look at her in disbelief. Jessica tells them she was just about to tell them her mother was ok. But Elizabeth knows better. Jessica knew the truth BEFORE she went to the audition. To get even Elizabeth makes Jessica do the long list of chores she was gonna make her and Steven do.
Jessica gives Dana the lead but the (drama teacher?) calls and says there’s another role for Jessica that has some dancing and a solo song. Jessica also gets the Unicorn sweater. There’s a boy named Dennis that’s been stealing bikes and taking lunch money from the weaker kids and we’ll learn about him more in next book.
My Thoughts: I definitely thought that Alice should have waited to mention that she *might* have cancer. I agree that she should have let them know what was going on. (Not that she could have hid it). But if she knew her kids (one in particular) maybe she just have just kept that slight detail to herself until she had cause to. If the test had actually come back positive. Immediately when I heard about her fatigue, my mind didn’t jump to cancer or a virus. It jumped to thyroid issues. I had a knot on my neck that had to be biopsied and because I had my thyroid removed a long time ago, it’s led to a whole bunch of issues (fatigue being a major one). I really don’t have a lot of faith in the SV doctors because I don’t think a “virus” would last as long as that. Maybe time for Alice to find a new one. As for Jessica, I think her biggest mistake wasn’t taking the role of Lily under false pretenses it was telling Caroline Pearce that her mother was sick because COME ON! Even under emotional distress, you could not have been *that* distracted previously knowing that this was the same girl who blabbed your father’s secret language all over the school and started mess between you and your friends that she was just gonna sit on you saying your mother was sick. If you did *YOUR* the one that’s mentally sick!
Rating: 5
Jessica comes home all excited because she saw the perfect sweater (light violet with a unicorn on the front) and she HAS to have this sweater. She tries to tell Alice about it but she says tell her at dinner. She says she’s tired and goes to her room. Jessica is a lil annoyed because just before she was listening to Elizabeth talk about the Sixers. Jessica decides to make a special dessert for dinner (chocolate parfait). Ned said he has a case coming up in San Francisco and Alice would be coming alone with him. He tells her maybe she needs to go to the Dr. since the “cold” she says she’s had has been going on for weeks now. She says she will if it doesn’t clear up before the trip. By the time Jessica is ready to serve her dessert, Alice is too tired to have any. Elizabeth expresses her concern to Jessica later that Alice has been tired a lot lately. The twin's grandmother is supposed to come down to watch them).
The next morning, Alice leaves to work early so the twins think she must be feeling better. At school, Jessica learns there’s an audition coming up. SVMS is going to put on the musical “Carnival”. Carnival is about an orphan girl who joins a circus, falls in love with a magician, gets her heartbroken, and then ends up with a puppeteer. According to the Sixers, a girl named Dana Larson will also be auditioning. She has a great voice, but with the encouragement of the Unicorn, Jessica knows that role is hers. And to make it even better Bruce will be trying out for the magician’s part. (If that’s not a sign-he wants the role of the heartbreaker-). After school, Jessica goes to her ballet lesson (when did Elizabeth drop) and Madama Andre tells her Alice calls and isn’t feeling good so she’ll be riding home with Kerry Glenn. Kerry Glenn puts the idea in Jessica’s head that because her mother showed all the same signs as Alice, Alice might also be pregnant. Jessica thinks noooo. But could she be?
Thankfully Alice shuts this down pretty quick. She also shuts down getting Jessica the sweater and tells that if she wants it she’ll have to save half. At school, theres a special announcement about the musical and the auditions. Afterward, Caroline tells Jessica even though Dana’s good, Bruce has been saying he wants her (Jessica) to get the lead. Later it’s decided that Alice will stay home because she’s fallen behind at work. Jessica picks a song called “Look At Me” from a musical called Shout. When she gets home the doctor calls and she overhears Alice and the doctor talking about the results from her blood work. Alice explains that she has a lump on her neck that’s probably from a virus but when the lump disappears so will the virus. Jessica decides to take charge and gives Steven and Elizabeth chores to do while she goes up to “take care of” Alice. Steven doesn’t like it but Elizabeth tells him not to tell Alice because it won’t help.
Alice takes another test and they still aren’t sure what she has. She tries to tell the kids that it’s probably nothing more than a virus, The doctors will biopsy the lump and go from there. She tells them that there’s a slight chance it might be cancerous, but she doubts it. But she tells them that of course Jessica gets carried away and by the end of the night, she’s already got Alice in a grave. Jessica confides her fears to Elizabeth who admits she’s scared also, but she’s just trying to wait and see. Jessica finds out when she gets back from a cooking class with Lila (yeah RIGHT? Like Lila would ever COOK) that her mother again has to wait for the results. Alice realizes she’s frightened Jessica and offers to buy the sweater for her. Caroline calls and asks for Elizabeth but Jessica tells her they’re both busy and their mother is sick. The next day practically the whole school thinks Alice is dying. Caroline says she got the news from Jess and Elizabeth confronts her but Jessica looks so upset that Elizabeth lets it go when she doesn’t correct Ellen who offers her friend sympathy. The Unicorns pressure Jessica to audition. She feels like she should be “taking care” of her mother, but she doesn’t want to let the Unicorns down. The day of their mother’s biopsy is hard on Jessica. She cries in different classes and her teachers all excuse her to spend their class periods in the bathroom. (Why didn’t she just stay at home or check out?). Her mother finally tells her that the tests just showed she had a virus. Jessica goes to the audition, but Dana Larson tells her she’s going to drop out and the role is hers. Jessica feels slightly guilty but not enough, to tell the truth. She’ll wait a couple of days.
Her father comes home and they're all goofing around outside when Brooke, Sandra (the girl with the red bra that the Unicorns were scandalized by in the first book), and Danna come by to show sympathy for Jessica and ask about her mom. Jessica is a lil nervous because Ned, Elizabeth, and Steven aren’t making the kinds of noises you’d make if your mother was dying. Elizabeth comes in laughing over a practical joke Steven pulled on Ned and all the girls look at her in disbelief. Jessica tells them she was just about to tell them her mother was ok. But Elizabeth knows better. Jessica knew the truth BEFORE she went to the audition. To get even Elizabeth makes Jessica do the long list of chores she was gonna make her and Steven do.
Jessica gives Dana the lead but the (drama teacher?) calls and says there’s another role for Jessica that has some dancing and a solo song. Jessica also gets the Unicorn sweater. There’s a boy named Dennis that’s been stealing bikes and taking lunch money from the weaker kids and we’ll learn about him more in next book.
My Thoughts: I definitely thought that Alice should have waited to mention that she *might* have cancer. I agree that she should have let them know what was going on. (Not that she could have hid it). But if she knew her kids (one in particular) maybe she just have just kept that slight detail to herself until she had cause to. If the test had actually come back positive. Immediately when I heard about her fatigue, my mind didn’t jump to cancer or a virus. It jumped to thyroid issues. I had a knot on my neck that had to be biopsied and because I had my thyroid removed a long time ago, it’s led to a whole bunch of issues (fatigue being a major one). I really don’t have a lot of faith in the SV doctors because I don’t think a “virus” would last as long as that. Maybe time for Alice to find a new one. As for Jessica, I think her biggest mistake wasn’t taking the role of Lily under false pretenses it was telling Caroline Pearce that her mother was sick because COME ON! Even under emotional distress, you could not have been *that* distracted previously knowing that this was the same girl who blabbed your father’s secret language all over the school and started mess between you and your friends that she was just gonna sit on you saying your mother was sick. If you did *YOUR* the one that’s mentally sick!
Rating: 5
January 16, 2019
Jessica acts like a selfish brat in this book 🙄
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December 15, 2025Centre of Attention showcases, not for the first time, but definitely the most intensely, what a complete and utter narcassistic bastard Jessica Wakefield is. Mrs W is bedridden, ill with a nasty virus, which the doctor thinks might be Epstein-Barr virus. She does also have a sus lump on her neck, which the doctor wants to do a biopsy of. Jessica decides to turn this into an opportunity to get out of tests, and to get the whole school to feel bad for her. She tells Caroline Pearce that her mum is sick and Caroline Pearce, as we all know, is a nasty gossip with a tendency to exaggerate. Soon, the entire school thinks Mrs W is legit dying. Jessica, even after finding out the test results, still continues with the lie and gets the lead part in a play. Saint Elizabeth knows the whole time but she's a doormat and backs Jessica all the way despite disagreeing with what she's doing. Mad behaviour. Still, no Lois and that's a two book run which I love.
The real centre of attention in this book is the pale violet sweater with the unicorn on the front, which is mentioned more than Mrs Wakefield herself.
Also a special mention for Ned Wakefield getting Chinese AGAIN despite being allergic.
The real centre of attention in this book is the pale violet sweater with the unicorn on the front, which is mentioned more than Mrs Wakefield herself.
Also a special mention for Ned Wakefield getting Chinese AGAIN despite being allergic.
May 6, 2018
This one was alright. I thought Jessica was going to be more awful than usual (as blurb makes out) - and even though she does use her mother's illness to her advantage and is a lazy bitch while Steven and door mat Elizabeth do all the work, she kind of redeems herself in the end (which isn't usual, normally she is forced to, but she actually feels guilt in this one!).
I long for the day Liz finally stands up to her.
Also, what 12 year old girl mows the lawn while her supposedly amazing father is at home? Seriously Mr Wakefield.
"She tried to imagine life without her mother. Who would she talk to when she had a problem? Who would love her? She felt so awful that she forgot all about the rest of the family. She imagined herself all alone in the world - a poor, motherless child." Wow. Way to make your mothers illness all about you Jess.
I long for the day Liz finally stands up to her.
Also, what 12 year old girl mows the lawn while her supposedly amazing father is at home? Seriously Mr Wakefield.
"She tried to imagine life without her mother. Who would she talk to when she had a problem? Who would love her? She felt so awful that she forgot all about the rest of the family. She imagined herself all alone in the world - a poor, motherless child." Wow. Way to make your mothers illness all about you Jess.
August 3, 2023
Very cute one! I don’t think Mrs Wakefield is in any book as much as this one! I really enjoyed the family dynamics.
May 13, 2013
Sweet Valley Twins 18 - Centre of attention
The twins are worried that Alice is sick. Jess especially, because she’s not getting as much attention as normal or as Liz 🙄 Jess wants the lead in the school production of Carnival, but she’s up against Dana Larson. Jess isn’t worried because she’s prettier 🙄 And if she wins the lead she gets to kiss Bruce 🙄 Jess starts to suspect/dread Alice is pregnant (I’m gonna call this one early and say she’s not 😂). Meanwhile, Jess finds out she needs to sing for the lead in the musical - I wonder whether she’ll be a good or lousy singer in this book? Average to good it seems (constant inconsistency) 🙄 Meanwhile, Jess takes charge with Alice still unwell and Ned away, bossing Steven and Liz around. Jess gets all the credit, which goes down well (not). Alice confides that there’s a small chance a lump on her neck might be cancerous, and suddenly Jess is an orphan 🙄 She actually is really worried, and let’s slip to Caroline that Alice is really sick, now everyone wants Jess to get the lead to please her dying Mum 🥲 But good news! It’s just a bad virus! Jess is then handed the lead role so her Mum can see her perform before she dies… and she accepts 😬 She clears things up pretty quickly actually (for Jess) and gives the part to Dana - very unexpected 😳 She also takes on all the chores for the weekend to make it up to Liz and Steven. She goes above and beyond - very un-Jess-like. She also gets a smaller role (some girl is moving away - but still auditioned the day before 🤨) so everything works out for Jess!
My rating - 5/10 - very Jess focused, and she actually wasn’t as unbearable as the title made me think she would be...
#sweetvalley #sweetvalleykids #sweetvalleytwins #unicornclub #sweetvalleyjnrhigh #sweetvalleyhigh #sweetvalleysenioryear #sweetvalleyuniversity #sweetvalleyseries #bookreview
The twins are worried that Alice is sick. Jess especially, because she’s not getting as much attention as normal or as Liz 🙄 Jess wants the lead in the school production of Carnival, but she’s up against Dana Larson. Jess isn’t worried because she’s prettier 🙄 And if she wins the lead she gets to kiss Bruce 🙄 Jess starts to suspect/dread Alice is pregnant (I’m gonna call this one early and say she’s not 😂). Meanwhile, Jess finds out she needs to sing for the lead in the musical - I wonder whether she’ll be a good or lousy singer in this book? Average to good it seems (constant inconsistency) 🙄 Meanwhile, Jess takes charge with Alice still unwell and Ned away, bossing Steven and Liz around. Jess gets all the credit, which goes down well (not). Alice confides that there’s a small chance a lump on her neck might be cancerous, and suddenly Jess is an orphan 🙄 She actually is really worried, and let’s slip to Caroline that Alice is really sick, now everyone wants Jess to get the lead to please her dying Mum 🥲 But good news! It’s just a bad virus! Jess is then handed the lead role so her Mum can see her perform before she dies… and she accepts 😬 She clears things up pretty quickly actually (for Jess) and gives the part to Dana - very unexpected 😳 She also takes on all the chores for the weekend to make it up to Liz and Steven. She goes above and beyond - very un-Jess-like. She also gets a smaller role (some girl is moving away - but still auditioned the day before 🤨) so everything works out for Jess!
My rating - 5/10 - very Jess focused, and she actually wasn’t as unbearable as the title made me think she would be...
#sweetvalley #sweetvalleykids #sweetvalleytwins #unicornclub #sweetvalleyjnrhigh #sweetvalleyhigh #sweetvalleysenioryear #sweetvalleyuniversity #sweetvalleyseries #bookreview
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2014
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***
July 24, 2014
I was a fan of Sweet Valley Twins and read this book back when I was 10. I liked the plot about Jessica wanting to win the lead role in the school play and using her mother's illness as a way to gain sympathy from her school. This book was not particularly memorable to me from the other Sweet Valley Twins books until I turned 21. I had a lump on my arm which was thought to be cancer and immediately thought of the less optimistic, Mandy Miller Fights Back. Two biopsies later and after the all clear was given to me, this book immediately came to my mind about Mrs. Wakefield's biopsy and the way it was blown out of proportion by Jessica so that it seemed as if her mother were dying of a terminal illness. I too felt fatigued and stressed like Mrs. Wakefield. I liked this book but was disappointed that Jessica would make such a personal and private matter public and use it for her own personal gain.
January 17, 2016
The basic theme is that Mrs. Wakefield is ill and ends up pretty much confined to bed. The students and teachers at the school are very nice to the twins, having heard about what was going on. Unfortunately, the person they heard it from was Caroline who loves to gossip but often stretches things a lot.
Before long people get the idea that Mrs. Wakefield is dying. At home, the twins and Steven try to maintain things (their father is away on business), but Jessica does more bossing then work, although she does on the other hand spend a lot of time with her mother.
The problem for Jessica arises when she finds out her mother is not dying at all. Jessica had gotten a part in a school play via sympathy from the girl who had actually been picked for the part, so Jessica has to decide whether to tell the truth about her mother not dying, and lose the part, or keeping quiet and keeping the part she wanted.
Before long people get the idea that Mrs. Wakefield is dying. At home, the twins and Steven try to maintain things (their father is away on business), but Jessica does more bossing then work, although she does on the other hand spend a lot of time with her mother.
The problem for Jessica arises when she finds out her mother is not dying at all. Jessica had gotten a part in a school play via sympathy from the girl who had actually been picked for the part, so Jessica has to decide whether to tell the truth about her mother not dying, and lose the part, or keeping quiet and keeping the part she wanted.
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February 28, 2012Okay, Jess gets a bad rap on the cover blurb for this one. It makes her sound downright evil, when in the book she's mostly just extremely upset about her mother. She does ONE THING bad, and that's only after and it's more a sin of omission than her being super devious. Which she can absolutely be, but not so much in this book.
March 1, 2016
The end was really fucking weird and this being a re-read for me, I remember reading the part when Jessica actually performs, but perhaps I made that up as a kid.
However, they are very easy and entertaining books, I have to admit, but they feel a bit like those horse-books you read as a kid/teen. They're all pretty much the same.
However, they are very easy and entertaining books, I have to admit, but they feel a bit like those horse-books you read as a kid/teen. They're all pretty much the same.
March 16, 2024
god. jessica was especially annoying in this one. to be fair i've only read one other sweet valley book so idk how she is in the rest of the series. i can understand her not thinking things through and lying for her own gain but involving her mom in it was just heinous.
October 24, 2010
I never thought about how much a part of my childhood these books were, but they helped create an even bigger love of reading in me.
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August 29, 2011From "Books I have read this summer" list that I found at home in NJ.
January 6, 2013
Loved these books as a child
June 22, 2013
Elizabeth seems to be the center of attention.
April 24, 2014
In this one, Jessica uses her mother's illness to get attention. Even more, she believes her mother to be terminal! And uses it! For attention!!
June 24, 2014
I love reading about desperate cases.
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January 15, 2009JAR4-Pas
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