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Sweet Valley High Super Editions #9
Mystery Date
Are Olivia's romantic fantasies about to come true?
Lately, Olivia Davidson has felt lonely. Sweet Valley has a major lack of funky, artistic people like herself. So she's kept busy chatting with cool, imaginative guys in Internet chat rooms. One guy in particular could be her perfect match-he's sweet, sincere, and a poet. Olivia doesn't want to admit it, but she might be falling in love with a guy she's never met!
Ken Matthews only uses his Internet account to check football scores and stat. But when he accidentally links it to an artists' chat room, he meets an amazing girl who challenges the creative side he never knew he had. And speaking of challenges, she wants to meet him in person! What will happen when she finds out that he's really a football jock and not the poet he's been pretending to be?
Lately, Olivia Davidson has felt lonely. Sweet Valley has a major lack of funky, artistic people like herself. So she's kept busy chatting with cool, imaginative guys in Internet chat rooms. One guy in particular could be her perfect match-he's sweet, sincere, and a poet. Olivia doesn't want to admit it, but she might be falling in love with a guy she's never met!
Ken Matthews only uses his Internet account to check football scores and stat. But when he accidentally links it to an artists' chat room, he meets an amazing girl who challenges the creative side he never knew he had. And speaking of challenges, she wants to meet him in person! What will happen when she finds out that he's really a football jock and not the poet he's been pretending to be?
231 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 12, 1998
1 person is currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,139 books1,849 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 24, 2021
I was only able to read this book once as a teenager, but I am SO glad I was able to get it through Interlibrary Loan now. This is Sweet Valley at its best, and this book truly has everything.
First, we start off at a dance, which is the most Sweet Valley way ever to begin a book. (And - spoiler alert- it ends with a dance, too!) Apparently, though, we have different cliques out of nowhere here, which is mildly amusing. No one can agree on what music to play, and the best part is when the cool kids start screaming for the Beach Boys.... because we all know that's what the popular kids in the late 90's like to listen to! (Is Uncle Jesse leading this group?) This battle of the music leads to an all-out war between the cliques, and it just gets better and better as it goes on.
Also, Nicky Shepard has somehow returned to Sweet Valley, despite not being seen since book 21 or whatever, but don't worry he'll be gone again after this book. Jessica also has pretty disparaging thoughts about him, which is amusing since she almost RAN AWAY WITH HIM.
Despite the title, summary, and cover, Olivia and Ken's blossoming romance is actually on the back burner in this book. We are treated to hilarious instructions from our ghostwriter on how "The Internet" works, and even get this awesome line:
"LOL." Olivia responded with the common abbreviation for Laughing Out Loud.
And just wait until you learn how emoticons work! :) ;)
Of course, the big clique war escalates into a suicide attempt. which then makes everyone in the school become friends again. And how do they stop this war? Why, with a dance! Because violence is ALWAYS solved by attending a dance.
And thus ends one of the best of the worst SVH books ever. 5 stars for pure nonsensical fun, obviously.
First, we start off at a dance, which is the most Sweet Valley way ever to begin a book. (And - spoiler alert- it ends with a dance, too!) Apparently, though, we have different cliques out of nowhere here, which is mildly amusing. No one can agree on what music to play, and the best part is when the cool kids start screaming for the Beach Boys.... because we all know that's what the popular kids in the late 90's like to listen to! (Is Uncle Jesse leading this group?) This battle of the music leads to an all-out war between the cliques, and it just gets better and better as it goes on.
Also, Nicky Shepard has somehow returned to Sweet Valley, despite not being seen since book 21 or whatever, but don't worry he'll be gone again after this book. Jessica also has pretty disparaging thoughts about him, which is amusing since she almost RAN AWAY WITH HIM.
Despite the title, summary, and cover, Olivia and Ken's blossoming romance is actually on the back burner in this book. We are treated to hilarious instructions from our ghostwriter on how "The Internet" works, and even get this awesome line:
"LOL." Olivia responded with the common abbreviation for Laughing Out Loud.
And just wait until you learn how emoticons work! :) ;)
Of course, the big clique war escalates into a suicide attempt. which then makes everyone in the school become friends again. And how do they stop this war? Why, with a dance! Because violence is ALWAYS solved by attending a dance.
And thus ends one of the best of the worst SVH books ever. 5 stars for pure nonsensical fun, obviously.
February 4, 2017
"Love Online (Or: What I Used to Think LOL Stood For)"
Hippie hippie shake /
Free spirit meets quarterback /
Tale as old as time!
So this is the beginning of Olivia and Ken's romance, which will last until the end of the series when Olivia's free spirit is crushed by a refrigerator (too soon?). Apparently next up is the Devon Whitelaw saga in which everyone loses their shit over a brooding man. A couple of things: I finally watched the first episode of the SVH TV show, and man, it was bad. Subsequently reading this I felt like this book sounded like the writing of the TV show... or maybe SV writing was always this bad and seeing the TV show brought it out. Who knows?
They explain every little thing about emojis, etc., which is hilarious to read about it in this day and age.
The subplot involves all the school cliques at war with one another, hence why Ken and Olivia "can't be together." It starts at the beginning of the book at a dance when nobody can agree on what music should be playing. Yes. That's right. We knew our priorities in the 90s! All the jocks hate rap, but methinks they haven't heard "Juicy" by Biggie. That's a totally danceable song (see: 10 Things I Hate About You)!
Anyway, the whole clique war culminates in a football player, Tad Johnson, trying to commit suicide because of troubles at home and being kicked off the team for his grades and for harming a student at the aforementioned dance. It's deep shit. Then Liv and Liz come up with the "Walk in Someone Else's Shoes" dance (because if you can't solve a problem in SV with a dance, you might as well not even try), where they borrow clothes from another person in school and have to wear them all night. Liz dresses as Lila. Jessica dresses as Dana. Winston goes in drag because he's Winston (also I love how SV is so cliquish and yet Winston, this huge nerd, fits in everywhere). Todd dresses like Justin. And Olivia goes as Claire, the only female football player, while Ken dresses up like Keith, a burnout (or hippie; I get them confused).
Quotes:
Todd: "As much as I hate to vote with Psycho Twin, this music is terrific to dance to!"
(Todd calls Jess Psycho Twin throughout the book. Maybe Margo and Nora are back in town.)
Liz: "That's a blinding flash of the obvious."
(I love sarcastic Liz.)
Liz: "Whatever happened to individuals?"
Jess: "That's what a clique is - a group of individuals!"
(Well, Jess, nothing to argue with there.)
Hippie hippie shake /
Free spirit meets quarterback /
Tale as old as time!
So this is the beginning of Olivia and Ken's romance, which will last until the end of the series when Olivia's free spirit is crushed by a refrigerator (too soon?). Apparently next up is the Devon Whitelaw saga in which everyone loses their shit over a brooding man. A couple of things: I finally watched the first episode of the SVH TV show, and man, it was bad. Subsequently reading this I felt like this book sounded like the writing of the TV show... or maybe SV writing was always this bad and seeing the TV show brought it out. Who knows?
They explain every little thing about emojis, etc., which is hilarious to read about it in this day and age.
The subplot involves all the school cliques at war with one another, hence why Ken and Olivia "can't be together." It starts at the beginning of the book at a dance when nobody can agree on what music should be playing. Yes. That's right. We knew our priorities in the 90s! All the jocks hate rap, but methinks they haven't heard "Juicy" by Biggie. That's a totally danceable song (see: 10 Things I Hate About You)!
Anyway, the whole clique war culminates in a football player, Tad Johnson, trying to commit suicide because of troubles at home and being kicked off the team for his grades and for harming a student at the aforementioned dance. It's deep shit. Then Liv and Liz come up with the "Walk in Someone Else's Shoes" dance (because if you can't solve a problem in SV with a dance, you might as well not even try), where they borrow clothes from another person in school and have to wear them all night. Liz dresses as Lila. Jessica dresses as Dana. Winston goes in drag because he's Winston (also I love how SV is so cliquish and yet Winston, this huge nerd, fits in everywhere). Todd dresses like Justin. And Olivia goes as Claire, the only female football player, while Ken dresses up like Keith, a burnout (or hippie; I get them confused).
Quotes:
Todd: "As much as I hate to vote with Psycho Twin, this music is terrific to dance to!"
(Todd calls Jess Psycho Twin throughout the book. Maybe Margo and Nora are back in town.)
Liz: "That's a blinding flash of the obvious."
(I love sarcastic Liz.)
Liz: "Whatever happened to individuals?"
Jess: "That's what a clique is - a group of individuals!"
(Well, Jess, nothing to argue with there.)
June 21, 2013
one of the twins has a date that might be on a blind date. I know that I have seen you.
September 16, 2017
Olivia was always one of my favorite characters so I especially enjoyed this book.
June 27, 2024
Mystery Date
There’s another dance. All the students are arguing about what music the DJ is playing. Some are content with The Beach Boys (the twins and Todd). Some want metal (Jan and Nick). Some want folk-ish songs (Liz and Olivia). Hardly anyone wants rap (except Dana). The DJ is doing his best to accommodate all these requests instead of just letting them all bitch and playing what HE wants (which in the real world is how it goes at most parties and dances that are DJ’d). Olivia is envious of Dana whose on the floor dancing to a rap jam because no one wants to dance with her. She just broke up with her boyfriend (who was an art student) and she’s ready to date again. Jessica as always is the center of attention and going back and forth between dancing with two football players (Danny and Bryce). The dance is called off when a football player and one of the “bad boys” get into a fight over the music being played. (Justin and Tad are their names).
Olivia gets home and goes to the one place she feels accepted as “Freeverse” (an online chat room). Meanwhile, Ken throws a get-together for the jocks (The only one who isn’t is Winston). They vent about being put down by the “Burn Outs” (Jan’s crew) and how Justin had the fight coming. Then they all take turns patting themselves on the back for being the heart of the school. Meanwhile, Ken is checking out the couples and wondering if he’ll ever find a girl that does for him what Jessica did (before she hurt him). He thinks maybe it's time for him to date someone outside the clique.
Keith Wagner is a guy the others make fun of because he doesn’t wear leather or eat meat so they see him as a “hippie” (and tease Jessica about having dated) approached her at school. He puts down Blubber and while before Jessica thought Blubber shouldn’t have started the fight, she now in annoyance jumps to his defense. Ken is trying to find out what went on at the El Carro football s he looks online, but can’t find anything. He logs into a chat room and asks if anyone there is from El Carro. There he meets someone named “Freeverse” who seems to be different from all the girls he knows. She talks in a poetic way (and says she writes poetry), says she likes to paint and enjoys the beach. She asks what his interest are and he’s about to tell her sports but is undecided if she’ll think he’s a dumb jock. Then his mother tells him he’s late for school. Freeverse says she’s also late for school. On the way to school, Liz fills Enid in on what went down at the dance. Tad has early detention for the rest of the year, but the Burnouts still want revenge for what he did to Justin. The Jocks also want revenge and the cliques have started taking sides. At school, they find out that a quiz Tad took has been posted (the grade was a D). This causes an argument in the hallway, but Jessica tells them to chill and have more school spirit.
At lunch, they find a graffiti message DIE WIMPS, HIPPIES, PUNKS AND BRAINS.” Chrome Dome is happy about it makes an announcement that he’ll find out who's behind it. Amy says she heard that it wasn’t just the quiz. Blubber is very close to academic probation. Liz says she found another message CHEERLEADERS HAVE POM POMS FOR BRAINS scrawled in lipstick in the girl's room. Meanwhile “Quarter” (Ken) and “Freeverse” find each other in chat again and decide to take their conversation to a private room. “Quarter surprises “Freeverse” with a virtual Poppy.
Ken’s teammates seem to notice the difference in him. He’s talked to “Freeverse” a couple more times and he can’t stop smiling. Danny’s comments about Jessica don’t even bother him anymore. At the game, Jessica is annoyed by the new co-captain Heather’s take-charge attitude but is happy she uses her personalized cheers for Danny and Bryce first. “Blubber” gets into a fight with Nicky Shepard when he calls out that the 21 on his shirt is his IQ. He jumps into the crowd and beats him to a bloody pulp. Then the game is called off and SVH loses to El Carro. Later Liz, Todd, and Jess discuss the game. Liz thinks “Blubber” was in the wrong. Violence never solves anything. Jessica and Todd however feel like Nicky had it coming to him. (Hmm this reminds me of something recently). Liz in disgust accuses them of being on “Blubber's” side because they’re jocks and walks out. Later, “Freeverse” and “Quarter” share a virtual walk on the beach. “Quarter,” tells her about the game and the fight but she says she’s from the other school which makes Ken think she’s from El Carro and that he must have mentioned he was from Sweet Valley. She says she’s not into sports which makes Ken wonder if she’ll really like him but they both really enjoy their date.
Ken can’t concentrate on basketball and misses easy passes. Lila and Jessica notice Liv smiling all day and blame it on the universe being out of wack because Todd and Liz are fighting. “Bludder” gets suspended and kicked off the team indefinitely for giving Nicky a mild concussion. “Blubber” blames the burnouts for antagonizing him. But it’s a little more serious. He could even get arrested if Nicky’s parents pursue it. Even had it not been for the fight he still would have been kicked off the team the Coach says because he flunked a test and a paper which means he’s on academic probation and officially failing English. The Coach says bring up his grades and he’s back on the team. Tad is furious and starts to toss stuff around in the Coach’s office. Ken thinks when it’s all over how Free Verse was right about sports being too violent and how he’s glad she wasn’t there to see what went down. Todd and Liz get into a heated argument after this.
Liv and Liz head to a meeting of the Oracle and wonder if there’s anything they can do with the paper to stop the war of the cliques. They come across Jan, Keith, and some of the others having a sit-in to protest the school’s priority being the jocks. They’re invited to stay but turn it down. Somehow they get into a discussion about fitting in. Liv thinks Liz finds in with some of everyone but she fits in with no one. Later at school, there’s a food fight. That evening, “Freeverse” and “Quarter” take a virtual hike and Liv thinks she might be falling in love with this boy from El Carro. One night, Free Verse gives Quarter a lesson in poetry and they discuss college. Then they go on a mountain trip. Then they have this conversation that’s for SVJ students might be considered “erotic”. They agree they have to meet.
There’s a game coming up. Liz says she’s not going because she doesn’t fit it. She tells them about a fight she had with Jessica a couple of nights ago about her not fitting in with anyone. Liz tells them she told Jessica she doesn’t need a label to be who she is, but still, she feels weird. Liv understands. Liv tells her there is a place she can go that people don’t care about labels and then tells her about the chat room. Liz asks did she meet someone and Liv tells her she thinks she’s falling in love. So, she tells her everything. Liz is concerned that she really doesn’t know anything about this guy. Not even his real name. She asks how can she know she’s in love if she’s never meet him. She says they have a date Saturday night. Liz isn’t sure, but Liv says it’ll be fine. Liv expresses her doubts to Liz. She tells Liv just be careful.
Somehow, Jessica convinces Danny and Bryce to both go on a date with her at the same time. (RIIIGHT). They talk about how they’re over the clique war (Jessica) and how she’s ready for Liz and Todd to get back together. She still thinks Nickey had it coming but she doesn’t like seeing Liz upset. Liv and Ken see each other but don’t think twice their each other's date. After a while, it seems like they’ve been stood up and they leave. Ken is brokenhearted. He thinks she found out he’s a football player or just isn’t what she said she was. For some odd reason unknown Jess, Bryce, and Danny all want to go by “Blubber’s” house and show him the fliers Lila had dropped on the football field to insult the artists, hippies, brains, etc, but when they get there they find his body being wheeled off on a stretcher. They find out he tried to commit suicide.
When Ken and Olivia get back online they confront each other. Then they realize. Olivia and Ken fight. She accuses him of not being honest with her. He accuses her of being just like everyone else in thinking he’s a dumb jock. He signs off. Olivia is left alone again. Jess tells Liz some more about what happened to Tad. His parents were about to separate and his dad had moved out. Todd and Liz make up (of course). The next day there’s an assembly. Project Youth sends some counselors over to talk to the students. Jessica notices that nothing really changed though there have been no pranks that day the school is still divided. Liv realizes in her journal she was wrong as she looks at Ken. He’s much more than a dumb jock and she had stereotyped him when what he showed her as “Quarter” was what mattered. Ken looks at Liv and thinks about how she talked about her looks and her hair and the romantic times they shared. Then he tells himself it's too bad Olivia didn’t turn out as wonderful as Free Verse. He tells himself let it
Maria writes an article that suggests some movies to watch related to cliques. She, Liv, and Liz all agree that this was something brewing under the surface all along. They decide they need to do something to get people talking. Something fun! Liz says if only there was a way for them to walk in each others shoes. Liv says she knows what they should do. Her idea at the next dance is to dress in someone else’s clothes and shoes. The dance even has rap music playing. Liz wears Lila’s clothes, Bruce wears a nerd’s clothes (Winstons?). Liv wears Claire’s football jersey. Mr. Collins has on basketball player's clothes. Justin has on a tux (Bruces). Lila has on grunge. Dana has on a pin striped business suit. Jan has on a cheerleader outfit. Jessica goes as a punk rocker. Danny looks for Jessica but she’s kissing Keith Wagner. He’s disappointed but Olivia asks him to dance. Even tho she did a bold thing she still feels out of character and wonders if that’s how Ken felt.
Tad turns up at the party dressed like a burnt out with his brother. Jess is happy to see him. Collins has set up a study schedule for him to get him back on track. He’s also asked students to volunteer to help. There won’t be any criminal charges. Keith decides he doesn’t hate jocks and Jessica decides she likes him (his new look).
My Thoughts:
There wasn’t a lot to comment on to this one. I was bored with the whole clique war not that far into the book. Was never in one and didn’t see why Liz or Olivia was so worried about fitting in. I guess I’ve just always kind of accepted I was different and nobody else accepted it then OH WELL (as I got older). When I was in school there *were* cliques but I just hung with the people I thought were cool and I don’t think we fell into any category. We weren’t with the popular set of the jock set, or the brain set. We just “were.” I think the shocking part was supposed to be that Blubber tried to commit suicide but seeing that I’d never heard of this character or Keith. I was more thinking “Who?” I’m from divorced parents and I’m pretty sure that when they separated I was upset, but wanting to commit suicide? Then I don’t even see how people get sooo serious over sports so I definitely didn’t understand how suspending him from the team would do it. I don’t know it is just that serious to sports fans and people who play sports but I just don’t get it. The online dating thing to me was just ironic because it’s so common now. People meet and “fall in love” online all the time. I can say that from my own experience that the internet is full of people who wear masks. So this much is still true. I can’t say that Ken and Olivia made that much of an impression on me as a couple. I liked Terri better for Ken (Whatever happened to her?). This for me was a little lackluster. I’m finding out that a lot of these later ones in the series are.
Rating: 5
There’s another dance. All the students are arguing about what music the DJ is playing. Some are content with The Beach Boys (the twins and Todd). Some want metal (Jan and Nick). Some want folk-ish songs (Liz and Olivia). Hardly anyone wants rap (except Dana). The DJ is doing his best to accommodate all these requests instead of just letting them all bitch and playing what HE wants (which in the real world is how it goes at most parties and dances that are DJ’d). Olivia is envious of Dana whose on the floor dancing to a rap jam because no one wants to dance with her. She just broke up with her boyfriend (who was an art student) and she’s ready to date again. Jessica as always is the center of attention and going back and forth between dancing with two football players (Danny and Bryce). The dance is called off when a football player and one of the “bad boys” get into a fight over the music being played. (Justin and Tad are their names).
Olivia gets home and goes to the one place she feels accepted as “Freeverse” (an online chat room). Meanwhile, Ken throws a get-together for the jocks (The only one who isn’t is Winston). They vent about being put down by the “Burn Outs” (Jan’s crew) and how Justin had the fight coming. Then they all take turns patting themselves on the back for being the heart of the school. Meanwhile, Ken is checking out the couples and wondering if he’ll ever find a girl that does for him what Jessica did (before she hurt him). He thinks maybe it's time for him to date someone outside the clique.
Keith Wagner is a guy the others make fun of because he doesn’t wear leather or eat meat so they see him as a “hippie” (and tease Jessica about having dated) approached her at school. He puts down Blubber and while before Jessica thought Blubber shouldn’t have started the fight, she now in annoyance jumps to his defense. Ken is trying to find out what went on at the El Carro football s he looks online, but can’t find anything. He logs into a chat room and asks if anyone there is from El Carro. There he meets someone named “Freeverse” who seems to be different from all the girls he knows. She talks in a poetic way (and says she writes poetry), says she likes to paint and enjoys the beach. She asks what his interest are and he’s about to tell her sports but is undecided if she’ll think he’s a dumb jock. Then his mother tells him he’s late for school. Freeverse says she’s also late for school. On the way to school, Liz fills Enid in on what went down at the dance. Tad has early detention for the rest of the year, but the Burnouts still want revenge for what he did to Justin. The Jocks also want revenge and the cliques have started taking sides. At school, they find out that a quiz Tad took has been posted (the grade was a D). This causes an argument in the hallway, but Jessica tells them to chill and have more school spirit.
At lunch, they find a graffiti message DIE WIMPS, HIPPIES, PUNKS AND BRAINS.” Chrome Dome is happy about it makes an announcement that he’ll find out who's behind it. Amy says she heard that it wasn’t just the quiz. Blubber is very close to academic probation. Liz says she found another message CHEERLEADERS HAVE POM POMS FOR BRAINS scrawled in lipstick in the girl's room. Meanwhile “Quarter” (Ken) and “Freeverse” find each other in chat again and decide to take their conversation to a private room. “Quarter surprises “Freeverse” with a virtual Poppy.
Ken’s teammates seem to notice the difference in him. He’s talked to “Freeverse” a couple more times and he can’t stop smiling. Danny’s comments about Jessica don’t even bother him anymore. At the game, Jessica is annoyed by the new co-captain Heather’s take-charge attitude but is happy she uses her personalized cheers for Danny and Bryce first. “Blubber” gets into a fight with Nicky Shepard when he calls out that the 21 on his shirt is his IQ. He jumps into the crowd and beats him to a bloody pulp. Then the game is called off and SVH loses to El Carro. Later Liz, Todd, and Jess discuss the game. Liz thinks “Blubber” was in the wrong. Violence never solves anything. Jessica and Todd however feel like Nicky had it coming to him. (Hmm this reminds me of something recently). Liz in disgust accuses them of being on “Blubber's” side because they’re jocks and walks out. Later, “Freeverse” and “Quarter” share a virtual walk on the beach. “Quarter,” tells her about the game and the fight but she says she’s from the other school which makes Ken think she’s from El Carro and that he must have mentioned he was from Sweet Valley. She says she’s not into sports which makes Ken wonder if she’ll really like him but they both really enjoy their date.
Ken can’t concentrate on basketball and misses easy passes. Lila and Jessica notice Liv smiling all day and blame it on the universe being out of wack because Todd and Liz are fighting. “Bludder” gets suspended and kicked off the team indefinitely for giving Nicky a mild concussion. “Blubber” blames the burnouts for antagonizing him. But it’s a little more serious. He could even get arrested if Nicky’s parents pursue it. Even had it not been for the fight he still would have been kicked off the team the Coach says because he flunked a test and a paper which means he’s on academic probation and officially failing English. The Coach says bring up his grades and he’s back on the team. Tad is furious and starts to toss stuff around in the Coach’s office. Ken thinks when it’s all over how Free Verse was right about sports being too violent and how he’s glad she wasn’t there to see what went down. Todd and Liz get into a heated argument after this.
Liv and Liz head to a meeting of the Oracle and wonder if there’s anything they can do with the paper to stop the war of the cliques. They come across Jan, Keith, and some of the others having a sit-in to protest the school’s priority being the jocks. They’re invited to stay but turn it down. Somehow they get into a discussion about fitting in. Liv thinks Liz finds in with some of everyone but she fits in with no one. Later at school, there’s a food fight. That evening, “Freeverse” and “Quarter” take a virtual hike and Liv thinks she might be falling in love with this boy from El Carro. One night, Free Verse gives Quarter a lesson in poetry and they discuss college. Then they go on a mountain trip. Then they have this conversation that’s for SVJ students might be considered “erotic”. They agree they have to meet.
There’s a game coming up. Liz says she’s not going because she doesn’t fit it. She tells them about a fight she had with Jessica a couple of nights ago about her not fitting in with anyone. Liz tells them she told Jessica she doesn’t need a label to be who she is, but still, she feels weird. Liv understands. Liv tells her there is a place she can go that people don’t care about labels and then tells her about the chat room. Liz asks did she meet someone and Liv tells her she thinks she’s falling in love. So, she tells her everything. Liz is concerned that she really doesn’t know anything about this guy. Not even his real name. She asks how can she know she’s in love if she’s never meet him. She says they have a date Saturday night. Liz isn’t sure, but Liv says it’ll be fine. Liv expresses her doubts to Liz. She tells Liv just be careful.
Somehow, Jessica convinces Danny and Bryce to both go on a date with her at the same time. (RIIIGHT). They talk about how they’re over the clique war (Jessica) and how she’s ready for Liz and Todd to get back together. She still thinks Nickey had it coming but she doesn’t like seeing Liz upset. Liv and Ken see each other but don’t think twice their each other's date. After a while, it seems like they’ve been stood up and they leave. Ken is brokenhearted. He thinks she found out he’s a football player or just isn’t what she said she was. For some odd reason unknown Jess, Bryce, and Danny all want to go by “Blubber’s” house and show him the fliers Lila had dropped on the football field to insult the artists, hippies, brains, etc, but when they get there they find his body being wheeled off on a stretcher. They find out he tried to commit suicide.
When Ken and Olivia get back online they confront each other. Then they realize. Olivia and Ken fight. She accuses him of not being honest with her. He accuses her of being just like everyone else in thinking he’s a dumb jock. He signs off. Olivia is left alone again. Jess tells Liz some more about what happened to Tad. His parents were about to separate and his dad had moved out. Todd and Liz make up (of course). The next day there’s an assembly. Project Youth sends some counselors over to talk to the students. Jessica notices that nothing really changed though there have been no pranks that day the school is still divided. Liv realizes in her journal she was wrong as she looks at Ken. He’s much more than a dumb jock and she had stereotyped him when what he showed her as “Quarter” was what mattered. Ken looks at Liv and thinks about how she talked about her looks and her hair and the romantic times they shared. Then he tells himself it's too bad Olivia didn’t turn out as wonderful as Free Verse. He tells himself let it
Maria writes an article that suggests some movies to watch related to cliques. She, Liv, and Liz all agree that this was something brewing under the surface all along. They decide they need to do something to get people talking. Something fun! Liz says if only there was a way for them to walk in each others shoes. Liv says she knows what they should do. Her idea at the next dance is to dress in someone else’s clothes and shoes. The dance even has rap music playing. Liz wears Lila’s clothes, Bruce wears a nerd’s clothes (Winstons?). Liv wears Claire’s football jersey. Mr. Collins has on basketball player's clothes. Justin has on a tux (Bruces). Lila has on grunge. Dana has on a pin striped business suit. Jan has on a cheerleader outfit. Jessica goes as a punk rocker. Danny looks for Jessica but she’s kissing Keith Wagner. He’s disappointed but Olivia asks him to dance. Even tho she did a bold thing she still feels out of character and wonders if that’s how Ken felt.
Tad turns up at the party dressed like a burnt out with his brother. Jess is happy to see him. Collins has set up a study schedule for him to get him back on track. He’s also asked students to volunteer to help. There won’t be any criminal charges. Keith decides he doesn’t hate jocks and Jessica decides she likes him (his new look).
My Thoughts:
There wasn’t a lot to comment on to this one. I was bored with the whole clique war not that far into the book. Was never in one and didn’t see why Liz or Olivia was so worried about fitting in. I guess I’ve just always kind of accepted I was different and nobody else accepted it then OH WELL (as I got older). When I was in school there *were* cliques but I just hung with the people I thought were cool and I don’t think we fell into any category. We weren’t with the popular set of the jock set, or the brain set. We just “were.” I think the shocking part was supposed to be that Blubber tried to commit suicide but seeing that I’d never heard of this character or Keith. I was more thinking “Who?” I’m from divorced parents and I’m pretty sure that when they separated I was upset, but wanting to commit suicide? Then I don’t even see how people get sooo serious over sports so I definitely didn’t understand how suspending him from the team would do it. I don’t know it is just that serious to sports fans and people who play sports but I just don’t get it. The online dating thing to me was just ironic because it’s so common now. People meet and “fall in love” online all the time. I can say that from my own experience that the internet is full of people who wear masks. So this much is still true. I can’t say that Ken and Olivia made that much of an impression on me as a couple. I liked Terri better for Ken (Whatever happened to her?). This for me was a little lackluster. I’m finding out that a lot of these later ones in the series are.
Rating: 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2023
3.5
Fun, quick read.
Olivia and Ken connect online but does not know who the other one is. Meanwhile the different cliques at school are feuding. Can everyone get past their differences to get along?
Fun, quick read.
Olivia and Ken connect online but does not know who the other one is. Meanwhile the different cliques at school are feuding. Can everyone get past their differences to get along?
January 23, 2020
Rare to have such a good late era SVH book. The internet is new, so the ghostwriter explains the meanings of emoticons and abbreviations such as LOL. Olivia and Ken enjoy many a private chat room to engage in some cyber dating and making out. Meanwhile, Jessica dates two boys at the same time, eventually literally. God love her.
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