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Sweet Valley High #21
Runaway
Jessica's had it with Sweet Valley...
Jessica Wakefield is sick and tired of taking second place to her twin sister, Elizabeth. Everyone adores Elizabeth; she's kind and loving and generous. But Jessica can't seem to do anything right.
Then Jessica meets handsome, sensitive Nicky Shepard, who feels the same way she does. Nicky is running away to San Francisco and wants Jessica to join him. At first she doesn't take him seriously. But when things reach the breaking point at home, Jessica starts to see that she might be better off if she left Sweet Valley—forever!
Jessica Wakefield is sick and tired of taking second place to her twin sister, Elizabeth. Everyone adores Elizabeth; she's kind and loving and generous. But Jessica can't seem to do anything right.
Then Jessica meets handsome, sensitive Nicky Shepard, who feels the same way she does. Nicky is running away to San Francisco and wants Jessica to join him. At first she doesn't take him seriously. But when things reach the breaking point at home, Jessica starts to see that she might be better off if she left Sweet Valley—forever!
169 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
41 people are currently reading
599 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,113 books1,844 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 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 17, 2019
Hmm. I’m not so sure that I’d want the well known and prestigious lawyer Ned Wakefield ever defending me if he gets so confused over a case that he has to turn to his 16 year old daughter for pointers. Just saying.
August 8, 2019
I want to reread this series from my childhood, hopefully will review this then.
May 7, 2018
Jessica realizes she is a shitty human being and that her sister is less so and treated as such-- Rather than apologizing to people she's done wrong and becoming a better person, she feels horrifically sorry for herself, meets and furtively kisses a depressed (and apparently abused? But that's glossed over- it was the 1980s) mysterious hottie. Then she passive aggressively plans to run away with him (they'll all be sorry!), but leaves a note with pretty easy instructions on how to stop her. Wakefieldian panic ensues- will they find Jessica in time to... not have her run away? Pretty typical SVH book- kind of a nice change of pace to see Jessica feel something other than arrogant and judgmental, but I'm not sure there's actual character growth? Perhaps later in the series... I'm not counting on it, but then if I were, I wouldn't be enjoying reading these as an adult so much.
July 15, 2024
Include this one in the Criterion Collection. 4.5 stars.
March 18, 2017
Ned and Alice have never been parents of the year, but they are truly awful here. Jessica is obviously going through something and needs them, and they roll their eyes and say it's probably about a boy and let's just ignore her. Jessica is hard to like in the earlier books, but I truly feel for her in this one.
March 6, 2011
Truly heartbreaking and sensitive. One of my favourite SVH titles.
Read
January 31, 2015Um, spoiler alert: She runs away in the second to last chapter. She sits on a bus where everyone is super nice to her and then goes home to cry it out.
January 28, 2019
The book in which I actually feel a little bit of empathy for Jessica. But just a little, she's still a sociopath.
December 9, 2025
Did Jessica become self aware? Realize she's a selfish narcissistic sociopath with psychopathic tendencies? Nope it's everyone else's fault.
Her family sort of realizes how awful she is here and she's no longer the centre of attention which pisses her off and in great dramatic fashion she decides she's going to leave. She's met a new guy named Nicky who has an actual awful family and is planning to go to San Francisco.
The book is mostly Jessica whining about how everyone hates her and Elizabeth trying to get their parents to see something is wrong with her and Ned and Alice are kind of terrible parents here. But Jessica is also a terrible person so apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It's hard to feel bad for Jessica here given how awful she is to other people. She doesn't run away until nearly the end and winds up with an old lady who likes to chatter away about the grandkids, falls asleep on her shoulder and hits her with her purse if she moves. She doesn't want to runaway and hopes her family will come save her but the letter she left saying where she's going drops behind a dresser. But of course she's saved before she gets too far.
The b plot is weird for many reasons. Ned is involved in a custody case. Ricky Capaldi's father left the family, but their grandparents want to see them and their mother won't let them. Its weird cause I thought Ned was more a corporate lawyer and why would he be involved in a family law case? He also gets legal advice from Liz which. . . why? Why would a top lawyer need his 16 year olds advice? Maybe cause he's not a family lawyer and doesn't know what he's doing. Anyway Liz decides to cover the case for the paper cause of course she does and it all eventually works out and is very odd.
Overall a mostly enjoyable book. I always enjoy watching the evil Jessica get knocked down a peg or two.
Her family sort of realizes how awful she is here and she's no longer the centre of attention which pisses her off and in great dramatic fashion she decides she's going to leave. She's met a new guy named Nicky who has an actual awful family and is planning to go to San Francisco.
The book is mostly Jessica whining about how everyone hates her and Elizabeth trying to get their parents to see something is wrong with her and Ned and Alice are kind of terrible parents here. But Jessica is also a terrible person so apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It's hard to feel bad for Jessica here given how awful she is to other people. She doesn't run away until nearly the end and winds up with an old lady who likes to chatter away about the grandkids, falls asleep on her shoulder and hits her with her purse if she moves. She doesn't want to runaway and hopes her family will come save her but the letter she left saying where she's going drops behind a dresser. But of course she's saved before she gets too far.
The b plot is weird for many reasons. Ned is involved in a custody case. Ricky Capaldi's father left the family, but their grandparents want to see them and their mother won't let them. Its weird cause I thought Ned was more a corporate lawyer and why would he be involved in a family law case? He also gets legal advice from Liz which. . . why? Why would a top lawyer need his 16 year olds advice? Maybe cause he's not a family lawyer and doesn't know what he's doing. Anyway Liz decides to cover the case for the paper cause of course she does and it all eventually works out and is very odd.
Overall a mostly enjoyable book. I always enjoy watching the evil Jessica get knocked down a peg or two.
March 30, 2016
Source: I read this book online via Open Library.
Cost: Free
Title: Runaway
Series: Sweet Valley High #21
Author: Francine Pascal // Kate William
Overall Rating: 3 stars
So, Jess is fed up because she thinks that everybody likes Liz better than her. Which is true for the most part, Liz is the better twin in the majority of ways. So Jess meets yet another boy, I'm going to start a list, and he's running away, so Jess decides that's what she's going to do too. Which is reckless and stupid. But she doesn't actually runaway until the end of the book which is really annoying, then she decides to go home anyway!
This book, although it introduces us to emotional Jessica again, something we haven't seen since Dear Sister, really grated on me. I just wanted her to runaway, have to sleep on a street, then go back to Sweet Valley and everyone be okay again, but I got no where near as much drama as I hoped for. Whereas the last book dripped in drama. Sigh. I just wish these books were more easily spread.
Cost: Free
Title: Runaway
Series: Sweet Valley High #21
Author: Francine Pascal // Kate William
Overall Rating: 3 stars
So, Jess is fed up because she thinks that everybody likes Liz better than her. Which is true for the most part, Liz is the better twin in the majority of ways. So Jess meets yet another boy, I'm going to start a list, and he's running away, so Jess decides that's what she's going to do too. Which is reckless and stupid. But she doesn't actually runaway until the end of the book which is really annoying, then she decides to go home anyway!
This book, although it introduces us to emotional Jessica again, something we haven't seen since Dear Sister, really grated on me. I just wanted her to runaway, have to sleep on a street, then go back to Sweet Valley and everyone be okay again, but I got no where near as much drama as I hoped for. Whereas the last book dripped in drama. Sigh. I just wish these books were more easily spread.
October 24, 2010
I would read until I was yelled at, then I would use a flashlight under the covers....I never wanted to stop reading my girls, and nothing would stop me from the victory of those glorious words, until the next adventure...
January 7, 2013
Wow! This was such an amazing book!!!! The usually confident self obsessed Jessica took on a more sensitive persona. This really gave me a stronger connection to her!!! The issues are also very realistic! I also love that Steve was in it!!!
June 12, 2008
I totally remember Gail buying this for me one year.... and I could NOT WAIT TO GET HOME AND READ IT, Like does Jessica come back????
July 10, 2008
A good book in the series.
August 3, 2008
Read this back in secondary school... 'Sweet Valley High #21 - Runaway' by Francine Pascal
Read
April 19, 2011nice
September 11, 2016
Re-read October 2002.
February 6, 2012
A 2 because I didn't like Jessica's personality in this one. I didn't like her being all depressed and emo, she's much more fun when she's scheming and bitchy!
Read
August 1, 2013Graded By: Erin
Read the drinking game and review here.
Read the drinking game and review here.
February 15, 2015
Elizabeth sucks. That is all.
April 10, 2016
Jessica is such a drama queen.
March 7, 2017
Finally!! It only took 21 books, but we finally get to see the human side of Jessica, and not just the "evil" version that is so prevalent in the earlier books.
January 8, 2020
I may not be a twin, but I think we’ve all felt the way Jessica feels in this book.
February 18, 2019
Runaway
Plot: After feeling neglected and always in her sister’s shadow, Jessica gets close to Nicky Shephard who’s also the outcast in his own family. As they get closer, Nicky confides in Jessica he plans to be out of there on the next plane to San Francisco to live with a friend of his Danny. He tells Jessica to consider moving with him. And the final straw drops. First Steven snaps at her for inviting him to a party-thinking she’s trying to set him up again with her friend Cara-. Then no one listens to her opinion about Ned’s big case involving Ricky Capaldo’s family. Long story short, Ricky’s father pulled a vanishing act on his family and the mother is taking it out on the grandparents and won’t let them see the grandkids. But they sure as hell listen to Elizabeth when she suggests to go out at the angle of the kids. So, Jess is out of there on the next bus. But will Elizabeth find her good bye plea (letter) in time to come to her rescue and show her that she’s wanted right where she is? I think we all know Jessica isn’t leaving the magical SV for real.
My Thoughts:
A few things
*Jessica doesn’t even consider what she’s gonna do when she get’s to SF. She doesn’t have any money. She’s dropped out of school. So she’s planning to shack up with Ricky until she gets a piss-*** job as a waitress. And live with two men. That in itself is shady. What about when one of them decide (or both) that she has to *pay her keep* and I don’t necessarily mean financially. And if Nicky’s so sweet why didn’t he wait for her and take her with him.
*Yet, I really do understand and sympathize for Jessica in this one. A Recently a family member came to stay with me and they said my (for lack of a better use of the word) sister’s name so damn much. It was SHE SAID. SHE SAID. SHE SAID. And *she* was ALWAYS RIGHT in most of my family’s eyes and it made me resent even more. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a bus, and hugs and tears, and a happily ever after chapter in my story.
*And as we see in this Elizabeth really isn’t perfect. She’s actually kind of horrible! Not only does she not seem to get the concept of PRIVACY and that every story isn’t hers to share with the world, but she also guilt trips Ricky that *he’s* the one who should feel bad here and turns the tables around to how *he’s* wrong. He kind of is tho. But again I also understand the need of punishing someone else when someone walks out on you. I have BEEN THERE!
Rating: 6
Plot: After feeling neglected and always in her sister’s shadow, Jessica gets close to Nicky Shephard who’s also the outcast in his own family. As they get closer, Nicky confides in Jessica he plans to be out of there on the next plane to San Francisco to live with a friend of his Danny. He tells Jessica to consider moving with him. And the final straw drops. First Steven snaps at her for inviting him to a party-thinking she’s trying to set him up again with her friend Cara-. Then no one listens to her opinion about Ned’s big case involving Ricky Capaldo’s family. Long story short, Ricky’s father pulled a vanishing act on his family and the mother is taking it out on the grandparents and won’t let them see the grandkids. But they sure as hell listen to Elizabeth when she suggests to go out at the angle of the kids. So, Jess is out of there on the next bus. But will Elizabeth find her good bye plea (letter) in time to come to her rescue and show her that she’s wanted right where she is? I think we all know Jessica isn’t leaving the magical SV for real.
My Thoughts:
A few things
*Jessica doesn’t even consider what she’s gonna do when she get’s to SF. She doesn’t have any money. She’s dropped out of school. So she’s planning to shack up with Ricky until she gets a piss-*** job as a waitress. And live with two men. That in itself is shady. What about when one of them decide (or both) that she has to *pay her keep* and I don’t necessarily mean financially. And if Nicky’s so sweet why didn’t he wait for her and take her with him.
*Yet, I really do understand and sympathize for Jessica in this one. A Recently a family member came to stay with me and they said my (for lack of a better use of the word) sister’s name so damn much. It was SHE SAID. SHE SAID. SHE SAID. And *she* was ALWAYS RIGHT in most of my family’s eyes and it made me resent even more. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a bus, and hugs and tears, and a happily ever after chapter in my story.
*And as we see in this Elizabeth really isn’t perfect. She’s actually kind of horrible! Not only does she not seem to get the concept of PRIVACY and that every story isn’t hers to share with the world, but she also guilt trips Ricky that *he’s* the one who should feel bad here and turns the tables around to how *he’s* wrong. He kind of is tho. But again I also understand the need of punishing someone else when someone walks out on you. I have BEEN THERE!
Rating: 6
August 21, 2023
Sweet Valley High 21.
One theme in this volume is Jessica feeling underappreciated and extremely jealous of her sister, Elizabeth.
There is a problem here. Jessica is, basically, a badly behaved, egocentric, untrustworthy person. She is constantly getting herself into situations where her sister needs to help her.
Yet it doesn't seem to dawn on her that if she behaved better and made more of an effort at school then those around her would really begin to appreciate her more.
There is one saving grace for her, though, and that is that her parents don't really seem to pay attention to her enough.
Jessica is jealous of Elizabeth being praised on her efforts at school. Elizabeth does try to do as good as she can at school while Jessica basically fluffs off a lot of her schoolwork. Yet this factor of Jessica's behavior doesn't seem to be something she considers.
Jessica does try to change her behavior, though, but those around her don't really seem to notice so some of the fault of what happens does fall upon them.
Jessica also seems to be pulling away from her friends which should be a massive blinking red light to her parents. It's something that could indicate that she is considering suicide.
So, Jessica has a boyfriend who has moved away and she ends up deciding to runaway from home to be with him. It's not an easy decision for her at all and it is a sign of the major mental difficulties she is having.
So, it's a matter of whether anyone in the family will realize what is going on, try to save her from herself and then actually she has a real problem and try to do something about it.
It's a very realistic them and it's handled rather well.
One theme in this volume is Jessica feeling underappreciated and extremely jealous of her sister, Elizabeth.
There is a problem here. Jessica is, basically, a badly behaved, egocentric, untrustworthy person. She is constantly getting herself into situations where her sister needs to help her.
Yet it doesn't seem to dawn on her that if she behaved better and made more of an effort at school then those around her would really begin to appreciate her more.
There is one saving grace for her, though, and that is that her parents don't really seem to pay attention to her enough.
Jessica is jealous of Elizabeth being praised on her efforts at school. Elizabeth does try to do as good as she can at school while Jessica basically fluffs off a lot of her schoolwork. Yet this factor of Jessica's behavior doesn't seem to be something she considers.
Jessica does try to change her behavior, though, but those around her don't really seem to notice so some of the fault of what happens does fall upon them.
Jessica also seems to be pulling away from her friends which should be a massive blinking red light to her parents. It's something that could indicate that she is considering suicide.
So, Jessica has a boyfriend who has moved away and she ends up deciding to runaway from home to be with him. It's not an easy decision for her at all and it is a sign of the major mental difficulties she is having.
So, it's a matter of whether anyone in the family will realize what is going on, try to save her from herself and then actually she has a real problem and try to do something about it.
It's a very realistic them and it's handled rather well.
October 21, 2020
Jessica feels under-appreciated and not taken seriously by her family. Well, having a sister I can relate to going through these phases, but come on Jessica, it's not like you haven't given your family multiple reasons for them to question your motives. The best part of this book was the last 15 pages which were actually quite suspenseful.
Ned Wakefield is also all over the place in this book. He gives Elizabeth questionable advice to keep pursuing a news article about her friend Ricky's family court trial, even though Ricky pleaded to her not to air his private family matters. Dad advice fail in my opinion. But because it's Elizabeth, she saves the day and everything turns out OK in the end.
--
**Review Note - I have been re-reading the Sweet Valley High series one book at a time for my podcast, “Lessons From Sweet Valley.” The following is the unique SVH rating system that I use on goodreads for these books alone…
5 Stars - The book is worthy of being read outside of the series purely as an exemplary example of YA fiction.
4 Stars - The book contains an element, storyline or theme that sets it apart from your average SVH tome.
3 Stars - The book adequately meets the expectations of an SVH book as it exists in the Sweet Valley universe.
2 Stars - The book falls below the SVH standards in terms of subject matter, characters or overall story.
1 Star - Offensive by SVH standards! Any of those re-reading the series should skip entirely
Ned Wakefield is also all over the place in this book. He gives Elizabeth questionable advice to keep pursuing a news article about her friend Ricky's family court trial, even though Ricky pleaded to her not to air his private family matters. Dad advice fail in my opinion. But because it's Elizabeth, she saves the day and everything turns out OK in the end.
--
**Review Note - I have been re-reading the Sweet Valley High series one book at a time for my podcast, “Lessons From Sweet Valley.” The following is the unique SVH rating system that I use on goodreads for these books alone…
5 Stars - The book is worthy of being read outside of the series purely as an exemplary example of YA fiction.
4 Stars - The book contains an element, storyline or theme that sets it apart from your average SVH tome.
3 Stars - The book adequately meets the expectations of an SVH book as it exists in the Sweet Valley universe.
2 Stars - The book falls below the SVH standards in terms of subject matter, characters or overall story.
1 Star - Offensive by SVH standards! Any of those re-reading the series should skip entirely
March 29, 2022
Jessica decides everyone likes Liz more then her (wonder why) and turns to Nicky Shepard for help. Nicky, a mysterious boy who doesn't hang in Jess' crowd, also feels alone in his family and is planning to run away to San Francisco. Nicky wants Jess to come to San Francisco with him and Jess says yes, but only so her family will realize how much they love Jess and will stop hating her. Jess makes it all the way to Culver City before Liz and depressed Steven find her and then they all live happily ever after. Even Ricky Capoldo, the star of the b-plot. Ricky's mother is preventing Ricky from seeing his paternal grandparents and Ned Wakefield, legal genius and Ricky's grandparent's lawyer needs Liz's help to win the case. Because a 16 year old understand law better then lawyers. All in all, Jess was the better twin and Steven isn't depressed anymore.
April 29, 2025
So you’re gonna runaway, huh?
I went in expecting “Woe is Me” Jessica, but what I got was “Ride or Die for a Boy in a Leather Jacket” Jessica and honestly, I liked it at first.
Her whirlwind with Nicky Shepard started out kind of cute, bonding over neglectful families and emotional wounds. But let’s be real, Jessica calling herself ignored while living her spoiled Wakefield life was a reach. Nicky’s family dynamic actually had weight, though he spiraled fast into full self-destruction mode.
The middle dragged. Jessica got annoying. Nicky was frustrating.
Everyone could’ve benefitted from one group therapy session and a real conversation.
That said, I did like that Jessica was somewhat self-aware by the end — and of course, Caroline’s messy mouth is always a guaranteed set-up for future drama. The next book looks way more interesting, and I’m ready for it.
I went in expecting “Woe is Me” Jessica, but what I got was “Ride or Die for a Boy in a Leather Jacket” Jessica and honestly, I liked it at first.
Her whirlwind with Nicky Shepard started out kind of cute, bonding over neglectful families and emotional wounds. But let’s be real, Jessica calling herself ignored while living her spoiled Wakefield life was a reach. Nicky’s family dynamic actually had weight, though he spiraled fast into full self-destruction mode.
The middle dragged. Jessica got annoying. Nicky was frustrating.
Everyone could’ve benefitted from one group therapy session and a real conversation.
That said, I did like that Jessica was somewhat self-aware by the end — and of course, Caroline’s messy mouth is always a guaranteed set-up for future drama. The next book looks way more interesting, and I’m ready for it.
August 11, 2020
Jessica has been starting to accumulate the hurts - yep she is actually noticing she is not Queen of the World and in fact some of the things her family say about her are just not up to her standard of being worshipped. Since it is far easier for Jessica to run away than to... I don't know... pull her socks up and start earning some respect... she does decide to runaway with someone she vaguely knows to live in a city with someone she absolutely does not know and sounds really shady... but of course she is giving her family every opportunity to find her because its at least 80% only a ploy for attention however a pesky breeze blew the only clue as to what she was doing right behind the furniture. Oh no! How will this ever come out right?
December 7, 2017
I’m in love with the new Jessica and her way of thinking. All families have misunderstandings, jokes, occasional third wheels, and busy days, but Jessica needed a reminder that everyone forgets once in a while: At the end of that busy day, each family member is a piece of a family puzzle. So is Jessica. Call it whatever you want, but it’s the truth. Elizabeth may give us happy endings, but Jessica brings us excitement to create those happy endings. Besides, Jessica’s family genuinely cares about her, unlike Nicky’s father. I wonder how he would feel if Nicky ended up getting murdered. (Not that I want that, but it could happen.) The subplot was also more exciting than I thought.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews