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Sweet Valley Kids #25
Left-Out Elizabeth
Elizabeth Wakefield can't wait for her family's first ski vacation, especially since her friend Todd Wilkins is going too. But when they arrive at the ski resort Todd makes friends with a boy named Mark. Soon the boys are together almost all the time, and Elizabeth feels left out. When Todd asks her to come with him on a difficult ski trail, Elizabeth isn't sure what to do. She promised her parents she'd stay on the beginner trails, but she also wants to spend time with Todd. Will she break her promise and go with him down the steep and dangerous slope.
- GenresMiddle GradeChildrens
74 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
3 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,140 books1,851 followersFrancine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.
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July 27, 2024Left-Out Elizabeth
The twins can’t wait to see some snow. It’s winter break and the Wakefields and the Wilkins are going on a four day trip to a ski-resort. Liz is happy to be going with Todd. He’s one of her best friends. She wants him to teach her to ski. Even Jessica is looking forward to skiing. The higher they go up the mountain the colder it gets and on the way up they see snow. They arrive at their chalet. Both familes are going to share one. Immediately Liz and Jess start to throw snow at Steven. Mrs. Wakefield gives the kids permission to look at the slopes while they check in. One guy is particularly fast and Liz doesn’t think she’ll ever be able to go that fast. Todd says he bets he can. Jessica wants to go to the bunny slope. Todd says he’ll go with them (tho he’s not a beginner).
They go into the lobby and check out the ski shop. Jessica wants a bright pink ski suit. Todd wishes he had a pair of colorful (professional) ski goggles. They cost fifty dollars. Todd says he’ll have to save his money. Jessica wants a pair to but she only has three dollars. After this they go to the rental place and Jessica gets pink boots. They’re all fitted for skis, biddings, and pools. Mr. Wakefied has signed them all up for lessons. Their instructors name is Fran and she shows them how to bend their knees and hold their poles. Jessica almost slids away. Fran tells them to point their legs to make a V. Todd says she’s done it before but she tells him to do it and they’ll see how he does. She then teach’s them to do a rope toe. Todd demonstrates. Liz and Steven join in but Jessica is hesitant. But she’s able to join the others. Fran tells them to go downhill. Liz does it perfectly. Jessica does it too and thinks it’s fun and wants to do it every year.
The next morning, they find out there’s a snow sculpture contest. Todd says he wants to try some of the harder slopes. His father tells him to stick with the others. Jessica tells him Liz is just as good as he is. They meet a boy named Mark with cool orange glasses and a purple ski suit. Mark loves skiing and he’s in little league and plays basketball and hockey. Todd and Liz say their both on the soccer team. Steven and Todd, Liz notices are trying to make a good impression on Mark and freezing them out. Mark wants to ski with them. The guys say sure. He tells them he ski’s intermediate. Liz tells them they’re doing the beginner trails. He’s cool about it and says he’ll do them with them. Todd says he’s riding with Mark and Steven but promises he’ll ski with her. Jessica notices how upset Liz is and Liz says he’s supposed to be her friend.
Jessica is having fun just riding the chair lift. Liz isn’t. Mark suggest the “Do As I Do” Trail. Liz and Jessica decide to go down together. The boys don’t even notice them. Liz is missing Todd’s friendship. At dinner, the guys tell their parents about Mark. Liz is over it by this point! Mrs. Wakefield wants to know what kind of snow sculpture they’ll make. They decide on a space ship with aliens. Then they have hot cocoa and play board games by the fire. They play Scrabble and Liz is happy because Todd picks her to be on his team. Steven is stuck with Jessica. They play for a little then see Mark and take off. Liz doesn’t feel like playing after this.
The next day, they all take a vote what the sculpture should be. Steven and Todd want to make a space ship. Liz and Jessica want to make a dragon. Then Todd says he changes his mind which makes Liz happy. Mark then shows up and asks what their doing. Todd tells him “a dumb dragon” and says it’s Liz’s idea. Mark wants to ski. The guys go off with Mark. Jessica says they don’t need them. Liz says they can’t make it without them. Jessica suggest they make twins (a Jessica bunny and a Elizabeth bunny). After their done, Liz wants to ski but Jessica says her legs still ache. She says she’s going sledding instead. She invites Liz but Liz says she’s going skiing.
Since Mark is going with Steven, Todd has to go with Liz. Liz asks him why he’s being so mean, but he says he’not. She says he’s always going off with Steven and Mark. Todd says he’s skiing with her now. The guys want to try the intermediate slopes but Liz says she isn’t ready. So, she heads off to the beginners trail without them. It’s not long before she hears Todd yelling he can’t stop.
Liz finds Jessica and tells her what’s happened. She says she hopes they walk the rest of the way down but then she hears them skiing down the slopes and realize they’re going too fast. Steven hits some other skiers and tumbles down the rest of the mountain. A crowd surrounds him and the ski patrol are called. Steven is put on a stretcher and taken away. Mark goes down no problem. Todd walks the rest of the way down. Steven has hurt his knee. Todd knows he’s gonna get it.
Todd is grounded. Steven is taken to the hospital. Someone brings the twins free cocoa. Mark comes in, apologizes, and asks about Steven. He says he tried to tell them the slopes were too icy. Liz can tell he’s sincere. She invites him to play cards with them. He asks about Todd but they tell him he’s grounded and they play “Go Fish” Steven comes back with a busted up knee and he has to stay off it for some weeks. Todd apologizes to Liz and tells her she was right. Liz asks if Todd can ski with her tomorrow and his parents say since it’s his last day. They ask about the sculptures and if the space ship turned out alright. The twins tell them to look out the window. They notice the bunnies.
The next day (last day) the winners are posted. The twins win first prize. They win some of the cool ski googles. Jessica picks yellow. Liz picks light blue. The twins say they love skiing and want to come back every year. They ask Steven if he’ll ever ski again. He says yes but he’ll stick to beginner trails. They say goodbye to Mark and tell him next year he can help them make their sculpture. Todd, Liz, and Jessica make snow angels.
My Thoughts:
I was trying to think about where I read this plot before. Then it came to me. It was similar to one in the Fabulous Five book “Sibling Rivalry”. I guess when you read so many series books after a while they all start to blur. So, my family always do this thing were they’ll have all these so called family meetings and talk about how their going to get a vacation together. It gets a little annoying because it never amounts to anything but talk and I’m just not a *talker*. I’m a doer! I remember one year they were talking about going to a resort. Skiing is just something that has never appealed to me. I can’t even see myself going down a mountain with a little pair of sticks strapped to my feet. NO THANK YOU! And then I don’t even like air conditioning. I’m EXTREMLY cold natured. Walking down the cold ailse of the grocery store is too cold for me. So, I kow I knoooow I do’t need to be no where with snow. I’m one of those people that when it does snow here and people are all excited like “Oh look at the snow” I’ll glance at it and then go back to reading (or whatever I’m doing). Snow just does not excite me! So, this book was just lost on me.
Rating: 5
The twins can’t wait to see some snow. It’s winter break and the Wakefields and the Wilkins are going on a four day trip to a ski-resort. Liz is happy to be going with Todd. He’s one of her best friends. She wants him to teach her to ski. Even Jessica is looking forward to skiing. The higher they go up the mountain the colder it gets and on the way up they see snow. They arrive at their chalet. Both familes are going to share one. Immediately Liz and Jess start to throw snow at Steven. Mrs. Wakefield gives the kids permission to look at the slopes while they check in. One guy is particularly fast and Liz doesn’t think she’ll ever be able to go that fast. Todd says he bets he can. Jessica wants to go to the bunny slope. Todd says he’ll go with them (tho he’s not a beginner).
They go into the lobby and check out the ski shop. Jessica wants a bright pink ski suit. Todd wishes he had a pair of colorful (professional) ski goggles. They cost fifty dollars. Todd says he’ll have to save his money. Jessica wants a pair to but she only has three dollars. After this they go to the rental place and Jessica gets pink boots. They’re all fitted for skis, biddings, and pools. Mr. Wakefied has signed them all up for lessons. Their instructors name is Fran and she shows them how to bend their knees and hold their poles. Jessica almost slids away. Fran tells them to point their legs to make a V. Todd says she’s done it before but she tells him to do it and they’ll see how he does. She then teach’s them to do a rope toe. Todd demonstrates. Liz and Steven join in but Jessica is hesitant. But she’s able to join the others. Fran tells them to go downhill. Liz does it perfectly. Jessica does it too and thinks it’s fun and wants to do it every year.
The next morning, they find out there’s a snow sculpture contest. Todd says he wants to try some of the harder slopes. His father tells him to stick with the others. Jessica tells him Liz is just as good as he is. They meet a boy named Mark with cool orange glasses and a purple ski suit. Mark loves skiing and he’s in little league and plays basketball and hockey. Todd and Liz say their both on the soccer team. Steven and Todd, Liz notices are trying to make a good impression on Mark and freezing them out. Mark wants to ski with them. The guys say sure. He tells them he ski’s intermediate. Liz tells them they’re doing the beginner trails. He’s cool about it and says he’ll do them with them. Todd says he’s riding with Mark and Steven but promises he’ll ski with her. Jessica notices how upset Liz is and Liz says he’s supposed to be her friend.
Jessica is having fun just riding the chair lift. Liz isn’t. Mark suggest the “Do As I Do” Trail. Liz and Jessica decide to go down together. The boys don’t even notice them. Liz is missing Todd’s friendship. At dinner, the guys tell their parents about Mark. Liz is over it by this point! Mrs. Wakefield wants to know what kind of snow sculpture they’ll make. They decide on a space ship with aliens. Then they have hot cocoa and play board games by the fire. They play Scrabble and Liz is happy because Todd picks her to be on his team. Steven is stuck with Jessica. They play for a little then see Mark and take off. Liz doesn’t feel like playing after this.
The next day, they all take a vote what the sculpture should be. Steven and Todd want to make a space ship. Liz and Jessica want to make a dragon. Then Todd says he changes his mind which makes Liz happy. Mark then shows up and asks what their doing. Todd tells him “a dumb dragon” and says it’s Liz’s idea. Mark wants to ski. The guys go off with Mark. Jessica says they don’t need them. Liz says they can’t make it without them. Jessica suggest they make twins (a Jessica bunny and a Elizabeth bunny). After their done, Liz wants to ski but Jessica says her legs still ache. She says she’s going sledding instead. She invites Liz but Liz says she’s going skiing.
Since Mark is going with Steven, Todd has to go with Liz. Liz asks him why he’s being so mean, but he says he’not. She says he’s always going off with Steven and Mark. Todd says he’s skiing with her now. The guys want to try the intermediate slopes but Liz says she isn’t ready. So, she heads off to the beginners trail without them. It’s not long before she hears Todd yelling he can’t stop.
Liz finds Jessica and tells her what’s happened. She says she hopes they walk the rest of the way down but then she hears them skiing down the slopes and realize they’re going too fast. Steven hits some other skiers and tumbles down the rest of the mountain. A crowd surrounds him and the ski patrol are called. Steven is put on a stretcher and taken away. Mark goes down no problem. Todd walks the rest of the way down. Steven has hurt his knee. Todd knows he’s gonna get it.
Todd is grounded. Steven is taken to the hospital. Someone brings the twins free cocoa. Mark comes in, apologizes, and asks about Steven. He says he tried to tell them the slopes were too icy. Liz can tell he’s sincere. She invites him to play cards with them. He asks about Todd but they tell him he’s grounded and they play “Go Fish” Steven comes back with a busted up knee and he has to stay off it for some weeks. Todd apologizes to Liz and tells her she was right. Liz asks if Todd can ski with her tomorrow and his parents say since it’s his last day. They ask about the sculptures and if the space ship turned out alright. The twins tell them to look out the window. They notice the bunnies.
The next day (last day) the winners are posted. The twins win first prize. They win some of the cool ski googles. Jessica picks yellow. Liz picks light blue. The twins say they love skiing and want to come back every year. They ask Steven if he’ll ever ski again. He says yes but he’ll stick to beginner trails. They say goodbye to Mark and tell him next year he can help them make their sculpture. Todd, Liz, and Jessica make snow angels.
My Thoughts:
I was trying to think about where I read this plot before. Then it came to me. It was similar to one in the Fabulous Five book “Sibling Rivalry”. I guess when you read so many series books after a while they all start to blur. So, my family always do this thing were they’ll have all these so called family meetings and talk about how their going to get a vacation together. It gets a little annoying because it never amounts to anything but talk and I’m just not a *talker*. I’m a doer! I remember one year they were talking about going to a resort. Skiing is just something that has never appealed to me. I can’t even see myself going down a mountain with a little pair of sticks strapped to my feet. NO THANK YOU! And then I don’t even like air conditioning. I’m EXTREMLY cold natured. Walking down the cold ailse of the grocery store is too cold for me. So, I kow I knoooow I do’t need to be no where with snow. I’m one of those people that when it does snow here and people are all excited like “Oh look at the snow” I’ll glance at it and then go back to reading (or whatever I’m doing). Snow just does not excite me! So, this book was just lost on me.
Rating: 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2021
The Wakefield’s and the Wilkins are going skiing together, and although the Wakefield’s are all beginners, Todd is an expert - he’s been FOUR times. He’s basically a big old jerk to Liz, just like Steven, always ditching her and bragging. Jess is sweet to her, but Lis feels left out. Then Todd and Steven try to impress this guy by skiing the intermediate trails, and Steven gets hurt. Todd gets grounded, and all is forgiven 🤷🏼♀️
My rating - 2/10 - the mansplaining starts young with Todd! I’m not sure why Liz considers him such a ‘good friend’.
My rating - 2/10 - the mansplaining starts young with Todd! I’m not sure why Liz considers him such a ‘good friend’.
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January 12, 2023I find it really weird how the Kids series keeps pushing Liz and Todd as "special friends" when they also choose to depict him as a bit of a dick—it just doesn't seem like he's the sort of kid Liz would choose to be close with when he's sexist and arrogant. And that's even without the weirdness of suggesting that seven-year-olds are more than just friends.
Anyway, this was less entertaining than most books in the series, largely because it was focused on the annoying boys.
Anyway, this was less entertaining than most books in the series, largely because it was focused on the annoying boys.
June 22, 2013
I remember the cover just not the story
July 26, 2012
I liked that they went skiing in this book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews