Sweet Valley Blizzard!

Sweet Valley Kids #74

by Francine Pascal, Molly Mia Stewart

In the words of 7-year-old Elizabeth Wakefield...My twin sister Jessica's pen pal from Alaska is coming to visit! We want to make him feel at home. But there's one thing missing: snow! It never snows in Sweet Valley, California. Does it?

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Francine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.

Reviews

[Pastel Paperback · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is so silly but still kind of cute.

The SV kids have pen pals from Alaska and one of them is actually visiting California! They go to great lengths to welcome him by trying to turn their classroom into a papery winter wonderland, then Lila goes BIG and has her dad hire a snow machine? That actually creates enough snow in Southern California that it covers the lawn and they can like sled and build snowmen? That had to be expensive.

Finally, they realize their pen pal friend actually would just like to enjoy sunny Sweet Valley (um duh guys,) but then it randomly snows *for real* at the beach. QUESTIONABLE. But kinda cute.

[Tiffany Spencer]

Sweet Valley Blizzard
The class gets letters from thiier penpals. Liz is excited. Jessica isn’t. When she reads her letter, she finds out “Mooseboy” (Bob) is coming to visit her at Sweet Valley Elementary. This is something Jessica doesn’t want in the least. She can not stand boys! The class teases her about having a boyfriend. Liz tries to convince her it won’t be so bad, but she’s not convinced. He’s from Alaska. He’s *got* to be strange. She gets images of igloos, no electricity, and smelly moose coats.

Elizabeth comes up with the idea that they should decorate the classwoom with snowflakes for Bob. Jessica also has an idea. She’ll get the other boys to entertain Bob so she won’t have to. Liz fears that Jessica will hurt Bob’s feelings.

When Bob comes to SVE, he surprises everyone because he’s not wearing a fur coat. He’s dressed like a “regular” kid. They all ask him questions about Alaska, the snow, darkness, sled dogs, snowmobiles, and log houses. He answeres each one patiently. He brings gifts for the class (a state flag, a carved dog, and snow shoes). Jessica acts distant. Bob notices.

She avoids him at recess. He plays soccer with Elizabeth, Todd, and Jerry. At lunch, he says he likes pineapple pizza (and not sushi). Liz wonders if she should tell Jessica this to get her to see they have something in common. When they go back to class, Winston has turned the AC up to freezing to make Bob feel at home. The class works on science projects involving ice and steam. Bob’s aunt picks ihm up. After he leaves, Lila says she’ll be having a surprise snow themed party I his honor.

At Lila’s party, her father has rented a snow-maker that turns the backyard into a winter wonderland. They have hot chocolate, eat snow cones, and play snow soccer. Bob is a little surprised to see it, but after a while he becomes distant. Liz encourages Jessica to go talk to him. Jessica admits she’s embarrassed by all the teasing. Jessica does and apologizes. They all have a snowball fight, but Bob wanders off to himself.

At school, He tells Liz he came to California in hopes of getting away from all the cold and snow. So, Jessica comes up with the idea that they should take him to the beach for his last day with them. Bob loves it and calls her “the best pen pal ever” and gives her a hug. While they’re there, it actually does start to snow. Jessica gives Bob a conch shell. Earlier in the book, he gave her an Eskino doll

Rating: 5 I just couldn’t help thinking how differently this story might have gone if it were an SVH book, instead of an SVK’s. If Bob only knew what we know later. He might have been *glad* Jessica avoided him so much and not taken an interest in him. It would be interesting tho if Bob *did* come back in later books and he does Jessica the *exact* same way she did in this book and he turns out to be this great guy and now *she’s* the one that’s after him, but he’s like nah I’ve heard about you. Your *strange*. Your boyfriends end up dead, your psycho, and you have insane dopplegangers.

[Andy]

7-year-old twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield live in Sweet Valley, California, where it never snows. When Jessica’s pen pal from Alaska comes to visit, they want to make him feel at home. Can they make it snow in the valley?

[Ruvi Perera · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a somewhat okay book. Not one of my favourites.

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweetvalleyrecaps
Sweet Valley Kids 74 - Sweet Valley Blizzard!
Jessica’s pen pal Mooseboy - I mean, Bob - is visiting Sweet Valley! Everyone is excited, except Jess. The boys keep calling him her boyfriend so she’s made a list of things for Bob to be taught by the boys while in California - including how to use electricity 🤔 Jess avoids Bob like the plague, even though all the girls think he’s cute. The class have decorated the room with winter theme, and Lila throws a winter party with fake snow. But Bob is sad. Liz convinces Jess to be nice to him, and that helps cheer him up, but, it turns out Bob wanted a California experience. So they go on a class trip (this guy is wasting his vacation) to the beach! And its great! Until it SNOWS AT THE BEACH. I’m done 🤦🏼‍♀️
My rating - 3/10 - it was cute seeing Jess have her first crush, but snowing at the beach out of nowhere?!

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the cover but just not the story