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Sweet Valley Kids #37
The Big Race
Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield can't wait to build and race their own cars in the upcoming soapbox derby. Ken Matthews keeps bragging about how great his car is, and the twins are determined to beat him. They know they can do it if they work together—but they have a big right right before the race. Can the twins make up in time to win?
73 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1993
2 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,148 books1,853 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
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October 7, 2022I struggle a lot with the books where Elizabeth is mean to Jess and doesn't get punished in the same way Jess always is. I also find it weird with this one that their parents don't intercede at all when they stop talking to each other for days! If nothing else, it would make the dinner table conversation less awkward.
July 26, 2012
Soap box derby sounds like fun.
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June 20, 2025The Big Race
Jessica tells Liz at breakfast that Ricky Capaldo has a new brother and his name is Johnny. Liz adds he was born at 2:30 a.m. Jessica says they’ll have to throw his parties in the middle of the night. Mr. Wakefield says not necessarily. The twins and Steven were also born after midnight. Liz was born at 1:15 a.m and Jessica was born at 1:19. Steven says it makes sense now why she always does her chores and homework first and why she’s never late for the school bus.
Liz tells Jessica to hurry up or they’ll be late catching the bus. Jessica complains back that she’s not done eating. Her mother tells her breakfast, but her mother tells hre to listen to her big sister. On the bus, Caroline says Liz should have the inside seat because Jessica had it yesterday, but Liz says Jessica can have it. In class, Mrs. Otis says the school will be sponsoring a soap-box derby. It’ll be the first one in 10 years. Each person builds their own car out of wood, cardboard, metal, scraps, plastic milk crates, or anything else. Because they don’t have engines the races are always downhill.
She shows them pictures of past derbies. Kisho, Todd, and Jessica say they’ll definitely enter. Todd says he wants to be a race-car driver when he grows up and this will be his first competition. Liz brags that her car will go two thousand miles per hour and Todd says if so she’s sure to win. Ken says she won’t win because he is. At recess, Liz, Jessica, Todd, Eva, Ken and Kisha play race cars. They make the track a chalk circle around the swing set and they run around it. Liz tells Jessica she can go faster because she’s older and this makes Jessica mad. She yells at her she can’t. Lila and Ellen over hear this (their on the swings and not playing race cars because they aren’t interested).
They comment that they didn’t know Liz was older. Jessica says it’s not a big deal. Liz says it is because Jessica is the *little* sister. Caroline asks is that why she let Jessica have the inside seat and Liz says yes because she’s the *nice* sister. Jessica says she doesn’t have to be nice to her all the time (upset because of how Liz is making her look). Ellen says being the youngest is a good thing. The youngest always gets spoiled-like her brother Mark-. Jessica gives Liz a look like top that. Then she says if she gets whatever she wants she wants to win the soap-box derby. Liz says that won’t happen. Her chances are better because she plays with toy cars.
Ken comes over and suggest to Jessica they play Indy 500 and he’ll win first prize. Jessica says she has a better idea. They can pretend he gets a flat tired and he wins. Ken says he should win because he’s going to win for real. His dad was so good at soap-box racing that he went all the way to Akron Ohio for the nationals. He even won a trophy. His dad is going to help him build the fastest car in the derby. Liz argues he shouldn’t be so quick to declare victory. There will be lots of competition. Jessica says and maybe he’ll eat her dust. She’s fed up with Ken’s bragging but not just him. She tells Lila and Ellen she’s going to win and they’ll shut up Ken and Liz.
Steven says he won’t be entering the contest but he’ll help the twins build their cars (since it’s his duty as their big brother). They go get all the material and find everything but the wheels. They run into Ken and his father (Colin). Ken and Alice talk. Ken won’t tell the twins where he got his wheels. He doesn’t want to help the competition. Steven says maybe he’s just scared the twins will beat him. He says he isn’t and then tells his dad he’s ready to go and start on the bike. Liz thinks how Ken is usually nice but how he’s started to act obnoxious.
After dinner, Mr. Wakefield sets up a space for the twins and puts Steven in charge of making sure the twins use the tools properly. Jessica complains that Liz got the best hammer. Liz says she should because she’s the oldest and Steven agrees and tells Liz to remember that when their mom makes chocolate cake. He should get the biggest piece. Steven tells Jessica she’s not holding the hammer the right way and tries to show her. She tells him that maybe he should be making his own car so he can leave her and Liz alone. He says he told them the race is for little kids. Jessica says then maybe Liz is too old for it. Liz says she doesn’t blame her for being jealous. It must be hard being the youngest. Jessica bangs the hammer extra hard but Liz doesn’t notice she’s angry because she’s too busy already thinking she’s won the race. Liz tho is the one acting obnoxious.
The next morning, when Jessica is heading for the bathroom Liz reaches it first and closes the door in her face. Then at breakfast, she gets the pancakes with the most bananas and leaves the leftovers for Jessica to get. Liz takes the syrup first and then gives it back to Jessica with just a few drops. After breakfast, they go to the park. Jessica is sick of Liz but she goes anyway. All the kids talk about how hard it is to build the race cars. Winston says he hit is thumb twice and shows them his bandaged hand and says he’s giving up. But he says he’ll come watch and cheer them on. Noone’s had any luck finding wheels so they ask Andy.
Andy says he got his off his mom’s old lawn mower but you can use the ones on a baby carriage or a shopping cart. Eva and Liz agree that Andy is nicer than Ken and say maybe they should get Todd to spy on him. Todd says maybe he was sent to spy on them. Jessica says she thinks Ken is doing some spying of his own and they see him studying a red sports car. Jessica calls Andy over and tells him she has a favor to ask of him,
The twins look through the attic but can’t find any baby carriages or lawn mowers so they go to their mom. Alice suggest they go to the junk yard and they do find the perfect wheels. Liz tries to claim them. Jessica tries to pull them out of her arms and Liz calls her a baby. Alice gets after Liz and tells her it’s not like her to be so thoughtless and makes her apologize. Steven says he’ll help Jessica find some wheels but the ones they find are lighter. Jessica says she wants ones like Liz’s (who isn’t helping them). Jessica’s read that heavier wheels will make the car go faster, but Steven says lighter ones wheel. They make a bet on it. If Steven is right, Jessica has to do his chores. If Jessica is right, he has to help her build the car.
Jessica wins. Alice says since the car has no engine, it’ll win with heavier wheels. Liz just wants to go home. She can’t believe her little sister knew something she didn’t. (She only knew it because she’d read one of Andy’s books). On the bus, Caroline tells the twins about everyone’s cars. Todd’s has a bicycle seat. Andy’s has used metal from the body of a real car. Eva’s has a pizza pan for a steering wheele. They only one’s she doesn’t know about is Ken’s. She says he’s hiding something. Liz says maybe he just wants to surprise them and did something fancy to it like put signal lights on the back. Jessica says maybe it’s a mess and he’s embarrassed. Caroline says she doesn’t think so. Not with the reputation of his dad.
Jessica reminds Steven of their bet and he says he hasn’t forgotten. (After his snack of course. He needs energy). Jessica tells Steve the body is almost finished and now he can attach the wheels. He reminds her he’s supposed to be *helping* not taking orders. She says she’ll help later. He tells her that they have to tighten the body so it’ll be like Liz’s. She says she does *not* want her car to be like Liz’s and stop trying to tell her what to do.
Liz puts in her two cents and says Steve is just trying to help her and that she should listen to him because he’s older than her. Jessica tells her he’s older than her too and she doesn’t let him boss her around. She says she’s sick of it and she’s sick of Liz. Liz yells at her to shut up. Jessica says that it use to be fun having her as a sister but now she’s a pain. Liz doesn’t respond. Jessica says fine. She doesn’t care. The twins don’t talk the rest of the day.
The next day, Jessica plays with Lila and Ellen and Liz plays with Eva and Todd. Jessica tells her friends she’s not going to talk to Liz until she apologizes. She’s been acting like a pain since their mom told her she was older. But Liz doesn’t. She doesn’t even tell her good night. Jessica starts to wish she would because she’s lonely. Two days go by and the twins still aren’t speaking. In class, Mrs. Otis gives them the route. The route started at the top of a steep hill and went all the way down, and ran across a long straightaway. She advises they’ll have to build up a lot of speed. Ken says he finished his car two days ago and tried it out on Mulberry Street and it flew. Everyone is impressed because the street is steep. Ken says he’s going to pratice everyday and now he can practice at Secca Lake.
Jessica says she got two great wheels. They might have come off a truck. Ken says they better not be better than his. Jessica says she built hers on her own. Liz says she also built hers on her own. Ken says his dad said his is the best one he’s ever seen. It’s even better than the one his dad had.
The twins get their mom to take them to Secca Lake to practice.. Ken isn’t there but Lila points out the finish line has been painted. Todd attempts to go down the hill but his wheels are loose. Jessica’s car goes fast and she says it was super fun. Liz’s car goes fast and she puts on the breaks. She says it was scary. Jessica goes even faster. One side comes off and then the other. By the time she gets to the bottom, pieces of her car are everywhere. Liz tells her she should have listened to her. Liz takes a try again and Jessica realizes she’s scared to go fast. Now maybe she’ll stop being on her case because she’s older.
Ken arrives at Secca Lake. His car is beautiful. It’s red and made of wood. Kisho asks if he wants to take a turn. He tells them to go ahead. They need the practice more. Ken asks Jessica where her car is. She says it’s broken and everyone tells him what happened. Ken says he knew a sissy girl couldn’t beat him. Liz wants to tell him off for talking about Jessica, but suggests they go home. Jessica says if she only had a car she could bet him. Liz tells Jessica she has an idea and needs her help.
Liz lets Jessica drive her car. She comes in sixth. Ken comes in first place. Amy, Eva, and Todd also place on the trial run. On the final race, Todd’s wheel comes out and they almost collide (Todd and Jessica). In the end, Jessica wins the race. Ken compliments her but tells her to wait until next year. Mrs. Wakefields says between Liz’s car and Jessica’s driving their both champions. Jessica says then they should celebrate. They’ll have a picnic at the beach tomorrow. Eva comes in fourth and they twins invite Eva to go to the beach with them.
My Thoughts:
This book made a memory come to mind of when my mother was going to school and studying at Tuskegee University. I was small and she had an apartment. I forget which degree she was going for. Anyways, there was a hill and I remember sliding down the hill on a cardboard box. It just made me think of that. It was pretty fun. So, I can imagine a soap-box derby would be similar. But what stood out to me about this box was first of all the TEACHER suggested to her SECOND GRADE CLASS to build the cars ON THEIR OWN! This is a LAWSUIT waiting to happen because kids this young should NOT be using nails and hammers and tools. And as we can see demonstrated by Winston why. And then if this teacher wasn’t stupid enough to tell them to do this, Ned just walks off and leaves them with Steven and tells him to supervise. NO NED this is YOUR JOB! This is your job as a LAWYER to go to their teacher and say did you really suggest my seven year olds use tools to build a car. I don’t know maybe this project (race) was designed for middle-schoolers (who are atleast a little older) and then maybe there should be instructions not to attempt this wouldn’t a parent. Then it just bothered me because I hate when older siblings act controlling and I definitely know how that is.
Rating: 5
Jessica tells Liz at breakfast that Ricky Capaldo has a new brother and his name is Johnny. Liz adds he was born at 2:30 a.m. Jessica says they’ll have to throw his parties in the middle of the night. Mr. Wakefield says not necessarily. The twins and Steven were also born after midnight. Liz was born at 1:15 a.m and Jessica was born at 1:19. Steven says it makes sense now why she always does her chores and homework first and why she’s never late for the school bus.
Liz tells Jessica to hurry up or they’ll be late catching the bus. Jessica complains back that she’s not done eating. Her mother tells her breakfast, but her mother tells hre to listen to her big sister. On the bus, Caroline says Liz should have the inside seat because Jessica had it yesterday, but Liz says Jessica can have it. In class, Mrs. Otis says the school will be sponsoring a soap-box derby. It’ll be the first one in 10 years. Each person builds their own car out of wood, cardboard, metal, scraps, plastic milk crates, or anything else. Because they don’t have engines the races are always downhill.
She shows them pictures of past derbies. Kisho, Todd, and Jessica say they’ll definitely enter. Todd says he wants to be a race-car driver when he grows up and this will be his first competition. Liz brags that her car will go two thousand miles per hour and Todd says if so she’s sure to win. Ken says she won’t win because he is. At recess, Liz, Jessica, Todd, Eva, Ken and Kisha play race cars. They make the track a chalk circle around the swing set and they run around it. Liz tells Jessica she can go faster because she’s older and this makes Jessica mad. She yells at her she can’t. Lila and Ellen over hear this (their on the swings and not playing race cars because they aren’t interested).
They comment that they didn’t know Liz was older. Jessica says it’s not a big deal. Liz says it is because Jessica is the *little* sister. Caroline asks is that why she let Jessica have the inside seat and Liz says yes because she’s the *nice* sister. Jessica says she doesn’t have to be nice to her all the time (upset because of how Liz is making her look). Ellen says being the youngest is a good thing. The youngest always gets spoiled-like her brother Mark-. Jessica gives Liz a look like top that. Then she says if she gets whatever she wants she wants to win the soap-box derby. Liz says that won’t happen. Her chances are better because she plays with toy cars.
Ken comes over and suggest to Jessica they play Indy 500 and he’ll win first prize. Jessica says she has a better idea. They can pretend he gets a flat tired and he wins. Ken says he should win because he’s going to win for real. His dad was so good at soap-box racing that he went all the way to Akron Ohio for the nationals. He even won a trophy. His dad is going to help him build the fastest car in the derby. Liz argues he shouldn’t be so quick to declare victory. There will be lots of competition. Jessica says and maybe he’ll eat her dust. She’s fed up with Ken’s bragging but not just him. She tells Lila and Ellen she’s going to win and they’ll shut up Ken and Liz.
Steven says he won’t be entering the contest but he’ll help the twins build their cars (since it’s his duty as their big brother). They go get all the material and find everything but the wheels. They run into Ken and his father (Colin). Ken and Alice talk. Ken won’t tell the twins where he got his wheels. He doesn’t want to help the competition. Steven says maybe he’s just scared the twins will beat him. He says he isn’t and then tells his dad he’s ready to go and start on the bike. Liz thinks how Ken is usually nice but how he’s started to act obnoxious.
After dinner, Mr. Wakefield sets up a space for the twins and puts Steven in charge of making sure the twins use the tools properly. Jessica complains that Liz got the best hammer. Liz says she should because she’s the oldest and Steven agrees and tells Liz to remember that when their mom makes chocolate cake. He should get the biggest piece. Steven tells Jessica she’s not holding the hammer the right way and tries to show her. She tells him that maybe he should be making his own car so he can leave her and Liz alone. He says he told them the race is for little kids. Jessica says then maybe Liz is too old for it. Liz says she doesn’t blame her for being jealous. It must be hard being the youngest. Jessica bangs the hammer extra hard but Liz doesn’t notice she’s angry because she’s too busy already thinking she’s won the race. Liz tho is the one acting obnoxious.
The next morning, when Jessica is heading for the bathroom Liz reaches it first and closes the door in her face. Then at breakfast, she gets the pancakes with the most bananas and leaves the leftovers for Jessica to get. Liz takes the syrup first and then gives it back to Jessica with just a few drops. After breakfast, they go to the park. Jessica is sick of Liz but she goes anyway. All the kids talk about how hard it is to build the race cars. Winston says he hit is thumb twice and shows them his bandaged hand and says he’s giving up. But he says he’ll come watch and cheer them on. Noone’s had any luck finding wheels so they ask Andy.
Andy says he got his off his mom’s old lawn mower but you can use the ones on a baby carriage or a shopping cart. Eva and Liz agree that Andy is nicer than Ken and say maybe they should get Todd to spy on him. Todd says maybe he was sent to spy on them. Jessica says she thinks Ken is doing some spying of his own and they see him studying a red sports car. Jessica calls Andy over and tells him she has a favor to ask of him,
The twins look through the attic but can’t find any baby carriages or lawn mowers so they go to their mom. Alice suggest they go to the junk yard and they do find the perfect wheels. Liz tries to claim them. Jessica tries to pull them out of her arms and Liz calls her a baby. Alice gets after Liz and tells her it’s not like her to be so thoughtless and makes her apologize. Steven says he’ll help Jessica find some wheels but the ones they find are lighter. Jessica says she wants ones like Liz’s (who isn’t helping them). Jessica’s read that heavier wheels will make the car go faster, but Steven says lighter ones wheel. They make a bet on it. If Steven is right, Jessica has to do his chores. If Jessica is right, he has to help her build the car.
Jessica wins. Alice says since the car has no engine, it’ll win with heavier wheels. Liz just wants to go home. She can’t believe her little sister knew something she didn’t. (She only knew it because she’d read one of Andy’s books). On the bus, Caroline tells the twins about everyone’s cars. Todd’s has a bicycle seat. Andy’s has used metal from the body of a real car. Eva’s has a pizza pan for a steering wheele. They only one’s she doesn’t know about is Ken’s. She says he’s hiding something. Liz says maybe he just wants to surprise them and did something fancy to it like put signal lights on the back. Jessica says maybe it’s a mess and he’s embarrassed. Caroline says she doesn’t think so. Not with the reputation of his dad.
Jessica reminds Steven of their bet and he says he hasn’t forgotten. (After his snack of course. He needs energy). Jessica tells Steve the body is almost finished and now he can attach the wheels. He reminds her he’s supposed to be *helping* not taking orders. She says she’ll help later. He tells her that they have to tighten the body so it’ll be like Liz’s. She says she does *not* want her car to be like Liz’s and stop trying to tell her what to do.
Liz puts in her two cents and says Steve is just trying to help her and that she should listen to him because he’s older than her. Jessica tells her he’s older than her too and she doesn’t let him boss her around. She says she’s sick of it and she’s sick of Liz. Liz yells at her to shut up. Jessica says that it use to be fun having her as a sister but now she’s a pain. Liz doesn’t respond. Jessica says fine. She doesn’t care. The twins don’t talk the rest of the day.
The next day, Jessica plays with Lila and Ellen and Liz plays with Eva and Todd. Jessica tells her friends she’s not going to talk to Liz until she apologizes. She’s been acting like a pain since their mom told her she was older. But Liz doesn’t. She doesn’t even tell her good night. Jessica starts to wish she would because she’s lonely. Two days go by and the twins still aren’t speaking. In class, Mrs. Otis gives them the route. The route started at the top of a steep hill and went all the way down, and ran across a long straightaway. She advises they’ll have to build up a lot of speed. Ken says he finished his car two days ago and tried it out on Mulberry Street and it flew. Everyone is impressed because the street is steep. Ken says he’s going to pratice everyday and now he can practice at Secca Lake.
Jessica says she got two great wheels. They might have come off a truck. Ken says they better not be better than his. Jessica says she built hers on her own. Liz says she also built hers on her own. Ken says his dad said his is the best one he’s ever seen. It’s even better than the one his dad had.
The twins get their mom to take them to Secca Lake to practice.. Ken isn’t there but Lila points out the finish line has been painted. Todd attempts to go down the hill but his wheels are loose. Jessica’s car goes fast and she says it was super fun. Liz’s car goes fast and she puts on the breaks. She says it was scary. Jessica goes even faster. One side comes off and then the other. By the time she gets to the bottom, pieces of her car are everywhere. Liz tells her she should have listened to her. Liz takes a try again and Jessica realizes she’s scared to go fast. Now maybe she’ll stop being on her case because she’s older.
Ken arrives at Secca Lake. His car is beautiful. It’s red and made of wood. Kisho asks if he wants to take a turn. He tells them to go ahead. They need the practice more. Ken asks Jessica where her car is. She says it’s broken and everyone tells him what happened. Ken says he knew a sissy girl couldn’t beat him. Liz wants to tell him off for talking about Jessica, but suggests they go home. Jessica says if she only had a car she could bet him. Liz tells Jessica she has an idea and needs her help.
Liz lets Jessica drive her car. She comes in sixth. Ken comes in first place. Amy, Eva, and Todd also place on the trial run. On the final race, Todd’s wheel comes out and they almost collide (Todd and Jessica). In the end, Jessica wins the race. Ken compliments her but tells her to wait until next year. Mrs. Wakefields says between Liz’s car and Jessica’s driving their both champions. Jessica says then they should celebrate. They’ll have a picnic at the beach tomorrow. Eva comes in fourth and they twins invite Eva to go to the beach with them.
My Thoughts:
This book made a memory come to mind of when my mother was going to school and studying at Tuskegee University. I was small and she had an apartment. I forget which degree she was going for. Anyways, there was a hill and I remember sliding down the hill on a cardboard box. It just made me think of that. It was pretty fun. So, I can imagine a soap-box derby would be similar. But what stood out to me about this box was first of all the TEACHER suggested to her SECOND GRADE CLASS to build the cars ON THEIR OWN! This is a LAWSUIT waiting to happen because kids this young should NOT be using nails and hammers and tools. And as we can see demonstrated by Winston why. And then if this teacher wasn’t stupid enough to tell them to do this, Ned just walks off and leaves them with Steven and tells him to supervise. NO NED this is YOUR JOB! This is your job as a LAWYER to go to their teacher and say did you really suggest my seven year olds use tools to build a car. I don’t know maybe this project (race) was designed for middle-schoolers (who are atleast a little older) and then maybe there should be instructions not to attempt this wouldn’t a parent. Then it just bothered me because I hate when older siblings act controlling and I definitely know how that is.
Rating: 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2017
Well it happened, I thought Elizabeth was acting like a brat this time. I did not like the way she kept saying she was older. She was, but still it wasn't fair to Jessica at all the way she would rub it in. Book 4 that I read in one day and it got a four star because of the way Elizabeth was acting most of the book.
The Sweet Valley Elementary school gets to enter the soap box derby that has come back after ten years. Each student gets to build their car and race them. It sounds wonderful and the girls decide to enter. However, things start going wrong and fast.
Jessica and Elizabeth are told that Elizabeth is 4 minutes older than Jess. Which Lizzie starts using as a means to in my opinion rub salt in wounds the way she keeps saying it. She even claims she let Jess sit at the window on the bus because she's the baby. 'Shakes head'
So when it's time to build the soap box cars the girls are at war. At one point they aren't even talking at all for two or three days. Steven tells Jessica that she should make her car like her twins, but since she's hurt she doesn't listen. She was right about the heavy wheels, which made Elizabeth a little upset since Jess knew and she didn't. It went back to the 4 minutes older deal.
It got worse when the practice run the class was doing happened. It was fine until Jessica's second run when her car fell to pieces on the way down the hill. I actually felt bad for her at that moment. She wanted to race so badly and she wasn't scared to go flying down the hill. Elizabeth kept hitting her brakes not wanting to go too fast, but wanted to win.
Knowing that she couldn't get up the nerve to go as fast as she could to win, Elizabeth made a decision. She let Jessica use her car and enter the race. I was so happy because she redeemed herself.
I was also glad that Ken, who'd been saying he'd win the entire book didn't. I thought it would be wrong if he did. Just cause you brag you better doesn't mean you should get to win something.
Another good read and the last of the kids book series I own til I find more.
The Sweet Valley Elementary school gets to enter the soap box derby that has come back after ten years. Each student gets to build their car and race them. It sounds wonderful and the girls decide to enter. However, things start going wrong and fast.
Jessica and Elizabeth are told that Elizabeth is 4 minutes older than Jess. Which Lizzie starts using as a means to in my opinion rub salt in wounds the way she keeps saying it. She even claims she let Jess sit at the window on the bus because she's the baby. 'Shakes head'
So when it's time to build the soap box cars the girls are at war. At one point they aren't even talking at all for two or three days. Steven tells Jessica that she should make her car like her twins, but since she's hurt she doesn't listen. She was right about the heavy wheels, which made Elizabeth a little upset since Jess knew and she didn't. It went back to the 4 minutes older deal.
It got worse when the practice run the class was doing happened. It was fine until Jessica's second run when her car fell to pieces on the way down the hill. I actually felt bad for her at that moment. She wanted to race so badly and she wasn't scared to go flying down the hill. Elizabeth kept hitting her brakes not wanting to go too fast, but wanted to win.
Knowing that she couldn't get up the nerve to go as fast as she could to win, Elizabeth made a decision. She let Jessica use her car and enter the race. I was so happy because she redeemed herself.
I was also glad that Ken, who'd been saying he'd win the entire book didn't. I thought it would be wrong if he did. Just cause you brag you better doesn't mean you should get to win something.
Another good read and the last of the kids book series I own til I find more.
November 29, 2018
Antar att den var bra. Elisabeth var fett taskig och hon förstod det inte ens själv och sa inte ens förlåt.
July 7, 2024
Liz was the mean one to Jess this time, because shes 4 minutes older.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2025
Its an okay book
Read
March 11, 2017it`s interesting
December 5, 2021
It’s soap box derby time! Apparently for the first time, the twins find out Liz is 4 minutes older than Jess (see second image), and spends the whole book frustrating Jess with her condescending ‘big sister’ schtick. She’s almost as bad as Ken Matthews, who is bragging about winning the derby because his Dad did. The twins are building their cars, and Jess wins a bet with Steven who has to help her (he’s too cool to enter), and pretty much builds hers. The kids all go for a trial run at Secca Lake and Jess is a speed demon (no surprise), meanwhile Lis just keeps braking. She’s scared. However, Jess’s car falls apart on the second go. Both twins are disappointed because they can’t beat Ken (who called Jess a sissy girl - my how one day he’ll change his tune!), until Liz has an idea... On the day of the race, Jess hops in Liz’s car. And of course she beats Ken who comes third (behind Andy who actually researched how to build these things 👏🏻). Oh and third pic - what a weird way to write who Colin and Alice are 🤔
My rating - 4/10 - Liz and Ken (whom I normally like) were kind of annoying. But I’m glad Jess won.
My rating - 4/10 - Liz and Ken (whom I normally like) were kind of annoying. But I’m glad Jess won.
June 22, 2013
I remember the cover just not the story.
August 26, 2011
My very first Sweet Valley book ever. It created a monster.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews