It’s time again for another Q&A about the ever frustrating Sweet Valley High series. This week we’re discussing book #7, Dear Sister.
Dear Sister by Kate Williams, Francine PascalSeries: Sweet Valley High #7
Published by Bantam on January 1st, 1984
Genres: General, Social Themes, Young Adult
Pages: 150
Sweet Valley is stunned by the news: Beautiful young Elizabeth Wakefield lies in a coma, on the brink of death after a horrible motorcycle accident. Elizabeth’s boyfriend Todd is consumed by guilt; he was driving and escaped unharmed. He feels totally helpless. All he can do is wait for a change in Elizabeth’s condition–a change that might mean the loss of the only girl he’s ever loved. But no one is more shattered than Elizabeth’s twin, Jessica. As she keeps watch over the silent body of her sister, she’s overwhelmed by despair. Without Elizabeth, can life go on?
1. How do you feel about the doctors/nurses all seeming to treat Jessica as if she were a parent instead of her sister? (i.e. Doctor pressuring Jessica to really TRY to get Elizabeth to wake up, Jessica sleeping in Liz’s ICU room, etc.)
Honestly, I don’t question these things anymore. Sweet Valley is the weirdest place in “one hundred and thirty-seven states.” Doctors schmoozing with teens? Why the heck not?!
2. What on earth was the point in introducing the Percy twins to the story?
What Percy twi…ooooh, right. I remember. The subplot of Dear Sister was so unnecessary that I had forgotten they were even in the book and I just read this book a week ago…
These books are thin enough that one plot is more than enough. I’m not sure what the author was going for by introducing a set of twins for Jessica and Elizabeth to babysit.
3. Can Liz and Jessica’s parents be MORE disconnected from their children? What are your thoughts?
I’m not the type that thinks people need to pass a test to be allowed to procreate but the Wakefields almost challenge my stance on that. Seriously, I can’t figure out how their children even made it High School.
4. “Friends don’t dish each other applesauce.” ~Mr. Collins … say WHAT?
Nope, can’t say. I’m clueless. Mr. Collins is a weird one. His presence at the hospital and everywhere else the kids are is creepy.
5. How do you think adolescents today would feel about this book?
Hopefully they would be as appalled as I am.
Would you like to join us in delving into the Sweet Valley High books? We’d love to have you join in!
Join us for next week’s Throwback Books as we review the eighth book in the series–Heartbreaker! Click on the book to purchase and have fun reading with us!
Heartbreaker (Sweet Valley High #8) by Francine Pascal
Amazon|Barnes&Noble|Goodreads Published bySt. Martin’s Press on November 27, 2012
Genres:Contemporary Women, Fiction, General, Social Themes, Young Adult
Pages: 250Will Jessica break Bill’s heart?
The surf’s up in Sweet Valley, and Jessica Wakefield is making a big splash with Bill Chase, a hot surfer boy. But after she’s got him hook, line, and sinker, she loses interest and ignores him completely.
But there’s someone else who would love to catch Bill’s attention: sweet, shy DeeDee Gordon. And Jessica is not about to let DeeDee steal her prize, even if Bill doesn’t matter to her. If he looks at DeeDee, Jessica comes him and sweeps him away, back into her arms. Can Bill escape Jessica’s undertow, or is he in over his head? Find out, in this Sweet Valley High book by Francine Pascal.
About Francine Pascal
Francine Pascal is the creator of the Sweet Valley High series and one of the world’s most popular fiction writers for teenagers and the author of several bestselling novels, My Mother Was Never A Kid (Hanging out with Cici), My First Love and Other Disasters, as well as the series Fearless. Her adult novels include, Save Johanna! and If Wishes Were Horses (La Villa) and the non-fiction, The Strange Case of Patty Hearst. Pascal is on the Advisory Board of The American Theatre Wing. Her favorite sport is a monthly poker game. She lives in New York City and France
We love hearing from you! Share your comments below