Last week I was infuriated when Jessica and the rest of Sweet Valley bullied Robin over her weight. If you missed the review, you can find it here. This week, Jami and I are going to discuss some of these issues and share additional thoughts about Power Play.
Power play by Francine Pascal
Series: Sweet Valley High #4
Published by Bantam on December 31st, 1984
Pages: 150
Elizabeth and Jessica in a tug of war…
Chubby Robin Wilson has been following Jessica around for months. First she wanted to be her friend — now she wants to join Pi Beta Alpha, Sweet Valley High’s snobby sorority.
When Elizabeth, Jessica’s twin, nominates Robin for the sorority, Jessica is furious. Robin may be friendly and smart, but she’s certainly not beautiful or popular enough to be a Pi Beta. Jessica’s determined to find a way to keep Robin out.
But Elizabeth is just as determined to make Robin a sorority sister. Soon the twins are locked in a struggle that develops into the biggest power play at Sweet Valley High…
If you read my review on Power Play, I’m sure that you noticed that I rated it a 1-star due to a disgusting amount of bullying. The moral of the book was that you needed to be skinny in order to fit in. I’ll just leave this quote here so you get the idea of how damaging this book would be for young women.
Everybody at Sweet Valley High, even Elizabeth, gradually forgot that there had ever been a fat and ugly Robin. But Robin would always remember.
Warning: This post may contain spoilers about Power Play (Sweet Valley High #4) by Francine Pascal.
1. What would your 12 year old self have rated this book?
I would have rated it 1-star. I have never appreciated bullies.
2. Would you want your 13 year old to read this?
No. I wouldn’t want my daughters to be damaged by the message in this book.
3. How do you think adolescents today would feel about this book?
I think they would be appalled by how Robin was fat-shamed. At least I would hope they would be appalled.
4. What’s different about life in this story compared to today’s life? (i.e. social, technological advances)
Definitely the fact that no one has a cell phone. It’s interesting to watch the kids scrambling to reach one another on the landline.
5. Francine Pascal’s writing of “fat” Robin was a bit harsh. What kind of backlash might the same story published today receive, if any?
The author definitely wouldn’t get away with this kind of shaming in today’s society. While the bullying aspect of the story may still be presented, authors would be expected to write social issues such as these to show how awful bullying is. She definitely wouldn’t get away with partaking in fat-shaming herself.
6. “‘My mom is soooooo excited! She always told me that being best friends with the Wakefield twins could be great for me,’ [Robin] gushed.” Why would you think Robin’s mom would be encouraging of a friendship with the twins?
I suppose that Robin’s mother thought that having a popular friend would keep her daughter from being mocked. Sadly, Robin’s own mother points out her daughter’s weight problem. So it’s entirely possible that she looked down on her own daughter. I hate to think that but I have little faith in the people of Sweet Valley.
That’s it for this week! Here’s to hoping that the next book in the series isn’t as much of a disappointment!
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 fifth book in the series–Power Play! Click on the book to purchase and have fun reading with us!
All Night Long (Sweet Valley High #5) by Francine PascalPages: 250
Is Jessica as grown-up as she thinks she is?
Elizabeth Wakefield knows her beautiful twin is more than a match for almost any guy out there. Most guys easily fall prey to Jessica’s seductive charms. But Scott Daniels, Jessica’s latest love, may be more than she bargained for. He’s much older and much more experienced than anyone Jessica’s ever dated.
When Jessica sneaks off to a college beach party with Scott, Elizabeth’s afraid of what might happen. And when her twin sister isn’t back by morning, Elizabeth fears the worst. Where is Jessica? Why has she stayed out all night long? All Night Long is an original Sweet Valley High story by Francine Pascal.
Such a pity. And so strange how our teenage/ preteen selves never picked up on these negative messages. At least we’re sensitised enough now to know that they are negative messages… and I think today’s teens would take these books to task.
I definitely think that this particular book would be roasted by today’s teens!
And that’s definitely a good thing!
Absolutely! I think had she addressed this bullying in the proper way it would have been a positive thing. Instead, I felt like she (the author) egged on the bullying and downplayed the entire situation which is just unfortunate. She could have used this as an educational and empowering moment rather than she herself fat shaming her characters.
It’s certainly a reflection of the times in which the book was written. But even with that aside, I agree. Pascal could have at least made some attempt to address the bullying. It still wasn’t appropriate to call out ppl based on their weight- even in the 80s.
I’m curious if the fat shaming decreases when the ghost writers take over. If I recall, Pascal wrote only the first 8 books…
Oh. I didn’t realize that. I’ll look out for your reviews as you get to those.
Yes, Pascal created the series but wrote very little of them. Same with many popular series like Babysitter’s Club. They were mostly written by ghostwriters.
Somehow I seem to remember that for Babysitters Club. ?
Thanks for the info.
One day I need to reread those and see if it has this kind of stuff in it haha…One day it will happen! After I waste on my brain cells on this series hah!
Hahahaha. Oh gosh. I feel your pain. But I must admit your reviews of SV made me want to reread some BC precisely to check that stuff out. I still seem to remember BC being more ‘wholesome’ ?
Definitely! I’m going to start rereading my old Nancy Drew books as well. Those were really wholesome that I can recall.
Definitely ?