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Sweet Valley Kids #61
Scaredy-Cat Elizabeth
Elizabeth Wakefield is forced to stand up to a bully, after Patty, the big, mean, new third-grader on the bus, begins to pick on her.
- GenresChildrensMiddle Grade
Library Binding
First published January 1, 1995
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,149 books1,885 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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April 18, 2026Scaredy-Cat Elizabeth (Sweet Valley Kids)
Liz tells us that Mrs. Otis is organizing a science fair. Liz is excited and wants Jessica to be her partner but she isn’t interested. So, she’s going to enter with Amy and Julie. Liz is thinking about ideas as she waits for Jessica and the bus. Liz is distracted from her thoughts when she sees a spider spinning a web in the branches above her. This gives Liz an idea. As they rush to get on the bus, she tells Jessica but says she can’t tell her before she tells Amy and Julie.
This of course drives Jessica crazy! When they get on the bus, there’s a big girl with short brown hair sitting on their seats. Guess she doesn’t know who this series revoves around (or care apparently). The girl says she doesn’t see their names on the seats and she doesn’t take orders from shrimpy little kids. She puts her stuff all over the seat and asks what Elizabeth is going to do about it.
Liz and Jessica move to another seat and the girl laughs a mean laugh. Both twins don’t like this girl, but Liz says they can have fun where ever. All the way to school, they play a game where Jessica has 20 guesses to guess what Elizabeth’s idea is. She doesn’t. At school, Jessica goes off to meet her friends. Liz sees the new girl watching her. Amy and Julie come over to her and she tells them what happened on the bus. They talk about her for a minute and say they hope she’s not in their class and Julie says maybe she’s just nervous. Then Liz tells them her idea to do their display on spiders. They can even make webs.
After a math test. Mrs Otis gets Liz to collect the sign up sheets from each classroom for the science fair. Unfortunately in the third grade room is the new girl (Patty) who comes in after registering. (The very same one that was on the bus). Patty says she’s not interested. But when Liz tries to get the sheet back from her, she drops it on the floor. When Liz tries to pick it up, she steps on her fingers. Then she calls her a scaredy cat.
On the bus, Patty has again claimed the twins seat. Liz tells Jessica what happened the other day and asks her if she thinks she’s a scaredy cat. Jessica assures her she’s the bravest girl she knows and promises if she does a scaredy cat thing she’ll tell her. Liz, Jessica, Amy, and Julie are playing hopscotch when Patty messes up their game.
Liz sets up the game again but then when it’s her turn a ball comes flying at her and hits her hard. Jessica says she can’t let her get away with it. Amy thinks she should ask her to stop. Jessica says oh please Amy. She thinks Liz should fight back. Liz decides to just try avoiding her. On the way inside tho, Parry shoves Elizabeth so hard she nearly falls down. Jessica tells her to stop or she’ll tell the playground monitor. Patty waves her fist in her face and says she’d better not. Liz pulls her away.
Amy, Liz, and Julie decide to catch a spider, label in a jar what kind it is, and then write down facts about it. They’ll make three webs and put glitter on them to make them look like dew. Liz is standing in the line to get on the bus when Patty grabs her book bag and starts slinging it around. Steven and Patty start fighting over Liz’s bag. The bus driver sends Steven to the back of the line because Patty lies and says he’s tryng to take her bag. She then tosses the bag to Liz (who has tears in her eyes).
At recess, Liz plays soccer with Todd and Eva, but Patty comes and steals the ball and runs off. Liz tells Jessica what happened. By lunch, she’s come up with a solution. She tells Julie she can teach Liz karate so she can beat Patty up. Basically Julie says it doesn’t work like that. Liz is happy because she doesn’t want to actually fight. Julie won’t even fight *for* Liz. Liz tells her sister that fighting isn’t the answer. Jessica is like well what is. Liz says she wishes she knew.
On Monday, Liz picks out a green sweater and a 4 leaf clover necklace to wear to school her grandparents gave her. On the bus, Patty pulls Liz’s pony tail when she passes her. Amy gives Liz back her wishing stone and they talk about if wishes and luck are really a thing. Liz says they couldn’t hurt against “Patty the Pain.”
At lunch, Patti elbows her way to the front of the lunch line and says Lois saved her a place. She says Lois is so fat that she doesn’t even need to eat lunch. She takes her cookie. This is when Liz has had enough. She marches over to Patty and tells her to give Louis her cookie back. Patty says and if I don’t. Liz tries logic and says your never going to make friends. Then she calls her a big bully when this doesn’t seem to faze her. Patti grabs Liz by the shirt and yanks her chain off. She calls Liz a scaredy cat and a crybaby after looking rattled for a second and then runs off.
Jessica starts to wear her Unicorn necklace to school, but then stops (remembering that Liz can’t wear her necklace) and says she won’t wear it. But Liz tells her its ok. Nothing cheers Liz up that day, but Patti doesn’t ride the bus after school. Amy, Julie, and Liz work on their project at the Wakefields house. Liz is noticeably quiet and doesn’t eat at dinner. She tells her parents about Patty (but not the necklace). They tell her they’re proud of her for standing up for Louis but it’s time to get an adult involved. Liz says no. That will only make it worse. She says give her a few days to work it out on her own.
Liz is looking for spiders (with the science fair now days away) and she sees Patty crying. She finds out Patty’s mom left her with her grandmother while she goes to Oregon to start a new job. Elizabeth tries to be nice to her, but Patty just snaps at her and runs off.
Andy, Todd, and Kisho are the other students entering the fair. Andy did a volcano. Kisho and Todd did a tornado tube. After lunch, they see Patty and think she’s messed up their display (Amy, Julie, and Liz’s) but she’s terrified because a spider crawling up her arm. Liz takes a moment to revel in this before she gets it off her. Liz does say tho “Now whose the scaredy cat.” She promises tho she won’t tell. Patty asks why she’s being so nice and Liz says it must be hard to move and not have any friends. She invites Eva to play soccer with her, Eva, and Todd and she accepts. Patty says her last name is Payne. She says Liz is no scaredy cat (because she touched the spider). Liz says Patty isn’t either.
Liz, Amy, and Julie win a blue ribbon for “Most Realistic Exhibit.” Patty comes up to Liz after and tells her she had a good exhibit even if it was about spiders. She gives a gold chain for her necklace. She says she guesses the four leaf clover brought her luck after all. Patty asks if Liz can come by and help her decorate her grandmother’s house for Halloween (since she’s so good at it) and she says sure. Jessica says they won’t need to do much decorating at their house since they have their own ghost.
Rating 5: There were some really good Jessica moments here. When she assures Liz she’s not a scaredy cat. When she realizes it would be thoughtless to wear her necklace and Liz can’t wear hers. When she stands up to Patty and says tries to make her stop picking on Liz. Also, a good moment for Steven who tries to get her bag back. It’s definitely something we don’t usually see from Jessica and that’s putting someone else first. She also comes up with the solution of learning to fight. I’m not even really sure why (other than this book being very old fashioned) this was such a bad idea. While true, fighting isn’t the answer to everything and this was the lesson, if I was a parent and someone was shoving my kid and snatching up there things on the bus I *would* want them to be able to defend themselves. Everyone doesn’t respond to “request” (as we saw with Patti). And again, I just can’t get with the “reason” that your acting out on someone else because your upset that your mother left you. Well… that’s something you need to take up with YOUR MOTHER. So, no… I don’t think that a kid should have to be your punching bag. Patty really needs some therapy. And I would have been HEATED if one of my kids get called out just because they were trying to defend their sibling. Then the bus driver and I would have had to have words and I’d have to tell him, you don’t EVER do that again. And I also think that Alice and Ned shouldn’t have let Liz talk them out of getting involved cause I would have been calling this kid’s grandmother. I’m so sorry!
Liz tells us that Mrs. Otis is organizing a science fair. Liz is excited and wants Jessica to be her partner but she isn’t interested. So, she’s going to enter with Amy and Julie. Liz is thinking about ideas as she waits for Jessica and the bus. Liz is distracted from her thoughts when she sees a spider spinning a web in the branches above her. This gives Liz an idea. As they rush to get on the bus, she tells Jessica but says she can’t tell her before she tells Amy and Julie.
This of course drives Jessica crazy! When they get on the bus, there’s a big girl with short brown hair sitting on their seats. Guess she doesn’t know who this series revoves around (or care apparently). The girl says she doesn’t see their names on the seats and she doesn’t take orders from shrimpy little kids. She puts her stuff all over the seat and asks what Elizabeth is going to do about it.
Liz and Jessica move to another seat and the girl laughs a mean laugh. Both twins don’t like this girl, but Liz says they can have fun where ever. All the way to school, they play a game where Jessica has 20 guesses to guess what Elizabeth’s idea is. She doesn’t. At school, Jessica goes off to meet her friends. Liz sees the new girl watching her. Amy and Julie come over to her and she tells them what happened on the bus. They talk about her for a minute and say they hope she’s not in their class and Julie says maybe she’s just nervous. Then Liz tells them her idea to do their display on spiders. They can even make webs.
After a math test. Mrs Otis gets Liz to collect the sign up sheets from each classroom for the science fair. Unfortunately in the third grade room is the new girl (Patty) who comes in after registering. (The very same one that was on the bus). Patty says she’s not interested. But when Liz tries to get the sheet back from her, she drops it on the floor. When Liz tries to pick it up, she steps on her fingers. Then she calls her a scaredy cat.
On the bus, Patty has again claimed the twins seat. Liz tells Jessica what happened the other day and asks her if she thinks she’s a scaredy cat. Jessica assures her she’s the bravest girl she knows and promises if she does a scaredy cat thing she’ll tell her. Liz, Jessica, Amy, and Julie are playing hopscotch when Patty messes up their game.
Liz sets up the game again but then when it’s her turn a ball comes flying at her and hits her hard. Jessica says she can’t let her get away with it. Amy thinks she should ask her to stop. Jessica says oh please Amy. She thinks Liz should fight back. Liz decides to just try avoiding her. On the way inside tho, Parry shoves Elizabeth so hard she nearly falls down. Jessica tells her to stop or she’ll tell the playground monitor. Patty waves her fist in her face and says she’d better not. Liz pulls her away.
Amy, Liz, and Julie decide to catch a spider, label in a jar what kind it is, and then write down facts about it. They’ll make three webs and put glitter on them to make them look like dew. Liz is standing in the line to get on the bus when Patty grabs her book bag and starts slinging it around. Steven and Patty start fighting over Liz’s bag. The bus driver sends Steven to the back of the line because Patty lies and says he’s tryng to take her bag. She then tosses the bag to Liz (who has tears in her eyes).
At recess, Liz plays soccer with Todd and Eva, but Patty comes and steals the ball and runs off. Liz tells Jessica what happened. By lunch, she’s come up with a solution. She tells Julie she can teach Liz karate so she can beat Patty up. Basically Julie says it doesn’t work like that. Liz is happy because she doesn’t want to actually fight. Julie won’t even fight *for* Liz. Liz tells her sister that fighting isn’t the answer. Jessica is like well what is. Liz says she wishes she knew.
On Monday, Liz picks out a green sweater and a 4 leaf clover necklace to wear to school her grandparents gave her. On the bus, Patty pulls Liz’s pony tail when she passes her. Amy gives Liz back her wishing stone and they talk about if wishes and luck are really a thing. Liz says they couldn’t hurt against “Patty the Pain.”
At lunch, Patti elbows her way to the front of the lunch line and says Lois saved her a place. She says Lois is so fat that she doesn’t even need to eat lunch. She takes her cookie. This is when Liz has had enough. She marches over to Patty and tells her to give Louis her cookie back. Patty says and if I don’t. Liz tries logic and says your never going to make friends. Then she calls her a big bully when this doesn’t seem to faze her. Patti grabs Liz by the shirt and yanks her chain off. She calls Liz a scaredy cat and a crybaby after looking rattled for a second and then runs off.
Jessica starts to wear her Unicorn necklace to school, but then stops (remembering that Liz can’t wear her necklace) and says she won’t wear it. But Liz tells her its ok. Nothing cheers Liz up that day, but Patti doesn’t ride the bus after school. Amy, Julie, and Liz work on their project at the Wakefields house. Liz is noticeably quiet and doesn’t eat at dinner. She tells her parents about Patty (but not the necklace). They tell her they’re proud of her for standing up for Louis but it’s time to get an adult involved. Liz says no. That will only make it worse. She says give her a few days to work it out on her own.
Liz is looking for spiders (with the science fair now days away) and she sees Patty crying. She finds out Patty’s mom left her with her grandmother while she goes to Oregon to start a new job. Elizabeth tries to be nice to her, but Patty just snaps at her and runs off.
Andy, Todd, and Kisho are the other students entering the fair. Andy did a volcano. Kisho and Todd did a tornado tube. After lunch, they see Patty and think she’s messed up their display (Amy, Julie, and Liz’s) but she’s terrified because a spider crawling up her arm. Liz takes a moment to revel in this before she gets it off her. Liz does say tho “Now whose the scaredy cat.” She promises tho she won’t tell. Patty asks why she’s being so nice and Liz says it must be hard to move and not have any friends. She invites Eva to play soccer with her, Eva, and Todd and she accepts. Patty says her last name is Payne. She says Liz is no scaredy cat (because she touched the spider). Liz says Patty isn’t either.
Liz, Amy, and Julie win a blue ribbon for “Most Realistic Exhibit.” Patty comes up to Liz after and tells her she had a good exhibit even if it was about spiders. She gives a gold chain for her necklace. She says she guesses the four leaf clover brought her luck after all. Patty asks if Liz can come by and help her decorate her grandmother’s house for Halloween (since she’s so good at it) and she says sure. Jessica says they won’t need to do much decorating at their house since they have their own ghost.
Rating 5: There were some really good Jessica moments here. When she assures Liz she’s not a scaredy cat. When she realizes it would be thoughtless to wear her necklace and Liz can’t wear hers. When she stands up to Patty and says tries to make her stop picking on Liz. Also, a good moment for Steven who tries to get her bag back. It’s definitely something we don’t usually see from Jessica and that’s putting someone else first. She also comes up with the solution of learning to fight. I’m not even really sure why (other than this book being very old fashioned) this was such a bad idea. While true, fighting isn’t the answer to everything and this was the lesson, if I was a parent and someone was shoving my kid and snatching up there things on the bus I *would* want them to be able to defend themselves. Everyone doesn’t respond to “request” (as we saw with Patti). And again, I just can’t get with the “reason” that your acting out on someone else because your upset that your mother left you. Well… that’s something you need to take up with YOUR MOTHER. So, no… I don’t think that a kid should have to be your punching bag. Patty really needs some therapy. And I would have been HEATED if one of my kids get called out just because they were trying to defend their sibling. Then the bus driver and I would have had to have words and I’d have to tell him, you don’t EVER do that again. And I also think that Alice and Ned shouldn’t have let Liz talk them out of getting involved cause I would have been calling this kid’s grandmother. I’m so sorry!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2024
The story is about a new girl who shows up at school and she's a bully. She stopped bullying Elizabeth and there is also the science fair at school. The story shows how Elizabeth was nice to the bully in the end and how they became friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 18, 2024A bit of a dated outlook on bullying—the idea that bullies are just unhappy and want to be befriended—but I do appreciate that the kids eventually tell their parents what's going on. Patty seems mean rather than scary, but I guess there's only so scary you can get in a book aimed at this age group!
May 13, 2013
Well. It’s school science fair time, and Liz, Amy and Julie are working together on a project about spiders. Jess wants nothing to do with it, and I’m with her. But there’s a new third grader in town, Patty, and she’s determined to make Liz’s life horrible 😔 She’s a proper bully, elbowing Liz in the ribs, pulling her hair, horrible stuff. Jess and Steven both try to stand up to her, and Patty one ups them. Liz is miserable and finding less and less enjoyment in life. But when her parents find out, she begs them to let her handle things just a little longer… 🤨 Of course, on a spider hunt she finds Patty crying, and Patty lets slip that her Mum left her with her grandmother and she has no friends. But then she threatens Liz to keep quiet. Then Liz finds Patty trying to destroy their science project, but there’s a spider on her and she’s terrified! Liz gets it off after Patty promises to be nice. And now they’re besties…? 🤷🏼♀️ But Liz proves she is not the scaredy-cat!
My rating - 3/10 - Patty was horrible and Liz was miserable. I’m also not sure how realistic becoming friends with a horrible bully is... ?
My rating - 3/10 - Patty was horrible and Liz was miserable. I’m also not sure how realistic becoming friends with a horrible bully is... ?
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October 19, 2016READ WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY BETWEEN AGES 6-10.
REVIEW INTENDED FOR THE FOLLOWING:
1. For parents looking for something to give their elementary grade kids
2. For myself to look back to if I will ever be in need of Sweet Valley recommendations for kids these days who might choose a book over their Ipads or who knows, my future kid might be a reader too
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THIS IS MY FIRST EVER SWEET VALLEY BOOK AND MY ULTIMATE GATEWAY TO READING.
TWO DECADES LATER AND I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE STORY LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.
This is a story about bullying and being bullied, of being forgiven and for asking forgiveness.
Elizabeth has always been the good kid. Suddenly, Patty started bullying her and going to great lengths just to torment her. Elizabeth was bothered and anxious. However, events happened wherein Elizabeth, together with her friends, learned of why Patty was such a bully and worked through their issues. All is well.
REVIEW INTENDED FOR THE FOLLOWING:
1. For parents looking for something to give their elementary grade kids
2. For myself to look back to if I will ever be in need of Sweet Valley recommendations for kids these days who might choose a book over their Ipads or who knows, my future kid might be a reader too
----------------------
THIS IS MY FIRST EVER SWEET VALLEY BOOK AND MY ULTIMATE GATEWAY TO READING.
TWO DECADES LATER AND I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE STORY LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.
This is a story about bullying and being bullied, of being forgiven and for asking forgiveness.
Elizabeth has always been the good kid. Suddenly, Patty started bullying her and going to great lengths just to torment her. Elizabeth was bothered and anxious. However, events happened wherein Elizabeth, together with her friends, learned of why Patty was such a bully and worked through their issues. All is well.
June 22, 2013
I remember the cover just not the story
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