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The Unicorn Club #3
The Best Friend Game
The Unicorns aren't Number One anymore! Can you believe there's a new club at Sweet Valley Middle School? They call themselves the Eight Times Club - and they're trying to outdo us at everything. We've been volunteering at the day-care center, so now they help out at the Humane Society. Lila threw another one of her amazingly cool parties - and the Eights just gave the biggest bash of the decade! Even I thought it was time to retaliate. So we decided to take our act to TV!
Being on the Best Friends show seemed like the perfect way to prove we're the better club. All we have to do is guess each other's favorite foods, most embarrassing moments, and worst dates..We thought we couldn't lose. Until we found out the Eights are going to be our opponents. Now it's war. We have to win - or the entire world will think the Unicorns are Number Two!
134 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1994
1 person is currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,139 books1,851 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 2, 2013
The Narrator: Elizabeth Wakefield (Unicorn Club books are written, annoyingly, in the first person. Kind of like The Baby-Sitter's Club.)
On a scale of 1-10, How Annoying is Elizabeth?: 5. It's like twice as annoying being in her head than it is in a regular third-person narrated Sweet Valley Twins book.
Synopsis: The first few chapters were kind of fuzzy (and boring) to me. I was on the verge of falling asleep. All I remember is that the Unicorns messed with Mr. Clark's toupee, and he wants them to buy him a new one. Why? And why is this in the story? This is so boring and not at all relevant. On to the point of the book: The Unicorns (Lila, Mary, Jessica, Elizabeth, Ellen, Maria, Mandy, and Evie) love this show called Best Friends. It's a game show where you have to guess how well you know your best friend (or group of best friends). You may remember something like this from an episode of Boy Meets World (that was far more entertaining, btw).
Well, the other seven Unicorns recruit Liz to write a letter to Best Friends show telling the producers why they should be on the show. This is one of those "we have to show the whole world just how fucking FABULOUS the Unicorns are" plots. Never mind that they are only going to be on a LOCAL channel airing to people already sick of the Wakefield twins and the Unicorns.
No surprise, they are called back to be on the show almost immediately. However, they also have to start an Odd Jobs service in order to earn the money for a new toupee for Mr. Clark (he won't let Lila write a check). Oh, and also? There's a NEW Sweet Valley Middle School club running around called the Eight by Eight club. It's made up of eight eighth-graders. Get it? The Unicorns often wear purple to a nauseating degree, but the Eight by Eighters actually dress EXACTLY alike. ALL the time. They do everything the same. And they also do everything The Unicorns do, right after they do it.
Needless to say, the Eights get on the show... the same day as the Unicorns. Liz mentions over and over how confident the Unicorns always are (you think, Liz?), but now they are even more determined and confident to win. So confident, it turns out, that Jessica is willing to make a bet with the Eights (of course). The loser of the show has to sing the Puff the Magic Dragon theme song in front of everyone in the cafeteria at lunch on Friday (the day after the show).
The day of the show the support for the Eights and the Unicorns is pretty much divided (why does anyone care?). The host, Brandon Blitzen, is condescending to the Unicorns in a way that makes me think the whole thing will end up rigged. But that's not what happens. The Unicorns cocky confidence turns to mush when they are beat by the Eights 95 to ZERO. Jessica can't even answer questions right about Elizabeth and vice versa. They all come to school on Friday but no one talks to each other and none of them show up in the cafeteria for their "punishment." Liz reaches out to president Mandy, who calls an emergency meeting of The Unicorns at the day care center the next day (kind of like... the BSC?).
They decide to face their punishment... with a twist. They will turn the Puff song into a rap and a funky dance. Liz notes what great dancers they all are. Okay, Liz. Shut up. Their plan goes off spectacularly, and they are all able to save face and make up.
And the show? They decided that they are all so different - and the Eights are all the same, even in the brain - and that is the reason that they lost the game. I kind of liked this conclusion actually. At least they all wo-manned up for once.
Alternate Title : "Friends 4 Ever?"
The Big Deal: The "Best Friends" TV show, on which The Unicorn Club and their rivals, the Eight Times Eight Club, are appearing.
Lingering Questions: In what universe, besides these few Unicorn Club books, have Lila and Elizabeth ever been that close? Sure, she may not shun her as much come SVU but, honest to god, Lila and Liz would never call themselves friends. Ever. And since when does Liz care about The Unicorns? She says she's in 7th grade now and things are magically different, but I highly doubt it.
Cover: Good or Bad? I have the British version. It just has a tiny picture of Liz, Maria, Mandy (though it looks like Ellen) and Lila on the front, as they were the first group to get asked questions on the show.
Fantabulous Quotes (With Commentary): "Sweet Valley has a huge resource center for low-income families."
Since when?
"I rolled my eyes. His phony manner was actually starting to get on my nerves a little bit."
Said Liz. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Jessica: We're going to intimidate them. We're going to look so confident, they won't be able to answer anything right.
Liz: Jessica, it's not a boxing match.
Jess: No, I know. It's bigger than that. More like the Olympics.
Oh, please.
"When it comes to judging people, I have the reputation in our house for being the nicest, and the most understanding."
Oh, really, Liz? Methinks you doth protest too much.
"'Crazy Eights, Crazy Eights, you're not so great,' [Jessica] would say. 'I'd like to hit you with a dinner plate.'"
That's actually pretty funny.
"'Incorrect,' Brandon said. 'Your sister said you'd prefer a shopping trip to Beverly Hills!' Jessica turned and glared at me. 'I'm not that shallow!'"
Jessica, you protest too much as well.
Moral of the Story: If you lose a game show with your best friends, it's not because you don't know one another. It's because you're all so different, smart, and perfect, obviously.
Final Rating: Two stars. Why did Mr. Clark's toupee have any part in this book? Ew. Yuck. Boring.
On a scale of 1-10, How Annoying is Elizabeth?: 5. It's like twice as annoying being in her head than it is in a regular third-person narrated Sweet Valley Twins book.
Synopsis: The first few chapters were kind of fuzzy (and boring) to me. I was on the verge of falling asleep. All I remember is that the Unicorns messed with Mr. Clark's toupee, and he wants them to buy him a new one. Why? And why is this in the story? This is so boring and not at all relevant. On to the point of the book: The Unicorns (Lila, Mary, Jessica, Elizabeth, Ellen, Maria, Mandy, and Evie) love this show called Best Friends. It's a game show where you have to guess how well you know your best friend (or group of best friends). You may remember something like this from an episode of Boy Meets World (that was far more entertaining, btw).
Well, the other seven Unicorns recruit Liz to write a letter to Best Friends show telling the producers why they should be on the show. This is one of those "we have to show the whole world just how fucking FABULOUS the Unicorns are" plots. Never mind that they are only going to be on a LOCAL channel airing to people already sick of the Wakefield twins and the Unicorns.
No surprise, they are called back to be on the show almost immediately. However, they also have to start an Odd Jobs service in order to earn the money for a new toupee for Mr. Clark (he won't let Lila write a check). Oh, and also? There's a NEW Sweet Valley Middle School club running around called the Eight by Eight club. It's made up of eight eighth-graders. Get it? The Unicorns often wear purple to a nauseating degree, but the Eight by Eighters actually dress EXACTLY alike. ALL the time. They do everything the same. And they also do everything The Unicorns do, right after they do it.
Needless to say, the Eights get on the show... the same day as the Unicorns. Liz mentions over and over how confident the Unicorns always are (you think, Liz?), but now they are even more determined and confident to win. So confident, it turns out, that Jessica is willing to make a bet with the Eights (of course). The loser of the show has to sing the Puff the Magic Dragon theme song in front of everyone in the cafeteria at lunch on Friday (the day after the show).
The day of the show the support for the Eights and the Unicorns is pretty much divided (why does anyone care?). The host, Brandon Blitzen, is condescending to the Unicorns in a way that makes me think the whole thing will end up rigged. But that's not what happens. The Unicorns cocky confidence turns to mush when they are beat by the Eights 95 to ZERO. Jessica can't even answer questions right about Elizabeth and vice versa. They all come to school on Friday but no one talks to each other and none of them show up in the cafeteria for their "punishment." Liz reaches out to president Mandy, who calls an emergency meeting of The Unicorns at the day care center the next day (kind of like... the BSC?).
They decide to face their punishment... with a twist. They will turn the Puff song into a rap and a funky dance. Liz notes what great dancers they all are. Okay, Liz. Shut up. Their plan goes off spectacularly, and they are all able to save face and make up.
And the show? They decided that they are all so different - and the Eights are all the same, even in the brain - and that is the reason that they lost the game. I kind of liked this conclusion actually. At least they all wo-manned up for once.
Alternate Title : "Friends 4 Ever?"
The Big Deal: The "Best Friends" TV show, on which The Unicorn Club and their rivals, the Eight Times Eight Club, are appearing.
Lingering Questions: In what universe, besides these few Unicorn Club books, have Lila and Elizabeth ever been that close? Sure, she may not shun her as much come SVU but, honest to god, Lila and Liz would never call themselves friends. Ever. And since when does Liz care about The Unicorns? She says she's in 7th grade now and things are magically different, but I highly doubt it.
Cover: Good or Bad? I have the British version. It just has a tiny picture of Liz, Maria, Mandy (though it looks like Ellen) and Lila on the front, as they were the first group to get asked questions on the show.
Fantabulous Quotes (With Commentary): "Sweet Valley has a huge resource center for low-income families."
Since when?
"I rolled my eyes. His phony manner was actually starting to get on my nerves a little bit."
Said Liz. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Jessica: We're going to intimidate them. We're going to look so confident, they won't be able to answer anything right.
Liz: Jessica, it's not a boxing match.
Jess: No, I know. It's bigger than that. More like the Olympics.
Oh, please.
"When it comes to judging people, I have the reputation in our house for being the nicest, and the most understanding."
Oh, really, Liz? Methinks you doth protest too much.
"'Crazy Eights, Crazy Eights, you're not so great,' [Jessica] would say. 'I'd like to hit you with a dinner plate.'"
That's actually pretty funny.
"'Incorrect,' Brandon said. 'Your sister said you'd prefer a shopping trip to Beverly Hills!' Jessica turned and glared at me. 'I'm not that shallow!'"
Jessica, you protest too much as well.
Moral of the Story: If you lose a game show with your best friends, it's not because you don't know one another. It's because you're all so different, smart, and perfect, obviously.
Final Rating: Two stars. Why did Mr. Clark's toupee have any part in this book? Ew. Yuck. Boring.
November 12, 2023
I really hate it when Elizabeth tries to be a saint. Jessica was giving the answer and she has to play condescending. Ugh
December 6, 2025
Love the Unicron series so far. My second book in it. Little different from the original sweet valley, a bit more "cuter" and nicer but less intriguing. But a fun read, worth collecting.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews