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Sweet Valley Twins Graphic Novels #3
Choosing Sides
Elizabeth's best friend Amy wants to join Cheer Club but that means going against the Unicorn Club! Can Elizabeth protect Amy...even if it means standing up to her sister Jessica to do it?
No matter what Elizabeth does she can't stop her best friend, Amy Sutton, from trying out for the Unicorn Club's cheering squad. Elizabeth is sure that the Unicorns are going to steal Amy away from her but when it is revealed that Jessica and the rest of the Unicorns don't want Amy, what should Elizabeth do?
The Unicorns will do anything to keep Amy off the squad! Can Elizabeth stand by and watch Amy get hurt? And if Elizabeth takes Amy's side against the Unicorns does this mean she'll be taking a stand against her own twin sister?!
No matter what Elizabeth does she can't stop her best friend, Amy Sutton, from trying out for the Unicorn Club's cheering squad. Elizabeth is sure that the Unicorns are going to steal Amy away from her but when it is revealed that Jessica and the rest of the Unicorns don't want Amy, what should Elizabeth do?
The Unicorns will do anything to keep Amy off the squad! Can Elizabeth stand by and watch Amy get hurt? And if Elizabeth takes Amy's side against the Unicorns does this mean she'll be taking a stand against her own twin sister?!
224 pages, Paperback
Published January 2, 2024
293 people are currently reading
484 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
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January 7, 2024Would 10 year old me be hyped or disappointed that i am still loving on Sweet Valley? 😂
They continue to be cute little time capsules for me updated for a new generation.
but also: why is Bruce looking damn near 40 when i'm pretty sure he is the same age as the twins? i get he's meant to be taller but he really didnt need to be an Adult™
anyway, book 4 has a new artist and i'm sure i'll adapt but i'm concerned until i see it irl
_________
not me questioning why they skipped over SVT the Haunted House to go right to this one 😂
They continue to be cute little time capsules for me updated for a new generation.
but also: why is Bruce looking damn near 40 when i'm pretty sure he is the same age as the twins? i get he's meant to be taller but he really didnt need to be an Adult™
anyway, book 4 has a new artist and i'm sure i'll adapt but i'm concerned until i see it irl
_________
not me questioning why they skipped over SVT the Haunted House to go right to this one 😂
January 22, 2024
I promise you, Jessica is the vainest middle school girl ever. I don't know how Elizabeth puts up with her. Hopefully, the little character development here sticks until the next volume.
I love Amy’s spunk! And little Ken is drawn so cutely.
I enjoy Aguirre’s artwork. The style works wonderfully here! I love every panel.
I love Amy’s spunk! And little Ken is drawn so cutely.
I enjoy Aguirre’s artwork. The style works wonderfully here! I love every panel.
February 14, 2024
The saga continues: in Choosing Sides, Jessica and the Unicorns want to start a 'Booster squad' (read: cheerleading team), and they're determined to keep 'undesirables', like Elizabeth's best friend Amy, out of contention.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of this whole thing is Mrs. Wakefield expressing her 'shock' at Jessica's truly abhorrent attitude. I have read the previous two books in this graphic novel adaptation, and I read quite a lot of the originals when I was younger, and lady, for the love of god, get your head out of the sand. (I mean, better than condoning Jessica's behavior? But Jessica has clearly not had a whole lot of consequences in her life.)
...or perhaps the most disturbing part of this is that Jessica is still a thousand times better than she was in the original books. Elizabeth is in a lot of ways an improvement—I reread one or two of the originals a while back, and Elizabeth was so terminally a goody-two-shoes that she was hard to suffer, but here Elizabeth is more of an average, smart, thoughtful person who is occasionally hampered by the realities of having a twin who is...not so thoughtful.
I'll keep reading the graphic novel adaptations, because how can I not? Interesting that the next one has a different artist—will have to see how that changes the flavor of the series.
Oh no now I'm getting tempted to go hunt up some of the originals. This lack of impulse control must be my inner Jessica coming out...
Perhaps the most disturbing part of this whole thing is Mrs. Wakefield expressing her 'shock' at Jessica's truly abhorrent attitude. I have read the previous two books in this graphic novel adaptation, and I read quite a lot of the originals when I was younger, and lady, for the love of god, get your head out of the sand. (I mean, better than condoning Jessica's behavior? But Jessica has clearly not had a whole lot of consequences in her life.)
...or perhaps the most disturbing part of this is that Jessica is still a thousand times better than she was in the original books. Elizabeth is in a lot of ways an improvement—I reread one or two of the originals a while back, and Elizabeth was so terminally a goody-two-shoes that she was hard to suffer, but here Elizabeth is more of an average, smart, thoughtful person who is occasionally hampered by the realities of having a twin who is...not so thoughtful.
I'll keep reading the graphic novel adaptations, because how can I not? Interesting that the next one has a different artist—will have to see how that changes the flavor of the series.
Oh no now I'm getting tempted to go hunt up some of the originals. This lack of impulse control must be my inner Jessica coming out...
June 26, 2024
3.5 stars. Great adaptation of the original story - I really liked the emphasis on Liz being super behind Ken's trying out for the basketball team, but reluctant to support Amy trying out for the Boosters. The scene at the end, where Amy cheers for Ken during their respective tryouts, was awesome!
I don't remember there being a rumor about Liz and Ken dating (or Jess being so upset about how it would reflect on her), or Bruce being someone who was trying out for basketball (ugh, I CANNOT with Blonde Bruce Patman), but that could very well be the SVH classic canon that's seared into my brain getting in the way.
*Loved* Nora's belated appearance, but was a little <.< at the 'preview' for Haunted House, since its illustrated by a different artist and the style is...a choice. Nora at the end of this book looks so badass. In the preview she just looks kinda awful. Hmm. I wonder why they got a different artist for #4? The artist who drew 1, 2, 3 will be back for #5 next year.
Also: THANK YOU FOR THE CAST LIST FINALLY!!!!
I don't remember there being a rumor about Liz and Ken dating (or Jess being so upset about how it would reflect on her), or Bruce being someone who was trying out for basketball (ugh, I CANNOT with Blonde Bruce Patman), but that could very well be the SVH classic canon that's seared into my brain getting in the way.
*Loved* Nora's belated appearance, but was a little <.< at the 'preview' for Haunted House, since its illustrated by a different artist and the style is...a choice. Nora at the end of this book looks so badass. In the preview she just looks kinda awful. Hmm. I wonder why they got a different artist for #4? The artist who drew 1, 2, 3 will be back for #5 next year.
Also: THANK YOU FOR THE CAST LIST FINALLY!!!!
February 11, 2024
Sigh. I love that these are being remade as graphic novels, but I really hate the way all the characters look. Not a single one is the way they are described in the book, except maybe the twins.
It was nice to finally have a “who’s who” in the back of the book, though. I still can’t tell who any of the Unicorns are supposed to be, so that was helpful.
It was nice to finally have a “who’s who” in the back of the book, though. I still can’t tell who any of the Unicorns are supposed to be, so that was helpful.
Read
June 17, 2024These continue to be good modern adaptations of the original Twins books. The modernisation never feels forced, which is great, and I think the slight changes to the twins' personalities work well.
My only real issue is that there are a few changes that seem arbitrary to me, like switching the order of books three and four, and making Bruce huge and blond. I think it's great that they've added more diversity to the cast—like with Janet and Kimberly—but there's no diversity win in making Bruce and Ellen blond!
None of this will matter to first time readers, though—just long-term obsessives like myself ;)
My only real issue is that there are a few changes that seem arbitrary to me, like switching the order of books three and four, and making Bruce huge and blond. I think it's great that they've added more diversity to the cast—like with Janet and Kimberly—but there's no diversity win in making Bruce and Ellen blond!
None of this will matter to first time readers, though—just long-term obsessives like myself ;)
Read
April 24, 2024This book was so well done. I know what it feels like to want to join something new. To be jealous of others, this book series has made me feel so inspired. Two twins don’t wanna be the same, one popular and one still trying to make her own version of life the way she wants it.
January 8, 2024
I found the graphic novel better then the book. maybe because I already knew what was going to happen and the pictures made it seem more interesting.
February 2, 2024
4.5 Stars. I appreciate how well the graphic novels have kept to the original books’ storylines.
August 8, 2024
The art style of these is just SO cute! Although I still hate Jessica. She is the absolute worst.
March 2, 2025
So easy to read but still so good
June 8, 2024
Such a cute, simple book for any middle-aged kid!
December 26, 2023
Copy provided by the publisher
While Lizzie is still looking for stories to report for the school newspaper, Jessica is still hanging out with the Unicorns, the most popular (and also the meanest!) students in school. Lizzie is worried about her friend Amy, who is determined to try out for the pep squad that the Unicorns are trying to get started. Amy isn't all that good at cheering, but is working very hard at it. Lizzie knows from Jessica's friend Lila that the Unicorns are going to try to limit the people who get onto the squad, and feel it is their right to do this. Lizzie also notices that Ken, whose father was a high school basketball star, is trying out for the basketball team, and having trouble with some of the more unpleasant basketball players. She invites him over to practice with her brother Steven, and a student starts a rumor that the two are dating. This irritates Jessica, who is afraid that people will think that SHE is dating Ken, who is inept and also hated by the Unicorns. Amy continues to work hard, but Lizzie is still worried about her, especially when it turns out that she and Ken like each other. Lila goes so far as to tell Amy to drop out, which only strengthens her resolve. She is also able to see through a letter, purportedly from Ken, encouraging her to drop out. Ken recieves a similar note, supposedly from Amy, but takes it more seriously. Will Lizzie be able to stop Jessica from being quite so eveil so that the Unicorn's pep squad try outs are fair?
Strengths: There's a lot of energy in these graphic novels, and Jessica vascilliates between starry eyed excitement and seething anger. Lizzie is a bit more even tempered, although her anxiety is not helped by her sister's machinations. Lizzie wants to support her friend Amy, Ken, and do a good job on the newspaper, but is worried that she isn't doing enough. That seems more on track with the way my students feel today, so they are definitely going to identify with Lizzie. The illustration style is appealing, and the colors are attractive. It's fairly easy to keep the twins straight, and the other characters are easily identifiable as well. There are a few pages from The Haunted House (#4), which comes out May 7, 2024, and looks interesting.
Weaknesses: The original novels were written in the 1980s, when adults were not as aware of kids' behavior. I can't see the faculty advisor for the pep squad allowing Lila and her minions to control things so much, nor can I see Lizzie and Jessica's parents letting Jessica be so mean to her sister. I would have thought the graphic novels would have been updated more, but since The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels also preserve the 1980s social mores, it's not that surprising that they weren't redone.
What I really think: This is a popular choice for fans of Raina Telgemeier's Drama or Shannon Hale's Best Friends who like to read about middle schoolers being mean to each other. These are not my personal favorite, especially since I was an adult by the time the Sweet Valley Twins novels were published, but can see why my students enjoy them.
While Lizzie is still looking for stories to report for the school newspaper, Jessica is still hanging out with the Unicorns, the most popular (and also the meanest!) students in school. Lizzie is worried about her friend Amy, who is determined to try out for the pep squad that the Unicorns are trying to get started. Amy isn't all that good at cheering, but is working very hard at it. Lizzie knows from Jessica's friend Lila that the Unicorns are going to try to limit the people who get onto the squad, and feel it is their right to do this. Lizzie also notices that Ken, whose father was a high school basketball star, is trying out for the basketball team, and having trouble with some of the more unpleasant basketball players. She invites him over to practice with her brother Steven, and a student starts a rumor that the two are dating. This irritates Jessica, who is afraid that people will think that SHE is dating Ken, who is inept and also hated by the Unicorns. Amy continues to work hard, but Lizzie is still worried about her, especially when it turns out that she and Ken like each other. Lila goes so far as to tell Amy to drop out, which only strengthens her resolve. She is also able to see through a letter, purportedly from Ken, encouraging her to drop out. Ken recieves a similar note, supposedly from Amy, but takes it more seriously. Will Lizzie be able to stop Jessica from being quite so eveil so that the Unicorn's pep squad try outs are fair?
Strengths: There's a lot of energy in these graphic novels, and Jessica vascilliates between starry eyed excitement and seething anger. Lizzie is a bit more even tempered, although her anxiety is not helped by her sister's machinations. Lizzie wants to support her friend Amy, Ken, and do a good job on the newspaper, but is worried that she isn't doing enough. That seems more on track with the way my students feel today, so they are definitely going to identify with Lizzie. The illustration style is appealing, and the colors are attractive. It's fairly easy to keep the twins straight, and the other characters are easily identifiable as well. There are a few pages from The Haunted House (#4), which comes out May 7, 2024, and looks interesting.
Weaknesses: The original novels were written in the 1980s, when adults were not as aware of kids' behavior. I can't see the faculty advisor for the pep squad allowing Lila and her minions to control things so much, nor can I see Lizzie and Jessica's parents letting Jessica be so mean to her sister. I would have thought the graphic novels would have been updated more, but since The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels also preserve the 1980s social mores, it's not that surprising that they weren't redone.
What I really think: This is a popular choice for fans of Raina Telgemeier's Drama or Shannon Hale's Best Friends who like to read about middle schoolers being mean to each other. These are not my personal favorite, especially since I was an adult by the time the Sweet Valley Twins novels were published, but can see why my students enjoy them.
April 14, 2025
This is the third in the graphic novel series based on the original book series, though these are easily read as standalones, or in my case, I’m reading them in whatever sequence they become available at the library.
In Choosing Sides, Elizabeth’s best friend Amy is eager to be a cheerleader and the Unicorns, popular girls in charge, are far from welcoming. It seemed more likely to me that the Unicorns wouldn’t have even seen Amy as a threat to make the squad, that they would have underestimated her to the point of assuming she didn’t have a shot, but I guess it wouldn’t really be a Sweet Valley Twins story without Jessica and/or her pals doing something underhanded and their attempts to derail Amy showcased her persistance which I really loved and admired.
Often Elizabeth’s portrayed as so perfect in these stories that there isn’t really much to emotionally engage with, here however, I liked that she’s dealing with a genuine moral dilemma, does a good friend discourage Amy so she won’t end up hurt and humiliated by the Unicorns or does she encourage Amy to go for what she wants? Being stuck in a potentially no-win situation like that was one of Elizabeth’s more relatable moments.
There’s one other kid in this story trying to pursue his dream of joining the basketball team even though like Amy it’s an uphill battle for him. I liked Ken and how he’s tied in with Elizabeth and Amy, though I did think there could have been a bit more evidence as to why this boy is unpopular. Yeah, he’s not the most gifted athlete, he has to work at his game, but other than that I didn’t see anything in his personality or appearance that explained Jessica’s embarrassment over his connection to Elizabeth, even the way he’s illustrated, Ken seemed cuter than the hulking basketball guys.
Overall though, this was an entertaining read, swiftly and satisfyingly paced.
In Choosing Sides, Elizabeth’s best friend Amy is eager to be a cheerleader and the Unicorns, popular girls in charge, are far from welcoming. It seemed more likely to me that the Unicorns wouldn’t have even seen Amy as a threat to make the squad, that they would have underestimated her to the point of assuming she didn’t have a shot, but I guess it wouldn’t really be a Sweet Valley Twins story without Jessica and/or her pals doing something underhanded and their attempts to derail Amy showcased her persistance which I really loved and admired.
Often Elizabeth’s portrayed as so perfect in these stories that there isn’t really much to emotionally engage with, here however, I liked that she’s dealing with a genuine moral dilemma, does a good friend discourage Amy so she won’t end up hurt and humiliated by the Unicorns or does she encourage Amy to go for what she wants? Being stuck in a potentially no-win situation like that was one of Elizabeth’s more relatable moments.
There’s one other kid in this story trying to pursue his dream of joining the basketball team even though like Amy it’s an uphill battle for him. I liked Ken and how he’s tied in with Elizabeth and Amy, though I did think there could have been a bit more evidence as to why this boy is unpopular. Yeah, he’s not the most gifted athlete, he has to work at his game, but other than that I didn’t see anything in his personality or appearance that explained Jessica’s embarrassment over his connection to Elizabeth, even the way he’s illustrated, Ken seemed cuter than the hulking basketball guys.
Overall though, this was an entertaining read, swiftly and satisfyingly paced.
March 15, 2024
It’s been awhile since I did a #snuggleupsunday post but we just finished the latest Sweet Valley Twins graphic novel, Choosing Sides.
Jessica and the unicorns are hosting cheer tryouts and are determined that only the pretty popular girls make it. Meanwhile, the boys are doing basketball tryouts and Ken wants to make the team but he’s short and not in the “in crowd”. Elizabeth is covering the events for the newspaper, discouraging friend Amy from trying out for cheerleading, and helping Ken improve his game.
What I liked: I liked both twins learned a lesson. Elizabeth needed to support her friend even if she didn’t agree with her joining the club and Jessica needed to realize being popular isn’t the end all.
I liked it showed Elizabeth helping Ken. The underlying theme of going for things you want even if it’s scary or you might not be included at first was a good one.
What didn’t work for me: look I loved Sweet Valley as a kid and teen but as an adult, Lila, Jessica and the unicorns behavior is cringe. Jessica is so concerned with being popular and yeah at the end she admitted she made a mistake but I just didn’t love that throughout the book it was clear Jessica and pals were popular and smart nice Elizabeth and friends were nerds. It rubbed me wrong as a parent.
Who should read it: Parents will love the nostalgia and kids will like the twins antics and freedom from parents (most of the plot is at school with little to know adult interaction).
Jessica and the unicorns are hosting cheer tryouts and are determined that only the pretty popular girls make it. Meanwhile, the boys are doing basketball tryouts and Ken wants to make the team but he’s short and not in the “in crowd”. Elizabeth is covering the events for the newspaper, discouraging friend Amy from trying out for cheerleading, and helping Ken improve his game.
What I liked: I liked both twins learned a lesson. Elizabeth needed to support her friend even if she didn’t agree with her joining the club and Jessica needed to realize being popular isn’t the end all.
I liked it showed Elizabeth helping Ken. The underlying theme of going for things you want even if it’s scary or you might not be included at first was a good one.
What didn’t work for me: look I loved Sweet Valley as a kid and teen but as an adult, Lila, Jessica and the unicorns behavior is cringe. Jessica is so concerned with being popular and yeah at the end she admitted she made a mistake but I just didn’t love that throughout the book it was clear Jessica and pals were popular and smart nice Elizabeth and friends were nerds. It rubbed me wrong as a parent.
Who should read it: Parents will love the nostalgia and kids will like the twins antics and freedom from parents (most of the plot is at school with little to know adult interaction).
March 25, 2024
I feel like I've seen this story before (and not from reading the original Sweet Valley Twins book this was based on): girl wants to be a cheerleader, boy wants to be a basketball player, neither are liked by the existing teams but prove their worth anyway. Probably an old standby for sports-related stories, I guess. Not a lot of believable variations one can do while keeping within the rules of real life (no science fiction gadgets/time travel/magic/etc.).
Not to say that's a bad thing! This is a lovely story, perfectly capturing the pains of middle school bullying (differing from high school bullying only by what grades are involved) and the beauty of friendship helping to overcome those hurdles. It DOES bug me that Jessica and Elizabeth don't get along better—as TWINS—but then, I don't have a twin as a basis for comparison (and even if I did, we wouldn't be the same as they are), and also I guess there wouldn't be as much of a story to read.
Recommended for fans of the series and/or cheerleaders/basketball players! It's not REQUIRED to have read the prior books, but it helps a little, to know more about the relationships between the characters.
Not to say that's a bad thing! This is a lovely story, perfectly capturing the pains of middle school bullying (differing from high school bullying only by what grades are involved) and the beauty of friendship helping to overcome those hurdles. It DOES bug me that Jessica and Elizabeth don't get along better—as TWINS—but then, I don't have a twin as a basis for comparison (and even if I did, we wouldn't be the same as they are), and also I guess there wouldn't be as much of a story to read.
Recommended for fans of the series and/or cheerleaders/basketball players! It's not REQUIRED to have read the prior books, but it helps a little, to know more about the relationships between the characters.
March 11, 2024
I enjoyed this one more than some of the others in the series, maybe because while it was over the top and Jessica did make some poor decisions, her decisions were done in a way that made her flawed but likeable. The previous stories, she seemed more like a selfish brat than in this one. And while I get that she is a selfish brat even in the original series from the 80s, she was usually developed as a more sympathetic character. And I know that these are adapted from the books that came out later, which I have to admit I didn't read many of because I was already older and not reading middle school stories, but because they have done a good job modernizing, I also expect them to tweak the story to be more relatable to now and thus maybe a bit more developed.
All in all, a good addition to the series. I like how these books work in the now better than the BSC graphic novels but I consider them similar for readers who like the BSC stories.
Sidebar: I am always disappointed by Jessica in the SVH universe. I get that Liz is often too good to be true, but Liz is always making such poor emotional decisions. Drove me nuts as a teen. Drives me nuts now.
All in all, a good addition to the series. I like how these books work in the now better than the BSC graphic novels but I consider them similar for readers who like the BSC stories.
Sidebar: I am always disappointed by Jessica in the SVH universe. I get that Liz is often too good to be true, but Liz is always making such poor emotional decisions. Drove me nuts as a teen. Drives me nuts now.
February 20, 2024
This nifty graphic novel version of the Sweet Valley Twins series has such a great message about being true to oneself and not letting others define you. No matter the age of anyone who reads this book, he/she/they can surely feel empowered and amused. While the plot plays out pretty much as might be expected, it's still fun to read this one. Elizabeth wants to protect her best friend Amy from being hurt when she's cut by the Unicorns who decide who will be on the booster/cheer team. But her twin sister Jessica is involved in various dastardly plans to sabotage Amy and Ken, the son of a talented basketball player who seems unable to measure up to his father's feats on the court. The comic aspect of all this makes the book a quick read. As another reviewer pointed out, though, Bruce, one of the bullies on the basketball team, seems too large and adult for his supposed age. His appearance was rather jarring. And as for Lila, Jess's best friend, she is such a total jerk. It's hard to find anything positive about her. I hope that she's a caricature and not based on an actual person.
July 6, 2024
Elizabeth's best friend Amy is so excited when cheerleading is offered at school. She immediately starts to practice and she's really good at it. But Elizabeth is skeptical. The Unicorn Club is in charge that means only the pretty and popular girls will get in. But the auditions are open to everyone so Amy believes it will be fair and goes full on to win a spot on the team. Elizabeth overhears the unicorn club talking which just proves she was right....they only want members of their club to be cheerleaders. They're so mean. Jessica, Elizabeth's twin sister is a unicorn member and Elizabeth cannot believe how she can support this thinking. The twins fight over it. Amy and everyone who tries out deserves a fair chance but will they get it? As the audition date gets closer the tensions get higher. What will happen?
May 1, 2025
The Boosters are setting up a cheerleading squad but the Unicorns basically dominate it. Amy wants to try out and the Unicorns, including Jessica, don't want her to join them.
Elizabeth wants to help Amy and, as expected, Jessica wants Amy to be blocked from joining. Ken and Amy become close friends and he also wants to join the Boosters.
It's pretty typical Sweet Valley Twins stuff, in this case showing more bullying by the Unicorns.
The Question I have is this, though. If Amy and Ken make the Boosters and the Unicorns are still in it what's going to happen? They will have to all associate and practice a lot and I don't see how that is going to work with such a major difference between Amy/Ken and the snobbish Unicorns. I'm surprised this wasn't brought up somewhere in the book.
Elizabeth wants to help Amy and, as expected, Jessica wants Amy to be blocked from joining. Ken and Amy become close friends and he also wants to join the Boosters.
It's pretty typical Sweet Valley Twins stuff, in this case showing more bullying by the Unicorns.
The Question I have is this, though. If Amy and Ken make the Boosters and the Unicorns are still in it what's going to happen? They will have to all associate and practice a lot and I don't see how that is going to work with such a major difference between Amy/Ken and the snobbish Unicorns. I'm surprised this wasn't brought up somewhere in the book.
January 4, 2024
WE FINALLY GOT A CAST LIST! It's at the back of the book but it's still there! Yay!
It's been forever and a day since I read the original Choosing Sides, so it was fun seeing this version play out. I loved that Liz wants to spare Amy's feelings but Amy's so sure of herself, even when her own best friend isn't, that she's willing to go ahead and finish her tryouts due to spite alone. I love this version of Amy, honestly. Snarky Liz is always a delight, no matter the age, and the tiny bit of Nora we get in this book as they set up The Haunted House? LOVE HER.
I'm a little worried we're apparently switching artists for the next one (eep!) but this go round was fun.
Except I will never, never, NEVER accept Beefy Blond Bully Bruce Patman as my Bruce. Nope. Not happening.
It's been forever and a day since I read the original Choosing Sides, so it was fun seeing this version play out. I loved that Liz wants to spare Amy's feelings but Amy's so sure of herself, even when her own best friend isn't, that she's willing to go ahead and finish her tryouts due to spite alone. I love this version of Amy, honestly. Snarky Liz is always a delight, no matter the age, and the tiny bit of Nora we get in this book as they set up The Haunted House? LOVE HER.
I'm a little worried we're apparently switching artists for the next one (eep!) but this go round was fun.
Except I will never, never, NEVER accept Beefy Blond Bully Bruce Patman as my Bruce. Nope. Not happening.
January 25, 2024
In the original book, Amy had some wicked baton-twirling skills that were described perfectly during the Boosters' final tryouts. It always felt like such a underdog-triumphs moment to me!
I couldn't wait to experience the graphic novel depiction of her big show-off moment...and it wasn't in there! They only had Amy doing some cheers (that didn't look very spectacular) with pom poms...
Jessica and the Unicorns (especially Lila) come off awful in these graphic novels. I swear they used to be a little less single-faceted and more humanized in the novels, rather than these catty Grade-A harpies...
I couldn't wait to experience the graphic novel depiction of her big show-off moment...and it wasn't in there! They only had Amy doing some cheers (that didn't look very spectacular) with pom poms...
Jessica and the Unicorns (especially Lila) come off awful in these graphic novels. I swear they used to be a little less single-faceted and more humanized in the novels, rather than these catty Grade-A harpies...
July 2, 2024
Book 126 of 300 ~ 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Nostalgia to the max. I love what they are doing in terms of graphic novels.
I do hope they do it for #sweetvalleyhigh
I hated what the Unicorns did to poor Amy. I had shitty "friends" who did that to me in secondary 3/4
Disgusting.
#book126of300 #tbrpile #instareads #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2024 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds #sweetvalleytwins #graphicnovels
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Nostalgia to the max. I love what they are doing in terms of graphic novels.
I do hope they do it for #sweetvalleyhigh
I hated what the Unicorns did to poor Amy. I had shitty "friends" who did that to me in secondary 3/4
Disgusting.
#book126of300 #tbrpile #instareads #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2024 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds #sweetvalleytwins #graphicnovels
November 30, 2025
I have read the past 2 books and life and school problems. I have liked all the books it is very honking and showcases real life problems between twins and general.
Though Jessica and Elizabeth are both identical twins they both are very different in personality style and interest. Wile Jessica is more outspoken, social, and into girl stuff. While Elizabeth is more study, always be there for each other. In this book one of Elizabeth’s friends might be leaning toward Jessica and her popular gang which Elizabeth doesn’t like thought of. I love how they included other stuff and still made it interesting and relatable. 5/5
Though Jessica and Elizabeth are both identical twins they both are very different in personality style and interest. Wile Jessica is more outspoken, social, and into girl stuff. While Elizabeth is more study, always be there for each other. In this book one of Elizabeth’s friends might be leaning toward Jessica and her popular gang which Elizabeth doesn’t like thought of. I love how they included other stuff and still made it interesting and relatable. 5/5
January 16, 2024
Jessica and the Unicorns hold auditions for the newly formed Booster Club, from which they plan to exclude the less popular folks by whatever means necessary. It's not that Elizabeth doesn't want Amy to make the Booster Club (though she herself has zero interest in it); it's that Elizabeth is afraid the Unicorns will do something to humiliate her unpopular bff Amy while she is auditioning. Older brother Stephen is bribed with doughnuts to help Elizabeth's friend Ken work on his basketball moves before tryouts, as rich popular dudebro Bruce attempts to bully Ken out of trying out.
May 21, 2024
The Sweet Valley Twins are back in a graphic novel focused on tryouts for the boosters and the basketball team. Underdogs find themselves at the mercy of the Unicorns and the jocks as they try to make the teams. Elizabeth steps forward to support her friend Amy while Jessica works with the Unicorns to interfere with Amy's chances. In a parallel story line, underdog Ken is also trying to make the BB team but his friendship with Amy starts to blow up his chances. This is a novel about perseverance and staying true to your dreams in spite of obstacles others place in your way.
December 14, 2025
This graphic novel is all about tryouts and making the team. Who will make it and who won’t?
One of the twins helps a friend practice his basketball skills while the other tries to sabotage a fellow student’s chances of making the cheerleading squad.
Book had good illustrations as always, but some of the text was too small to read. Fortunately, the images tell the story well. Of course, the competition causes tension among the twins. Good expressions and good drama.
This story goes to show what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it. A good read!
One of the twins helps a friend practice his basketball skills while the other tries to sabotage a fellow student’s chances of making the cheerleading squad.
Book had good illustrations as always, but some of the text was too small to read. Fortunately, the images tell the story well. Of course, the competition causes tension among the twins. Good expressions and good drama.
This story goes to show what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it. A good read!
January 22, 2024
The illustrations are great and it’s fun to reread books that I read when I was younger but in graphic novel form. But this seems so stuck in the 80s and wish it’d been updated more. I can’t imagine the pep squad coach letting the Unicorns have pretty much complete control of the group and I can’t believe Jessica and her friends did something so awful and basically people were mad for a hot minute and then everything was fine.
March 1, 2024
Nostalgic fun. Amy tries out for the Boosters, Ken Matthews tries out for the basketball team. The illustrations are fun and dynamic; Jessica super sparkles off the page and so does Liz but in a much more subdued way.
I see the illustrator Claudia Aguirre won't be doing Book 4, which is a shame coz from the preview, the twins look much cuter in Claudia's style. Still, I'm super glad these books are out in graphic form and I'm excited for Book 4!
I see the illustrator Claudia Aguirre won't be doing Book 4, which is a shame coz from the preview, the twins look much cuter in Claudia's style. Still, I'm super glad these books are out in graphic form and I'm excited for Book 4!
October 22, 2024
Elizabeth's friend Amy who is a bit of a nerd wants to try out for the Boosters, which is a cheerleading squad. But the nasty Unicorns don't want her as part of their group. And on the other hand, Elizabeth is trying to help Ken who is a short kid who wants to be on the basketball team. I forgot how nasty Jessica and the Unicorn Club can be and sadly this book brought back memories of the past books. This was a fun read but I did not think the characters help up well.
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