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Sweet Valley Twins Graphic Novels #4
The Haunted House
There's a new girl in Sweet Valley...and she's a witch?! Join twin sisters Jessica and Elizabeth as they discover if the rumors match reality in this all new graphic novel from the The New York Times bestselling world of Sweet Valley Twins.
The buzz at Sweet Valley Middle School is all about Nora Mercandy, the new girl living in the town's infamous haunted house. Jessica is convinced there's something witchy about her, but Elizabeth thinks there's more to the story. Caught in a whirl of rumors and a rift with her twin, can Elizabeth discover the truth before friendships are torn apart?
The buzz at Sweet Valley Middle School is all about Nora Mercandy, the new girl living in the town's infamous haunted house. Jessica is convinced there's something witchy about her, but Elizabeth thinks there's more to the story. Caught in a whirl of rumors and a rift with her twin, can Elizabeth discover the truth before friendships are torn apart?
224 pages, Library Binding
Published May 7, 2024
262 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
April 28, 2024
I was an avid Sweet Valley fan growing up and followed the twins from elementary school to college. The fact that they are still popular and being featured in graphic novels makes me happy knowing new fans are reading them.
Jessica and Elizabeth are twins but vastly different. Elizabeth is studious, sweet, quiet, and has a solid ground of friends. Jessica is flaky, mean, popular, and will do anything to ensure she stays in the chosen group. (I remember this being VERY evident in the college books). In the Haunted House, Jessica and her friends terrorize new student Nora because.....???? Actually it does not matter why.
Elizabeth and her friends try to help Nora and get others to leave her alone with little success. When Halloween roles around we get a resolution to the bullying and a hopeful ending. However, I did not feel that the viciousness of the Unicorn club was handled correctly and it was too easily forgotten. This was a severe case of bullying and there were no repercussions. I would be hesitant to have this in my classroom, as I am not sure what the message is in this book. I recommend the series but not this one.
This was a gifted copy from Random House Graphic. All opinions are my own.
Jessica and Elizabeth are twins but vastly different. Elizabeth is studious, sweet, quiet, and has a solid ground of friends. Jessica is flaky, mean, popular, and will do anything to ensure she stays in the chosen group. (I remember this being VERY evident in the college books). In the Haunted House, Jessica and her friends terrorize new student Nora because.....???? Actually it does not matter why.
Elizabeth and her friends try to help Nora and get others to leave her alone with little success. When Halloween roles around we get a resolution to the bullying and a hopeful ending. However, I did not feel that the viciousness of the Unicorn club was handled correctly and it was too easily forgotten. This was a severe case of bullying and there were no repercussions. I would be hesitant to have this in my classroom, as I am not sure what the message is in this book. I recommend the series but not this one.
This was a gifted copy from Random House Graphic. All opinions are my own.
June 17, 2024
It’s not a bad adaptation; the problem is the source material. How did I read so many of these when Jessica is such a garbage human being??
August 22, 2024
Maybe, MAYBE hold the mean rich girls accountable for bullying the poor new girl 🫶👍
July 21, 2024
This is such a fun graphic novel that brings me lots of nostalgia, but most of all it’s such a wonderful book that teaches about kindness, friendship, and relying on each other. Fantastic book!
March 22, 2025
The fourth in this graphic novel retread of the Sweet Valley Twins books. In The Haunted House, a new girl moves to town—and into a house widely thought (at least, you know, by the young and impressionable) to be inhabited by a witch. While Elizabeth sets out to befriend the new girl, Jessica falls predictably in line with the Unicorns as they seek to run said new girl out of town.
These graphic novels hew pretty closely to the originals, which means that Jessica and the Unicorns are just awful. Their bullying of Nora is intense and constant—they mock her relative poverty, steal her gym clothes, lie to teachers to get her in trouble, threaten to frame her for theft, and on and on it goes. And Nora, meanwhile, is so desperate for a bit of kindness that she's ready to forgive and forget the second the Unicorns offer a tiny crumb of kindness...and that she doesn't stop to consider whether that kindness is genuine or lasting.
Reading this brought to mind my own experience of being bullied in grade six—it was way less intense than this, but at the time I also would have been perfectly okay with being friends if the girl in question had just stopped being cruel. And now I think jeepers creepers, self (and jeepers creepers, Nora), that would never have been a healthy friendship. Meanwhile, Jessica comes out of the book feeling good about herself because there are five minutes towards the end of the book when she isn't a bully...but she's spent so much of the book perfectly happy to bully a girl for no reason at all (and again: they're not just being nasty to Nora; they're actively trying to damage her academic record, get her in trouble, and run her out of town if possible) that it really feels like too much for Jessica to come back from. This is, of course, fully in line with the original series...but I have to wonder what younger readers are seeing when they read this. I remember identifying much more with Elizabeth than with Jessica when I was younger, and also knowing that Elizabeth was pretty boring, but gosh. It worries me that there are probably a lot of kids who do identify more with Jessica.
I'm not a huge fan of the art in this one; the art throughout the series is already a bit more comic-y than I prefer, and the change of artists in this one means that the characters often have really messy-looking faces and expressions, which is of course a valid art style but not one that I prefer. Looks like both of the artists used for the adaptations so far are involved in future books, so my mileage might vary...but I have no bookish self-control, so I'll keep reading and just have to get used to it!
These graphic novels hew pretty closely to the originals, which means that Jessica and the Unicorns are just awful. Their bullying of Nora is intense and constant—they mock her relative poverty, steal her gym clothes, lie to teachers to get her in trouble, threaten to frame her for theft, and on and on it goes. And Nora, meanwhile, is so desperate for a bit of kindness that she's ready to forgive and forget the second the Unicorns offer a tiny crumb of kindness...and that she doesn't stop to consider whether that kindness is genuine or lasting.
Reading this brought to mind my own experience of being bullied in grade six—it was way less intense than this, but at the time I also would have been perfectly okay with being friends if the girl in question had just stopped being cruel. And now I think jeepers creepers, self (and jeepers creepers, Nora), that would never have been a healthy friendship. Meanwhile, Jessica comes out of the book feeling good about herself because there are five minutes towards the end of the book when she isn't a bully...but she's spent so much of the book perfectly happy to bully a girl for no reason at all (and again: they're not just being nasty to Nora; they're actively trying to damage her academic record, get her in trouble, and run her out of town if possible) that it really feels like too much for Jessica to come back from. This is, of course, fully in line with the original series...but I have to wonder what younger readers are seeing when they read this. I remember identifying much more with Elizabeth than with Jessica when I was younger, and also knowing that Elizabeth was pretty boring, but gosh. It worries me that there are probably a lot of kids who do identify more with Jessica.
I'm not a huge fan of the art in this one; the art throughout the series is already a bit more comic-y than I prefer, and the change of artists in this one means that the characters often have really messy-looking faces and expressions, which is of course a valid art style but not one that I prefer. Looks like both of the artists used for the adaptations so far are involved in future books, so my mileage might vary...but I have no bookish self-control, so I'll keep reading and just have to get used to it!
September 16, 2025
Loved the story as much as I can love one where Jessica gives in to the worst side of herself but I don't like the art for most of this one. The costumes for the non-Unicorns are pretty great but seeing Nora at the end of the last book and this book? Oof. Nora's been my favorite C-list SV resident for years and she finally gets to show up again and yet... Oof. Just oof.
eta: After re-reading the original, I have a few more thoughts. One, the Unicorns are actually far meaner to Nora in the graphic novel than they are in the original, which is an... interesting take. I guess it makes sense to up the stakes and switch around certain things, but it also makes far less sense to not have Amy/Julie/Liz invite Nora to hang out with them for the paper stuff instead.
I do like the update from having Nora's grandfather being trained by Houdini to being a movie FX guru, but I think the story loses something with his stroke only being the year before as opposed to being something that happened a decade prior.
eta: After re-reading the original, I have a few more thoughts. One, the Unicorns are actually far meaner to Nora in the graphic novel than they are in the original, which is an... interesting take. I guess it makes sense to up the stakes and switch around certain things, but it also makes far less sense to not have Amy/Julie/Liz invite Nora to hang out with them for the paper stuff instead.
I do like the update from having Nora's grandfather being trained by Houdini to being a movie FX guru, but I think the story loses something with his stroke only being the year before as opposed to being something that happened a decade prior.
July 24, 2024
Wow, everyone was awful in this. Where were the parents? Elizabeth and her friends didn’t even really do anything, just the bare minimum.
July 11, 2024
Really boring, didn’t finish the book.
August 9, 2024
okay, so i hated the art style at first- but it ended up really growing on me. there’s a different illustrator, hence the different art style, but it’s actually super cute!
this book is proof that kids are just mean. and insane, if we’re talking about jessica and lila.
also, rick was introduced in this book! he’s one of my favorite side characters in the sweet valley multiverse of madness and i wish he existed in SVH. (i don’t think he does?)
now we need a graphic novel for “the middle school gets married” 🥲 that one has a special place in my heart and features jessica and rick!
i don’t know what i’m saying anymore. i always love the sweet valley graphic novels and they never disappoint! 🌚🌚
this book is proof that kids are just mean. and insane, if we’re talking about jessica and lila.
also, rick was introduced in this book! he’s one of my favorite side characters in the sweet valley multiverse of madness and i wish he existed in SVH. (i don’t think he does?)
now we need a graphic novel for “the middle school gets married” 🥲 that one has a special place in my heart and features jessica and rick!
i don’t know what i’m saying anymore. i always love the sweet valley graphic novels and they never disappoint! 🌚🌚
July 28, 2024
I’m familiar with the Sweet Valley universe but have never read the books before, so this was my first real introduction.
I’ve really been loving how so many older books are now being made into graphic novels. I loved that this graphic novel was set around Halloween, but that’s pretty much it.
Elizabeth was a good friend to Nora, but holy crap are the Unicorns little jerks! I liked the ending but can’t believe there was no resolution. Lila was just allowed to be a jerk and not say sorry?? 😅
I’ve really been loving how so many older books are now being made into graphic novels. I loved that this graphic novel was set around Halloween, but that’s pretty much it.
Elizabeth was a good friend to Nora, but holy crap are the Unicorns little jerks! I liked the ending but can’t believe there was no resolution. Lila was just allowed to be a jerk and not say sorry?? 😅
June 12, 2024
I did not like the illustrations in this one. The other 3 books all had the same illustrator and to switch in the 4th book just threw things off for me. The illustrations almost deterred me from reading. But i pushed through. In the end though, they detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
April 28, 2025
This book made my blood boil. Jessica never learns her lesson, Elizabeth always backs Jessica up even when she is literally bullying someone because it’s her “twin” this is just highly unrealistic and just annoying. Overall the author trying to make the readers feel like they understand Jessica at the end of every book in this series just makes me angry because she is a horrible human and doesn’t deserve to always be protected by Elizabeth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2024
Ugh, bullies are the worst.
November 13, 2024
Meh The plot was a little cringe and there were a lot of avoidable things that happened.
June 27, 2024
Wow, this is a brutal version of SVT #3. The bullying is OTT, and I'm still not sure why Nora put up with it? I mean, looks at this girl:
She could care less what the Unicorns think of her!
Lila was particularly monstrous in this version, which really doesn't make sense - of all the people in Sweet Valley, *she* would understand the particular hurt that comes with losing a mother. She also doesn't care this much about tennis. And the bit of tennis in this book? Yikes on bikes, it is cringeworthy to the max!
The coda/preview of the next story was the best part, IMO. I loved Amy's reaction to the news of Johnny Buck's concert coming to town. That was a classic panel ("Eighty five dollars a ticket to listen to some guy autotune his voice? No thanks."). They've already morphed Johnny Buck into a teel idol (how soon we forget Rock Star's Girl); I'm shocked they didn't turn him into a kpop star.
She could care less what the Unicorns think of her!
Lila was particularly monstrous in this version, which really doesn't make sense - of all the people in Sweet Valley, *she* would understand the particular hurt that comes with losing a mother. She also doesn't care this much about tennis. And the bit of tennis in this book? Yikes on bikes, it is cringeworthy to the max!
The coda/preview of the next story was the best part, IMO. I loved Amy's reaction to the news of Johnny Buck's concert coming to town. That was a classic panel ("Eighty five dollars a ticket to listen to some guy autotune his voice? No thanks."). They've already morphed Johnny Buck into a teel idol (how soon we forget Rock Star's Girl); I'm shocked they didn't turn him into a kpop star.
October 29, 2025
Happy Halloween week! I wanted to do at least one Halloween read and with it I am finally tackling a big series. After I’ve gone through plenty of the notable 80’s/90’s YA series, it’s finally time to look at Sweet Valley by (the late) Francine Pascal. This franchise is basically an empire. Sweet Valley High alone has a tone to it, with 143 main series books and most importantly, tons of spin offs.
It is actually crazy how many books in this franchise exist overall. I’ve known about it but haven’t been that super interested in looking that much into it myself. I figured I’d finally do at least one of them. The main Sweet Valley High series focuses on twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield. Jessica is a bitch, the other is nice and they do stuff, I guess. I know these go off the rails fairly often.
We’ll be focusing on the Sweet Valley Twins series, which goes back to when they were in Jr High. This alone had 118 entries. But it’s not quite the original book I’m reading here. In recent years, they’ve been doing graphic novels of the Twins series. They picked the middle grade one over the YA one which I’m sure had nothing to do with the success of the Baby-Sitters Club Graphix, no sir.
Sweet Valley has done some Halloween ones, and I went with the one that has a graphic novel so I could read that. I did this cuz why not, will make things easier. I wion’t be comparing it to the og book since I haven’t read it but I assume it will be mostly the same, unless Random House does things differently.
Like all of these series, Sweet Valley had ghostwriters but they typically weren’t properly credited so sleuthing has been done to track down some. Both Ann M Martin and Katherine Applegrant have actually written for the franchise. The one for this is unknown. It is credited to Jamie Suzanne but they don’t exist, they are a ‘house name” for the ghostwriters. …What’s the point of having a credit for someone other than Pacal if it’s still gonna be a fake name anyway? (The graphic novel just credits the og book to Pascal)
The adapter for the graphic novel is Nicole Andelfinger who has done graphic novel/comic work for series like Steven Universe and Dragon Prince. The artist is Knack Whittle who mostly seem to have just done a couple other original things so far. That said, let’s finally actually talk about the story.
It’s close to Halloween and there is a mystery house in Sweet Valley known as the Mercandy house. It’s rumored to be haunted and there is an old lady living there who is said to be a witch. One day her granddaughter comes to live with her, named Nora. She’s shy and has trouble fitting in, especially with local alpha bitch Alpha and her club, which includes Jessica, start accusing her of being a witch and start being generally awful to her.
Elizbaeth befriends her at least but will Nora be able to get those jerks off her back? So this was generally good enough. I thought it would be more of a mystery where they don’t know if she’s a witch until the end. Instead it’s made early on she’s just a poor sympathetic girl and the others are just being mean. At first it’s just assumptions based on her looking weird but soon it’s more about this girl Lila specifically starting a hate train. Lila gets mad cuz Nora is getting cozy with a boy she likes and Nora is poor so Lila is classist about that. There is nice stuff with Elizbeth befriending Nora. They are pretty likable overall.
The artwork is solid. It’s on the angular and sketchy side which works. It’s charming and does help make it more fun. It sells a lot of the scenes of Nora being sad. While Jessica is mostly bad, they do show she just wants to fit in with Lila and it does try to give her some human moments. Although she can still push buttons with how she doesn’t fully change until the end.
Lilla is the worst. At a certain point, she’s not even fun, she just sucks. The story can get repetitive in the back half with the back and forth of Lila being awful to Nora. At certain points it’s just not that fun. The ending is satisfying, if on the clean and basic side. It’s the only ending this could have but it works as a cushion to the harsh parts.
The Halloween factor is mixed. It starts out decently but the middle portion makes it easy to forget this is a spooky book at all. It swings back at the end, with a party and some fun costumes. So I’d give it a 5 on that level, the house isn’t even really the focus.
On its own, this graphic novel is generally enjoyable with some nice stuff in there but there is a lot of rough middle school bullying to get through as well. It’s a basic story so the art does have to carry a fair bit of it. I’d put it on the lower of Good. The early stuff and ending helps it. I can tell the graphic novel version likely softened things, I assure mostly in terms of Jessica.
But on its own, it’s not a bad read. Maybe not one you need to rush to read, but it’s worth a look if you stumble upon it. Not the strongest Halloween story though so not the highest recommendation on that front.
So there ya go, I finally went to Sweet Valley. I’d like to do more at some point (mostly these graphic novels honestly) but if I never do that then this will make some people happy I imagine. I got to cross another big YA series off the list at least.
That’s it for this one. Next I will start out this year’s 3rd round of the GB ripoff stuff. I did round 2 late so this does seem soon but may as well, I can fit it in, hopefully. November will be lax enough for me so we’ll see.
Until then, Happy Halloween.
It is actually crazy how many books in this franchise exist overall. I’ve known about it but haven’t been that super interested in looking that much into it myself. I figured I’d finally do at least one of them. The main Sweet Valley High series focuses on twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield. Jessica is a bitch, the other is nice and they do stuff, I guess. I know these go off the rails fairly often.
We’ll be focusing on the Sweet Valley Twins series, which goes back to when they were in Jr High. This alone had 118 entries. But it’s not quite the original book I’m reading here. In recent years, they’ve been doing graphic novels of the Twins series. They picked the middle grade one over the YA one which I’m sure had nothing to do with the success of the Baby-Sitters Club Graphix, no sir.
Sweet Valley has done some Halloween ones, and I went with the one that has a graphic novel so I could read that. I did this cuz why not, will make things easier. I wion’t be comparing it to the og book since I haven’t read it but I assume it will be mostly the same, unless Random House does things differently.
Like all of these series, Sweet Valley had ghostwriters but they typically weren’t properly credited so sleuthing has been done to track down some. Both Ann M Martin and Katherine Applegrant have actually written for the franchise. The one for this is unknown. It is credited to Jamie Suzanne but they don’t exist, they are a ‘house name” for the ghostwriters. …What’s the point of having a credit for someone other than Pacal if it’s still gonna be a fake name anyway? (The graphic novel just credits the og book to Pascal)
The adapter for the graphic novel is Nicole Andelfinger who has done graphic novel/comic work for series like Steven Universe and Dragon Prince. The artist is Knack Whittle who mostly seem to have just done a couple other original things so far. That said, let’s finally actually talk about the story.
It’s close to Halloween and there is a mystery house in Sweet Valley known as the Mercandy house. It’s rumored to be haunted and there is an old lady living there who is said to be a witch. One day her granddaughter comes to live with her, named Nora. She’s shy and has trouble fitting in, especially with local alpha bitch Alpha and her club, which includes Jessica, start accusing her of being a witch and start being generally awful to her.
Elizbaeth befriends her at least but will Nora be able to get those jerks off her back? So this was generally good enough. I thought it would be more of a mystery where they don’t know if she’s a witch until the end. Instead it’s made early on she’s just a poor sympathetic girl and the others are just being mean. At first it’s just assumptions based on her looking weird but soon it’s more about this girl Lila specifically starting a hate train. Lila gets mad cuz Nora is getting cozy with a boy she likes and Nora is poor so Lila is classist about that. There is nice stuff with Elizbeth befriending Nora. They are pretty likable overall.
The artwork is solid. It’s on the angular and sketchy side which works. It’s charming and does help make it more fun. It sells a lot of the scenes of Nora being sad. While Jessica is mostly bad, they do show she just wants to fit in with Lila and it does try to give her some human moments. Although she can still push buttons with how she doesn’t fully change until the end.
Lilla is the worst. At a certain point, she’s not even fun, she just sucks. The story can get repetitive in the back half with the back and forth of Lila being awful to Nora. At certain points it’s just not that fun. The ending is satisfying, if on the clean and basic side. It’s the only ending this could have but it works as a cushion to the harsh parts.
The Halloween factor is mixed. It starts out decently but the middle portion makes it easy to forget this is a spooky book at all. It swings back at the end, with a party and some fun costumes. So I’d give it a 5 on that level, the house isn’t even really the focus.
On its own, this graphic novel is generally enjoyable with some nice stuff in there but there is a lot of rough middle school bullying to get through as well. It’s a basic story so the art does have to carry a fair bit of it. I’d put it on the lower of Good. The early stuff and ending helps it. I can tell the graphic novel version likely softened things, I assure mostly in terms of Jessica.
But on its own, it’s not a bad read. Maybe not one you need to rush to read, but it’s worth a look if you stumble upon it. Not the strongest Halloween story though so not the highest recommendation on that front.
So there ya go, I finally went to Sweet Valley. I’d like to do more at some point (mostly these graphic novels honestly) but if I never do that then this will make some people happy I imagine. I got to cross another big YA series off the list at least.
That’s it for this one. Next I will start out this year’s 3rd round of the GB ripoff stuff. I did round 2 late so this does seem soon but may as well, I can fit it in, hopefully. November will be lax enough for me so we’ll see.
Until then, Happy Halloween.
May 27, 2024
It is more a 3.5/5 stars for me. I don't know why but the art work looked different then the other graphic novels and it threw me off. The story had an alright ending but I guess it is just gets to me how one of the twins gets awa with such mean things and never gets into trouble and this time the bully was overboard. I guess I was lucky that i didn't see that type of bulling in my school(not going to say it didn't happen but I never saw it and I was not popular.)
I would just like to see some action taken , even though I know in real life it doesn't always work out or nothing is done.
I would just like to see some action taken , even though I know in real life it doesn't always work out or nothing is done.
October 30, 2024
Wow, books like this one make me SO glad I didn't go to a school large enough to have cliques (or, if I did, I was too oblivious to be affected by them). Kids sure can be psychopaths, huh? ...to be fair, adults can be, too, as surely too many folks can attest. :(
I'm also not sure I like the new art style as much; it's not as clean, like the linework was done with pencil and just adjusted for higher contrast... I don't know how to describe it. It felt very unfinished compared to the earlier books.
The story is one huge dogpile on Nora, though, and for honestly no good reason. Literally just because she lives in a certain house?? I remember being mean when I was younger, but not to REMOTELY the extent that the "Unicorns" have done.* The bullying is just painful to read and seems to belabour the point. Honestly, it feels like they could have cut some of it to both bring the page count and pain count down a little. I guess they wanted to be as accurate as possible to the original book, though?
(Even though the next book is the next book from the original version of the graphic novel. I'm curious about their reasoning for this, but not so curious as to spend more time on it than a mention here.)
Also the trope of the new girl attracts the attention of the hottest boy in school, haha, though I think that's only a trope because there's only so many reactions one can have to a new kid in school (especially to cause drama with the hottest *girl* in school).
Recommended for readers who need a lesson on why bullying is bad, but I have the feeling the ones who need to learn aren't the ones who will read the book (or, they'll be Lilas about it.)
*—though, point in their favour that they apologised where I... probably didn't... sorry, everybody I pissed off... Granted, my life might not be as good now as it could have been as a result of karma from back then, haha.
I'm also not sure I like the new art style as much; it's not as clean, like the linework was done with pencil and just adjusted for higher contrast... I don't know how to describe it. It felt very unfinished compared to the earlier books.
The story is one huge dogpile on Nora, though, and for honestly no good reason. Literally just because she lives in a certain house?? I remember being mean when I was younger, but not to REMOTELY the extent that the "Unicorns" have done.* The bullying is just painful to read and seems to belabour the point. Honestly, it feels like they could have cut some of it to both bring the page count and pain count down a little. I guess they wanted to be as accurate as possible to the original book, though?
(Even though the next book is the next book from the original version of the graphic novel. I'm curious about their reasoning for this, but not so curious as to spend more time on it than a mention here.)
Also the trope of the new girl attracts the attention of the hottest boy in school, haha, though I think that's only a trope because there's only so many reactions one can have to a new kid in school (especially to cause drama with the hottest *girl* in school).
Recommended for readers who need a lesson on why bullying is bad, but I have the feeling the ones who need to learn aren't the ones who will read the book (or, they'll be Lilas about it.)
*—though, point in their favour that they apologised where I... probably didn't... sorry, everybody I pissed off... Granted, my life might not be as good now as it could have been as a result of karma from back then, haha.
October 26, 2024
Book 200 of 300 ~ 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
My kinda horror story.. for those who know me, I'm a big chicken. Jerrid has now trained me in a way to watch horror films but during the day. My cut-off time is 8pm if it is something tolerable.
Slender man or candy man 4pm. Lol.
Anyway, this is horrifying for the wrong reasons - not cause of the haunted house but because of peer pressure and bullying.
I was bullied badly in both primary and secondary school - mostly by this one Eurasian girl who hated or was jealous of me, and she somehow managed to get others on board with her.
Secondary school especially - I still have ptsd till today..
I love that they are reintroducing the sweet valley series to a new generation... well told stories are ageless.
#book200of300 #amreading #sweetvalleytwins #tbrpile #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2024 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
My kinda horror story.. for those who know me, I'm a big chicken. Jerrid has now trained me in a way to watch horror films but during the day. My cut-off time is 8pm if it is something tolerable.
Slender man or candy man 4pm. Lol.
Anyway, this is horrifying for the wrong reasons - not cause of the haunted house but because of peer pressure and bullying.
I was bullied badly in both primary and secondary school - mostly by this one Eurasian girl who hated or was jealous of me, and she somehow managed to get others on board with her.
Secondary school especially - I still have ptsd till today..
I love that they are reintroducing the sweet valley series to a new generation... well told stories are ageless.
#book200of300 #amreading #sweetvalleytwins #tbrpile #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2024 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds
May 2, 2025
The Sweet Valley Twins graphic novels are getting better. I wasn’t a big fan of the first few because I felt like Jessica (true to her 90s self) never learned a lesson and the parents had zero clue what she was up to. In The Haunted House, Jessica and the Unicorns are still terrible but at least there are hints that Jessica (and some of her friends) feel bad about how they treat Nora.
There is a new girl at SWM, Nora Mercandy and the school all thinks the Mercandy are witches and the house is haunted. Elizabeth befriends Nora and tries to insist she isn’t a witch or weird but when Nora beats Lily at tennis, the Unicorns have it out for her. They hatch up an elaborate plan to embarrass her and toilet paper her house for Halloween.
This one would have been perfect for a Fall read! I loved that it had a little bit of a spooky mystery (what’s really going on with Nora and her family)?
As an adult, I still think Jess and the Unicorns are horrible and the parents clueless but I liked that Jessica’s sweeter side starts to peek out. You really feel for new girl, Nora and what she’s put through. The reveal is satisfying.
All in all, the next book is on our reading list.
There is a new girl at SWM, Nora Mercandy and the school all thinks the Mercandy are witches and the house is haunted. Elizabeth befriends Nora and tries to insist she isn’t a witch or weird but when Nora beats Lily at tennis, the Unicorns have it out for her. They hatch up an elaborate plan to embarrass her and toilet paper her house for Halloween.
This one would have been perfect for a Fall read! I loved that it had a little bit of a spooky mystery (what’s really going on with Nora and her family)?
As an adult, I still think Jess and the Unicorns are horrible and the parents clueless but I liked that Jessica’s sweeter side starts to peek out. You really feel for new girl, Nora and what she’s put through. The reveal is satisfying.
All in all, the next book is on our reading list.
September 20, 2024
I had never read the original SVT series so I don't know how true the graphic novels remain to the originals.
I liked the previous 3 graphic novels pretty much. Didn't love them but liked them enough to continue. I had a LOT of difficulty with this one. I even stopped halfway through, tinkered with making it a DNF, waited a few days, read some of the GR comments, then decided to just finish it. I am glad I did finish it but was not happy with the topic - BULLYING. It went way beyond bullying and that is what I have an issue with. I don't know if I am sensitive to the topic or what, but this book just made me feel so ... uncomfortable.
The artwork/illustrator differs from the previous books. Can't say I liked it. At times the art seems unfinished. Here is an example.
I'm undecided at this point whether I will continue with the SVT graphic novel series. They just haven't 'wowed' me so far. With my 300+ catalog of other graphic novels I want to read, if I decide to continue on with the series, it will go on the back burner.
I liked the previous 3 graphic novels pretty much. Didn't love them but liked them enough to continue. I had a LOT of difficulty with this one. I even stopped halfway through, tinkered with making it a DNF, waited a few days, read some of the GR comments, then decided to just finish it. I am glad I did finish it but was not happy with the topic - BULLYING. It went way beyond bullying and that is what I have an issue with. I don't know if I am sensitive to the topic or what, but this book just made me feel so ... uncomfortable.
The artwork/illustrator differs from the previous books. Can't say I liked it. At times the art seems unfinished. Here is an example.
I'm undecided at this point whether I will continue with the SVT graphic novel series. They just haven't 'wowed' me so far. With my 300+ catalog of other graphic novels I want to read, if I decide to continue on with the series, it will go on the back burner.
June 27, 2024
"You always have a choice to be nice."
Despite the change to a different artist, Whittle's illustrations are sleek and complementary to the story and characters. I like the fashions and the anime-like expressions.
Jessica is still a terribly vain, stuck-up child. Her popular friends are the worst they have ever been in this volume with the constant bullying of the new character Nora. The Carrie vibes are strong here! Also, ending spoiler:
I never knew or was interested in Sweet Valley, but I hope the series is building toward character development for Jessica staying to the next book. It would be a unique turn though it will probably keep the status quo for the twin dynamic.
Despite the change to a different artist, Whittle's illustrations are sleek and complementary to the story and characters. I like the fashions and the anime-like expressions.
Jessica is still a terribly vain, stuck-up child. Her popular friends are the worst they have ever been in this volume with the constant bullying of the new character Nora. The Carrie vibes are strong here! Also, ending spoiler:
I never knew or was interested in Sweet Valley, but I hope the series is building toward character development for Jessica staying to the next book. It would be a unique turn though it will probably keep the status quo for the twin dynamic.
July 2, 2024
𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲
1. If you love graphic novels that teach a moral, then you’ll love this one!
2. If you grew up reading The Sweet Valley Twins books as a kid, then you’ll love seeing them come to life in this graphic novel adaptation!
3. The morals taught in this story are still ringing true - don’t be a bully, don’t assume, and be kind to everyone. You don’t really know what’s happening behind the scenes.
4. If you’re a preteen, I’d recommend checking this one out.
5. The Haunted House takes place around Halloween, so read this one if Halloween is your favorite holiday!
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
The buzz at Sweet Valley Middle School is all about Nora Mercandy, the new girl living in the town's infamous haunted house. Jessica is convinced there's something witchy about her, but Elizabeth thinks there's more to the story. Caught in a whirl of rumors and a rift with her twin, can Elizabeth discover the truth before friendships are torn apart?
1. If you love graphic novels that teach a moral, then you’ll love this one!
2. If you grew up reading The Sweet Valley Twins books as a kid, then you’ll love seeing them come to life in this graphic novel adaptation!
3. The morals taught in this story are still ringing true - don’t be a bully, don’t assume, and be kind to everyone. You don’t really know what’s happening behind the scenes.
4. If you’re a preteen, I’d recommend checking this one out.
5. The Haunted House takes place around Halloween, so read this one if Halloween is your favorite holiday!
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
The buzz at Sweet Valley Middle School is all about Nora Mercandy, the new girl living in the town's infamous haunted house. Jessica is convinced there's something witchy about her, but Elizabeth thinks there's more to the story. Caught in a whirl of rumors and a rift with her twin, can Elizabeth discover the truth before friendships are torn apart?
July 6, 2024
Every small town has that one house that is rumored to be haunted, the one all the kids cross the street from when they pass it....and Sweet valley is no exception. The Mercandy house has had stories passed down about how it's haunted for years. So when a sixth grade girl moves into the house the school is in an uproar. The Unicorn club, the mean kids spread the rumor that the girl is a witch and everyone treats her terribly. The kids tease and prank her incessantly. Except Elizabeth who befriends Nora Mercandy. This makes her twin sister Jessica so mad....she believes Elizabth's friendship with "the witch" is ruining her reputation. The two sisters fight about it but Elizabeth is adamant that Nora is nice and doesn't deserve the treatment she's receiving. Elizabeth wants to make the entire school get to know Nora and give her a chance.
May 16, 2025
This is another book in the Sweet Valley Twins series which has a strong theme of bullying. There's a new girl at the school and the other students bully her a lot. She's living in a house that is somewhat run down and does look like a haunted house.
Nora is the new girl and the Unicorns basically lead the bullying group that doesn't like her. Her parents are dead and she's living with her grandmother.
She has the total audacity to beat Lila at tennis and that is the match that ignites the whole bullying thing. Things don't get better for her, either, due to something she has no control over.
Fortunately something happens that resolves the problems and the book has a really good ending.
Nora is the new girl and the Unicorns basically lead the bullying group that doesn't like her. Her parents are dead and she's living with her grandmother.
She has the total audacity to beat Lila at tennis and that is the match that ignites the whole bullying thing. Things don't get better for her, either, due to something she has no control over.
Fortunately something happens that resolves the problems and the book has a really good ending.
June 29, 2024
This is the fourth book in the graphic novel adaptation of the Sweet Valley Twins series from the 80s & 90s. I really enjoyed that series as a kid and I’m enjoying this graphic novel series as an adult. I love that these books are being reimagined for a younger generation. It’s been fun following along on twins, Jessica and Elizabeth’s journey. The books are full of great illustrations. Knack Whittle is a very talented artist. I enjoyed the “haunted house” in this book, but it was hard to see the bullying Nora had to go through because of her house. I think young readers will find this series relatable. I definitely recommend checking it out!
July 1, 2024
Really enjoyed the way this was done, where the reader knows Nora’s tragic backstory but Jessica and all the bullies don’t. It really shows how cruel people can be when they don’t even know how big a deal it is. I think it gives kids lots to think about in the ol’ empathy column. Great job. I was at first sad that the bullies never found out just how horrible they were being because they never found out that Nora’s parents had died, but I’ve come to appreciate that decision. As a reader it makes it harder for me to forgive them than it seems to be for Nora because I was waiting for them to feel as badly as I did watching it all go down. But I never got the satisfaction. Life is like that!
October 26, 2025
It was a bit jarring to suddenly have a new artist do the artwork, and I must admit I didn't like it compared to the "original" artwork.
My gripe with this story, however, is twin Jessica. She has had a pretty consistent cattiness throughout the past 3 volumes but I was downright appalled by her behavior in this one.
Jessica is a bully through and through--just as much as Lila is (even though she gets written off as the one and only bully in these storylines). Apologizing once for your bullying behavior doesn't undo all the trauma put on the victim. I would very much like to see some actual consequences for Jessica going forward.
My gripe with this story, however, is twin Jessica. She has had a pretty consistent cattiness throughout the past 3 volumes but I was downright appalled by her behavior in this one.
Jessica is a bully through and through--just as much as Lila is (even though she gets written off as the one and only bully in these storylines). Apologizing once for your bullying behavior doesn't undo all the trauma put on the victim. I would very much like to see some actual consequences for Jessica going forward.
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July 16, 2024This has always been one of the most frustrating Sweet Valley Twins books, due to the horrible bullying of Nora and her family, and the graphic novel version translates that perfectly. They continue to be really solid adaptations of the originals, with just the right amount of modernisation for a new audience.
The artist changed for this one, and I think that it would've been fun for them to use their own style rather than emulating that of the original artist. I guess they were going for as much continuity as possible, though. I'm used to Marvel comics constantly switching it up!
The artist changed for this one, and I think that it would've been fun for them to use their own style rather than emulating that of the original artist. I guess they were going for as much continuity as possible, though. I'm used to Marvel comics constantly switching it up!
July 21, 2024
I read Sweet Valley books growing up and loved Elizabeth and Jessica. I rarely read graphic novels but I found this one to be fun and enjoyed it. This will be perfect for spooky season. I was happy to find the coming of age themes to be present still, and this book explores the “don’t judge a book by its cover” and “don’t believe everything you hear.” A new student has moved into what is considered the creepy house in town, and rumors abound she’s a witch. She endures some bullying, but the twins step in to help her. The illustrations are cute, and I think kids will like it.
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