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Sweet Valley Twins Graphic Novels #6
The New Girl
New kid means new problems for Sweet Valley Twins, Jessica and Elizabeth. When a not-so-nice transfer student arrives the girls must decide if they'll give her a chance or give her the cold shoulder! The fun and drama continues in this New York Times bestselling graphic novel series!
When a new girl moves to Sweet Valley, the Wakefields are ready to welcome her to town -- unfortunately for Jessica and Elizabeth, Brooke Dennis seems to want nothing to do with them - she's the meanest girl they've ever met! The last thing Jessica wants to do is show her around or help her at school.
Elizabeth wonders if maybe there is more going on with Brooke... there has to be a reason she's so mad all the time, right? Will Jessica and Elizabeth give Brooke a chance and find out who she really is? Or is Brooke truly the worst kid in Sweet Valley?
When a new girl moves to Sweet Valley, the Wakefields are ready to welcome her to town -- unfortunately for Jessica and Elizabeth, Brooke Dennis seems to want nothing to do with them - she's the meanest girl they've ever met! The last thing Jessica wants to do is show her around or help her at school.
Elizabeth wonders if maybe there is more going on with Brooke... there has to be a reason she's so mad all the time, right? Will Jessica and Elizabeth give Brooke a chance and find out who she really is? Or is Brooke truly the worst kid in Sweet Valley?
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Published May 6, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 20, 2025
jessica still sucks
December 19, 2025
The latest in the series! In which, dear god, everyone is awful. A new girl has moved to town, and the Wakefield parents want Elizabeth and Jessica to welcome her...which Elizabeth at least is willing to do, until it turns out that Brooke is, if not brattier than Jessica (that would be difficult), a whole lot more directly rude. She doesn't want to be friends, and she wants everyone to know it.
Cue Jessica hatching up a harebrained plot to introduce a fictional identical triplet, Jennifer, to become besties with Brooke...and then set her up to be laughed at by the whole school. Now, while I'm not going to even attempt to justify this (it's cruel, and it's intended to be cruel), it is perhaps worth noting that Brooke is so rude about everyone and everything that even Elizabeth is on board with this plan for much of the book—and Elizabeth is usually a very boring little saint. (Maybe also worth noting that "Jennifer" is basically Elizabeth, except a little more wide-eyed and innocent; it's unclear why Brooke likes Jennifer so much when she wouldn't give Elizabeth the time of day.)
I don't really know what to do with this series—the graphic novel adaptations, that is. I read a bunch of the originals when I was a child and really didn't think twice about how priggish Elizabeth was or how horrible Jessica was (or, for that matter, how little their parents seem to care what they're up to until it's too late to do anything about it). I've reread quite a lot of them as an adult (tinges of masochism?) and find the whole thing quite a bit more horrifying. And from what I've read recently of the originals, these adaptations are pretty true to the inspiration, so I can't fault them for the kids being overwhelmingly monsters. The artwork isn't really to my tastes, but it gets the job done. But can I recommend these? I mean...not really. Not any more than I can recommend the originals. Too much by way of kids being absolutely horrible to each other and not retaining any lessons between the end of one book and the start of the next.
Cue Jessica hatching up a harebrained plot to introduce a fictional identical triplet, Jennifer, to become besties with Brooke...and then set her up to be laughed at by the whole school. Now, while I'm not going to even attempt to justify this (it's cruel, and it's intended to be cruel), it is perhaps worth noting that Brooke is so rude about everyone and everything that even Elizabeth is on board with this plan for much of the book—and Elizabeth is usually a very boring little saint. (Maybe also worth noting that "Jennifer" is basically Elizabeth, except a little more wide-eyed and innocent; it's unclear why Brooke likes Jennifer so much when she wouldn't give Elizabeth the time of day.)
I don't really know what to do with this series—the graphic novel adaptations, that is. I read a bunch of the originals when I was a child and really didn't think twice about how priggish Elizabeth was or how horrible Jessica was (or, for that matter, how little their parents seem to care what they're up to until it's too late to do anything about it). I've reread quite a lot of them as an adult (tinges of masochism?) and find the whole thing quite a bit more horrifying. And from what I've read recently of the originals, these adaptations are pretty true to the inspiration, so I can't fault them for the kids being overwhelmingly monsters. The artwork isn't really to my tastes, but it gets the job done. But can I recommend these? I mean...not really. Not any more than I can recommend the originals. Too much by way of kids being absolutely horrible to each other and not retaining any lessons between the end of one book and the start of the next.
June 3, 2025
3.5 stars. The sixth in this graphic novel series (adapted from the Sweet Valley Twins novels), though it could easily be enjoyed as a standalone.
To me, it seemed a bit out of character for Elizabeth to go along with tricking new girl, Brooke. The story does realize Elizabeth’s participation needs more rationalizing than Jessica’s does, still, even if the things Brooke says offend Elizabeth, it’s tough to buy that she’d respond with retaliation first rather than trying to talk to this girl.
So Elizabeth didn’t quite seem like herself for a portion of this story, and there isn’t much rooting value on either side of the equation, you’ve got someone who takes her anger out on everyone else, and others who are tricking this lonely girl into believing she has a good friend, still, this manages to be a page-turner as you wait for the fallout to hit both sides.
To me, it seemed a bit out of character for Elizabeth to go along with tricking new girl, Brooke. The story does realize Elizabeth’s participation needs more rationalizing than Jessica’s does, still, even if the things Brooke says offend Elizabeth, it’s tough to buy that she’d respond with retaliation first rather than trying to talk to this girl.
So Elizabeth didn’t quite seem like herself for a portion of this story, and there isn’t much rooting value on either side of the equation, you’ve got someone who takes her anger out on everyone else, and others who are tricking this lonely girl into believing she has a good friend, still, this manages to be a page-turner as you wait for the fallout to hit both sides.
June 8, 2025
Jessica will never stop being the worst. Y'all already know that.
Brooke was very thorny, so I understand why she rubbed everyone the wrong way. But you still manage to feel for her as you see the layers peel off.
Brooke was very thorny, so I understand why she rubbed everyone the wrong way. But you still manage to feel for her as you see the layers peel off.
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January 1, 2026heartwarming
February 21, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I read Sweet Valley High growing up, though Nancy Drew and BSC were more my jam. I think I just couldnt relate to the Sweet Valley characters a lot because they lived such different lives than I did. And there wasn’t enough of that mystery I was obsessed with at the time to keep me reading. This is my first time with a graphic novel version aimed at a slightly younger audience, and it definitely felt much more approachable.
The biggest issue that I could not get over was how mean Jessica comes across, like truly cruel. I understand misjudgment, quick anger, and wanted to defend yourself, your family, and your friends, all normal things that should be talked about! But this is definitely someone my middle school self would have avoided like the plague… so I guess there’s still some of that leftover from the original series. I also am such a sensitive person, I cannot imagine hearing someone absolutely destroy you and your entire family and friends (of which many are actually not that great anyway in my humble opinion but that’s besides the point) constantly. And then just magically getting over it.
All that being said, the actual message of the book is a great one, emphasizing the harm of quick judgments and not taking the time to give others a chance, and even sometimes a second chance. However, I feel like all the cruel bashing was kind of just dismissed like it was okay since there was a “reason”. And that doesn’t sit right with me. I also don’t like that the cruelty exhibited by the friend group was so quickly brushed off.
The art was stellar though and my favorite part. I loved seeing such a classic series transformed in this colorful, engaging format, and, even more so, to see a story I remember as being particularly out of touch with a variety of interesting and (more) diverse characters. Even though I didn’t LOVE the story and some of the characters, overall I enjoyed this update and am looking forward to reading the others in this series. I would recommend this for anyone who loved the original books and like graphic novels, or maybe, like me, thought the originals were okay and wanted to see what this new version had to offer. Older kids who want a more contemporary-based graphic novel may also enjoy these, though there are others I’d likely recommend first.
I read Sweet Valley High growing up, though Nancy Drew and BSC were more my jam. I think I just couldnt relate to the Sweet Valley characters a lot because they lived such different lives than I did. And there wasn’t enough of that mystery I was obsessed with at the time to keep me reading. This is my first time with a graphic novel version aimed at a slightly younger audience, and it definitely felt much more approachable.
The biggest issue that I could not get over was how mean Jessica comes across, like truly cruel. I understand misjudgment, quick anger, and wanted to defend yourself, your family, and your friends, all normal things that should be talked about! But this is definitely someone my middle school self would have avoided like the plague… so I guess there’s still some of that leftover from the original series. I also am such a sensitive person, I cannot imagine hearing someone absolutely destroy you and your entire family and friends (of which many are actually not that great anyway in my humble opinion but that’s besides the point) constantly. And then just magically getting over it.
All that being said, the actual message of the book is a great one, emphasizing the harm of quick judgments and not taking the time to give others a chance, and even sometimes a second chance. However, I feel like all the cruel bashing was kind of just dismissed like it was okay since there was a “reason”. And that doesn’t sit right with me. I also don’t like that the cruelty exhibited by the friend group was so quickly brushed off.
The art was stellar though and my favorite part. I loved seeing such a classic series transformed in this colorful, engaging format, and, even more so, to see a story I remember as being particularly out of touch with a variety of interesting and (more) diverse characters. Even though I didn’t LOVE the story and some of the characters, overall I enjoyed this update and am looking forward to reading the others in this series. I would recommend this for anyone who loved the original books and like graphic novels, or maybe, like me, thought the originals were okay and wanted to see what this new version had to offer. Older kids who want a more contemporary-based graphic novel may also enjoy these, though there are others I’d likely recommend first.
March 29, 2025
Sweet Valley Twins: The New Girl
TW: Bullying
Note: This is my first graphic novel from the Sweet Valley Twins series I have read. I read this series back in the 80s and 90s. I don’t remember Jessica and Elizabeth being this mean, but for this book, they were the bullies.
If you’re a teacher or a mom of pre-teens, this is probably a very relatable theme or one you may want to avoid with the complexities of pre-teen emotions.
Brooke, a new girl, has just moved to San Diego with her ultra busy, movie producing dad from LA. Her mom is starting a new family of her own and Brooke is just feeling down. She doesn’t feel seen by her parents and she’s not willing to accept new friends at her school from a previous bad experience. Unfortunately, she’s just downright mean to the kids her age from day one. She’s guarded and takes it out on others.
Jessica’s first interaction with Brooke (yelling at her neighbor’s sweet dog) has her writing off Brooke letting her whole family know she’s the meanest.
Jessica and Elizabeth find out that their mom’s new client is Brooke and her dad and they’ve been invited over to meet each other. Jessica is livid and plans all the ways to not be there and fakes the stomach flu. But once again, mom swoops in and lets the twins know that Brooke will be walking with them to school.
Brooke’s first day at school keeps up with the theme, she has a pretty bad attitude toward everyone and accidentally ruined Jessica’s book fair poster she worked all night on.
After the first day, the twins and their friends come up with a plan to humiliate Brooke. In a long scheme, they have “Jennifer” , the triplet to Jessica and Elizabeth befriend Brooke and get information from her.
In the end, Jessica and all of Sweet Valley Middle School humiliate Brooke in her birthday. It was a really hard read seeing how everyone was a bully to her and even with doubts, continued their plan.
It’s a good read for kids to read and learn the bullying behaviors that can have long term consequences. I would definitely recommend reading with your pre-teens or any kids that seem to be on the giving or receiving end of bullying.
The illustrations are great and I’d recommend for preteens and up! Turning the series into a graphic novel is always a great way to entice readers.
Thank you @NetGalley and @RandomHousePublishers for the advanced digital copy.
TW: Bullying
Note: This is my first graphic novel from the Sweet Valley Twins series I have read. I read this series back in the 80s and 90s. I don’t remember Jessica and Elizabeth being this mean, but for this book, they were the bullies.
If you’re a teacher or a mom of pre-teens, this is probably a very relatable theme or one you may want to avoid with the complexities of pre-teen emotions.
Brooke, a new girl, has just moved to San Diego with her ultra busy, movie producing dad from LA. Her mom is starting a new family of her own and Brooke is just feeling down. She doesn’t feel seen by her parents and she’s not willing to accept new friends at her school from a previous bad experience. Unfortunately, she’s just downright mean to the kids her age from day one. She’s guarded and takes it out on others.
Jessica’s first interaction with Brooke (yelling at her neighbor’s sweet dog) has her writing off Brooke letting her whole family know she’s the meanest.
Jessica and Elizabeth find out that their mom’s new client is Brooke and her dad and they’ve been invited over to meet each other. Jessica is livid and plans all the ways to not be there and fakes the stomach flu. But once again, mom swoops in and lets the twins know that Brooke will be walking with them to school.
Brooke’s first day at school keeps up with the theme, she has a pretty bad attitude toward everyone and accidentally ruined Jessica’s book fair poster she worked all night on.
After the first day, the twins and their friends come up with a plan to humiliate Brooke. In a long scheme, they have “Jennifer” , the triplet to Jessica and Elizabeth befriend Brooke and get information from her.
In the end, Jessica and all of Sweet Valley Middle School humiliate Brooke in her birthday. It was a really hard read seeing how everyone was a bully to her and even with doubts, continued their plan.
It’s a good read for kids to read and learn the bullying behaviors that can have long term consequences. I would definitely recommend reading with your pre-teens or any kids that seem to be on the giving or receiving end of bullying.
The illustrations are great and I’d recommend for preteens and up! Turning the series into a graphic novel is always a great way to entice readers.
Thank you @NetGalley and @RandomHousePublishers for the advanced digital copy.
June 24, 2025
I love the nostalgia of reading all these updated SVT graphic novels.
This one DROVE ME NUTS though, in a way I can't remember if I felt the same reading the chapter book as a kid.
Brooke Dennis sucks. She's a total brat and rude and mean and I don't care if you're sad bc your dad is a workaholic and made you move and your mom left bc she fell in love with some other guy. The SVMS kids forgive her wayyy too easily and she never even apologizes, just gives excuses for why her attitude sucks.
I enjoyed this new illustrator; I like the way they create the illusion of more movement than previous illustrators.
Fan inconsistencies: the Wakefields never moved; why do they talk about being in San Diego? ...if anything, Sweet Valley is a 'burb of LA; why 'Nancy Drew'??
I really wish they'd do a Super Chiller, or pick and choose from the rest of the 100+ books in the series for more fun storylines! These early titles were fun but there are some truly unhinged books that would be really fun to see recreated in GN format!
This one DROVE ME NUTS though, in a way I can't remember if I felt the same reading the chapter book as a kid.
Brooke Dennis sucks. She's a total brat and rude and mean and I don't care if you're sad bc your dad is a workaholic and made you move and your mom left bc she fell in love with some other guy. The SVMS kids forgive her wayyy too easily and she never even apologizes, just gives excuses for why her attitude sucks.
I enjoyed this new illustrator; I like the way they create the illusion of more movement than previous illustrators.
Fan inconsistencies: the Wakefields never moved; why do they talk about being in San Diego? ...if anything, Sweet Valley is a 'burb of LA; why 'Nancy Drew'??
I really wish they'd do a Super Chiller, or pick and choose from the rest of the 100+ books in the series for more fun storylines! These early titles were fun but there are some truly unhinged books that would be really fun to see recreated in GN format!
April 14, 2025
I really like the Sweet Valley Twins graphic novels. I have read them all and look forward to the next one. The stories are ones that others can relate to and they are easy to read. I do feel that this book, the illustrations weren't as clear as the others. They seemed fuzzy. I also feel that these books are more for middle grade girls. I am not too sure a boy would like these books.
Each book goes along with its title and there is always a lesson that can be learned. Even though the girls are identical twins, they are different in their likes and interests and things that they do.
I have suggested these books and will suggest this one also to the kids at my school.
Each book goes along with its title and there is always a lesson that can be learned. Even though the girls are identical twins, they are different in their likes and interests and things that they do.
I have suggested these books and will suggest this one also to the kids at my school.
September 22, 2025
A mean, snotty girl with a horrible attitude moves in near the twins. Their mother is working for the mean girls father so they have a connection. Their mother wants them to help the girl find her way around school and get used to the neighborhood but the twins want nothing to do with the mean girl. After the girl makes everyone mad they all bond together to try to get back at her. The twins invent another sister who befriends the mean girl and they start to win her trust through this imaginary third sister. But have they gone too far? Maybe this girl just needs a real friend. Jumping to conclusions and assuming things get everyone in trouble.
August 11, 2025
A new girl moves into Sweet Valley and she's nasty! Jessica and Elizabeth don't like her, so they fool her by pretending they are triplets and have a sister named Jennifer. Jennifer befriends Brooke (The new girl) and the twins plot a revenge plot. But why is Brooke acting the way she is? This was a fun if not fluffy read that I enjoyed. The artwork is very cute and the plot kept my interest.
April 13, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for the free Arc!
This book is a cute remake of the books I remember reading when I was a kid! Based on the preview of the next book, I can tell that these books are an adaptation of the originals and not a modern remake. The next. book includes a scene where one of the girls talks about using the family computer and printing out something for school!
This book is a cute remake of the books I remember reading when I was a kid! Based on the preview of the next book, I can tell that these books are an adaptation of the originals and not a modern remake. The next. book includes a scene where one of the girls talks about using the family computer and printing out something for school!
June 12, 2025
Sweet Valley Twins were my absolute favorite series when I was little.
These graphic novel reads are a complete nostalgic thing for me and I like the modernized graphic novel version and I enjoy the Wakefield family come to
Life.
But this book was awful! I don’t remember Jessica or Elizabeth being this mean to Brooke Dennis and I don’t remember Brooke being so horribly depressed.
These graphic novel reads are a complete nostalgic thing for me and I like the modernized graphic novel version and I enjoy the Wakefield family come to
Life.
But this book was awful! I don’t remember Jessica or Elizabeth being this mean to Brooke Dennis and I don’t remember Brooke being so horribly depressed.
June 24, 2025
Jessica and the Unicorns are still mean but when it comes to the new girl, Brooke Dennis there’s a new mean girl. I would give this book five stars because it teaches you a lesson about how when or if you come to a new place you can get a little upset about leaving but you don’t have to stay mad,try to make friends.
May 26, 2025
I love the birthday party scene in the book I love that her and her dad made up in the book and I love the birthday message at the mom sent to her in the book so I would definitely recommend this one there are some heartwarming moments in here
July 23, 2025
I just don't understand how these twins can be so mean sometimes and never seemly get into huge trouble. If I did what they did, omg I would be ground and god knows what else. I never read this one when I was younger so maybe I would have had a different take.
February 28, 2025
Review submitted to School Library Journal for publication in their upcoming SMS Fiction article.
May 12, 2025
A rounded up 3.5
May 19, 2025
The dedication to Francine Pascal in the beginning :( <3
July 19, 2025
👧🏻 review: Sweet Valley Twins graphic novel is funny, colorful, lively illustrations and crazy. Love Elizabeth and Jessica to brighten your day.
July 31, 2025
Am I the only one who thinks a chair breaking isn’t that big of a deal?
August 7, 2025
This little brat Jessica constantly keeps getting whatever she wants and never faces any repercussions and this time Elizabeth does, too!
November 4, 2025
Cute, pre-judging others, practical jokes. *God* in dialogue several times.
January 1, 2026
What a perfect little graphic novel to end the year on
January 1, 2026
I loved it so much the whole series is so good!
January 3, 2026
I give this book a 4 star because the new girl was mean and had a lot of background stuff and Jessica and Elizabeth pranked her saying they had triplets and they still got in trouble
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2026
love
Great book showing how every buddy is different I love this book I think it’s my favorite book in this series!!
Great book showing how every buddy is different I love this book I think it’s my favorite book in this series!!
January 15, 2026
Was not my favourite but it was also not the worst thing I’ve ever read:)
February 1, 2026
Umm… I really enjoyed this!! More than I thought I would!!
December 3, 2025
👨🤝👨 Sweet Valley Twins: The New Girl (Graphic Novel), based on the book by Francine Pascal
⭐ 5 stars
Finished Reading: April 4, 2025
Reading Challenge: 87/100 books read in 2025
*Thank you to NetGalley & the Penguin Teen Canada influencer program for allowing me the opportunity to read this eARC.
**This review is my own opinion and has not been influenced by any entity.
This was such a fun trip down memory lane to a series I loved so much as a young girl, the way the graphic novels have revitalized this series is honestly incredible, bringing it into the modern world seamlessly, while still staying true to the spirit of the original books. It's been such a joy being able to share these stories from my childhood with my own daughters, and The New Girl is another great installment. Such vibrate art work that really portrays Jessica and Elizabeth so beautifully, and with a twist of modernism blended in seamlessly, it's a really fun and great graphic novel! I will absolutely be purchasing this one for my daughter upon release!
⭐ 5 stars
Finished Reading: April 4, 2025
Reading Challenge: 87/100 books read in 2025
*Thank you to NetGalley & the Penguin Teen Canada influencer program for allowing me the opportunity to read this eARC.
**This review is my own opinion and has not been influenced by any entity.
This was such a fun trip down memory lane to a series I loved so much as a young girl, the way the graphic novels have revitalized this series is honestly incredible, bringing it into the modern world seamlessly, while still staying true to the spirit of the original books. It's been such a joy being able to share these stories from my childhood with my own daughters, and The New Girl is another great installment. Such vibrate art work that really portrays Jessica and Elizabeth so beautifully, and with a twist of modernism blended in seamlessly, it's a really fun and great graphic novel! I will absolutely be purchasing this one for my daughter upon release!
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