Jessica the Rock Star

Sweet Valley Twins #34

by Francine Pascal, Jamie Suzanne

An unforgettable performance...

After seeing singer Melody Power in concert, Jessica is more convinced than ever that she too can become a rock star. And when she finds out that four of the cutest boys at Sweet Valley Middle School are forming a band and need a girl singer, she grabs the opportunity to launch her new career.

When Jessica starts rehearsing with the band, Elizabeth Wakefield thinks the whole thing is a nightmare! The more Jessica tries to sing like Melody Power, the worse she sounds. What can Elizabeth do to save her sister from total embarrassment? Jessica's singing debut is about to become a rock 'n' roll disaster!

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile, Teen, Middle Grade

102 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1989

About the author

Francine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.

Reviews

[kylajaclyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Synopsis: Things Jessica Wakefield is brilliant at:
-Psycho Cunt-ery Manipulation
-Ballet, and dancing in general
-Surfing
-Changing up her appearance
-Getting revenge
-Getting her way
-Singing
-Being popular
-Caring for kids
-Caring for dogs

Things Jessica Wakefield sucks at:
......


So, Jessica Wakefield wants to be a rawk star! Yippee and rainbows! I know this won't last more than one book, so I'll enjoy it while I can. After the latest Melody Power concert, Jessica is convinced her destiny is "rock star." So she wears a lot of pink and even more scarves (I thought she was trying to impersonate Melody Power, not Aerosmith). Wouldn't you know that at this very moment Bruce and his cronies have decided to start a band and are looking for a girl lead singer. The fact that Bruce actually wants a girl to front his band means that maybe he's not a COMPLETE douche. But... just wait.

Jessica, naturally, doesn't want to be herself. She wants to BE Melody Power. It's not enough to dress like her, she must also give up her "sweet voice" (Elizabeth's words) in exchange for Melody's throaty growl. This makes Jessica sound like a cross between mating wolves and a dying cat. Not quite like the rock star she wants to be. Bruce's band is named NRG (energy, get it?) and Jessica takes GEM as her stage name (not to be confused with her JEM cookies). They audition three other people besides Jessica, including Dana Larson, future lead singer of the Droids and super-fashionista. Jessica, singing as Melody, is horrific, but Bruce and the boys pick her because they can use her basement (Bruce has been evicted from his basement due to his mother's social calendar). I felt really sorry to know that Dana couldn't even win over Jessica in this situation. Her voice was obviously much more fantastic.

Bruce and NRG know that Jessica suck. They use her to create posters for publicity, bring them drinks and snacks, carry their equipment, etc. It is Jessica's poster that gets them their first gig at a 5th-grade birthday party. Bruce seems to forget all the effort Jessica has put in, however. She has missed several Unicorn meetings and TWO PARTIES, ya'll!! Lila, especially, is getting mighty sick of Jessica's rock star ambitions. Bruce plans to tell Jessica to come later in the day so that she misses the gig entirely and no one has to be subjected to her wail. Liz overhears this, duh, and buys Jess the correct outfit to fit in with her bandmates.

Meanwhile, Jessica listens to a tape recording of the band. She, thankfully, realizes how awful she sounds. She starts quietly practicing on her own - in her normal, angelic voice. Barf. Liz overhears her practicing and realizes how good Jessica has become. She is even more conflicted about whether or not to tell Jessica about Bruce's awful plan to humiliate her. Liz is a douche. Jessica would just get revenge, anyway, she wouldn't even care that Bruce tried to humiliate her. But Liz gets an easy out when the phone rings the day of the gig and Jess is stuck in the bathroom with her hair in curlers. She asks Liz if anyone called for her, and Liz casually mentions to Jess that it was Bruce and the time of the gig is actually 2 instead of 3. Liz also helps Jess put on the right outfit. That Liz sure is a saint for always managing to do the right thing without ever doing the right thing! If you know what I mean.

NRG is super bummed when Jessica shows up. Oh well! The band is sucking and Jessica saves everything with her excellent voice. She even cures world hunger! Well, almost. She does totally save that kid's birthday party though. He must be relieved. Liz and Lila are at the event and are suitably impressed. The next day or thereabouts, Jessica is sitting in her basement with the band when Liz notices that Bruce is now the one running all the errands for Jessica. He brings the band cookies and drinks. They are all boasting about how they will get so many gigs now that Jessica as GEM is a hit, but Jess immediately quits the band. She misses the vapid Unicorns and vapid parties and doesn't want to do anything meaningful with her life.

All's well that ends well!

Alternate Title
: "The Throaty Singer"

Tagline: "Can Elizabeth keep her twin from putting on a terrible performance?" (Well, Liz does get a 100% in meddling.)

On a Scale of 1-10, How Annoying is Elizabeth?
 6. She won't tell Jessica that she sucks and that Bruce sucks.

On a Scale of 1-10, How Obnoxious is Jessica? 5. She isn't sociopathic in this one to the extent that you hate her, but she does exercise the meaning very well. Sociopathic people are always searching for the "next" thing. They're never satisfied or happy. When Jessica gets the applause and praise she craved, she abruptly quits the band.

The Big Deal: Jessica's first gig as a "rock star" at a 5th-grade birthday party.

Lingering Questions: Why have we never heard about Jessica's magical voice before?

Cover: Good or Bad?: Aww, Jessica looks brilliant in these early covers! The guy to her right actually looks a wee bit like Josh Hutcherson.

Quotes from the Book: "Jessica entered the kitchen wearing her new Melody Power t-shirt, her shortest miniskirt, electric-pink tights, and pink high-top sneakers. In addition, it looked as if she had put on every scarf and necklace she owned. It was all too much to believe!"
I really want to see this outfit in action.

"'Some friend you are. You're just jealous because I'm going to be the next Melody Power.'
'Dressing like a rock star doesn't turn you into one, you know!' Lila exclaimed."
Lila has a point.

Moral of the Story: If Jessica Wakefield sucks at something, there is perfectly logical explanation because, in reality, she doesn't suck at anything.

Final Rating: 2 stars

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the first time in the series that I actually felt bad for Jessica. I’m so glad things worked out the way they did.

[Tiffany Spencer]

Jessica the Rock Star

In the last book, Liz and Jessica win tickets to go to a Melody Power’s concert at Secca Lake. The concert is now over and the twins have come home. Jessica before going to sleep tells her she’s going to be a rock star just like Melody Powers. The next day comes too soon. Liz remembers how Jessica was singing the songs after the concert and knows it will take a minute for her to come down. Liz goes down to breakfast. Steven rushes out the door to practice. Liz thanks her mom for letting her go to the concert and her mom says it wouldn’t have been fair to keep them from it. Jessica comes down wearing her new Melody Powers shirt, a mini skirt, pink tights and sneakers. Her mother says she over did the makeup. She’s not going on stage. Jessica has tons of scarves draped all over. She sayswhen she’s a star they’ll appreciate her. Liz wants to rush to school to write an article about the concert. Liz joins her friends. Jessica goes over to the Unicorns. Lila questions Jessica’s new look, but Jessia says she’s just dressing like her favorite star. Lila can’t believe she couldn’t get a seat. They about what she sang (songs from her album “Powerful”. Then Mary comes over to them. She also went with her stepfather. She says she’ll tell them about it some more at lunch. Lila says they have a meeting, but none of the other Unicorns seem interested in that. Jessica tells them her plans of being a rock star. Lila doesn’t seem interested.

Her dad likes her new look and says it’s “Far Out”. Steven just thinks she looks strange. Jessica says they’ll be sorry they didn’t take her seriously. Steven and Jessica start to argue over if Jessica can even sing. Steven reminds her of how wishy washy she is. Weeks before she wanted to be an actress. Jessica thinks she’ll show him. By Friday tho everyone is over hearing about Melody Power. Ellen turns down her suggestion to help her with her hair (and streak it purple). Lila tells her they’re over it. Just because she dresses like a rock star doesn’t make her one. Jessica says she’s just jealous. No one tho seems to be taking her serious. Mary brings over a copy of the Fixers. The rock concert is the second story. Jessica thinks the rock concert should have been on the first page. Liz tries to explain to her that even though the drive for the homeless isn’t as exciting it was the more important story. Jessica then suggests that maybe they should write abut her (an upcoming rock star). Amy says when she’s famous, they will.

Jessica sees a notice for a band wanting a girl singer and thinks this is her big chance. Jessica is day dreaming in Mr. Nydicks class and not opaying attention. So when he asks her a question about what the Roman Emperor was called and she answers rock st he makes her stay after for an hour and do her history homework. When she gets home, she practices. Liz gets on her about not knowing the answer in class. Jessica tells Liz about the audition four boys are starting (Bruce Patman is one of them). The others are Aron, Scot, and Peter. She tells Liz she has to practice. Liz gets on her for trying to sound like Melody. She says the band will be called N R G. Sandra and Dana will also be trying out.

Jessica starts to sing in Melody’s husky style and the day of the audition she dresses even more outrageously. Bruce’s mom calls to him and Jessica overhears them saying his band can’t rehearse there because she’s heading the charity ball committee and he’ll have to wait until after it’s over. That’s three months away. Jessica offers to have the auditions at her house. She says if she gets lead they can practice at her house whenever they want too. Liz is reading and drops her book when she hears a loud noise coming from the basement. She goes to investigate and sees the girls (Sandra, Dana, and another 7th grader and the rest of the band). Jessica tells Liz about the new plans and then invites her to stay for the auditions. Liz wonders how Jessica will take it if she doesn’t get the lead. Dana is good, Her voice is strong and clear. The other two are ok but not as good as Dana. Liz wants to cringe at Jessic’s singing. Her voice is course and rough. The guys go to discuss the results. Liz gives Jessica some words of encouragement -tho secretly she thinks she sounded awful-. To Liz’s surpise tho when they return they say Jessica is the new lead singer of the band. Liz suspects tho it has something to do with the use of their basement.

Liz brings it up to Jessica but she says they would have chosen her anyway. Then she takes off to pick out her outfit for the next day. The next day, Liz notices the guys aren’t letting her sing. They’re just making her do their chores like painting the band’s name on the guitar cases and riding to Bruce’s house to look for his extra pick. Monday, Bruce makes herto the store to buy a new string for him. When she gets back he tells her Scott has to be home by six fifteen. He tells her they can practice her song the next day. He then sends her off for some cookies. Bruce says she’s a real jem. She says this can be her stage name LOL uh Jess I think it’s taken. I think it’s GEM tho-the way Bruce means it-.

Steven complains about Jessica’s band and not being able to hear his own music. Jessica surprises them with a lot of music terminology she’s picked up She tells them she’s going to call herself Gem and she needs to understand these things in her chosen field. Amy is over and Liz confides to Amy what’s going on. Why can’t Jessica see she’s being used she wonders. Amy and Liz goes to check her out but she’s still doing that horrible imitation of Melody Powers. The guys are practically wincing. They tell her they need to practice their cords. Jessica asks how she is and Liz tactfully says she thinks they should let her sing more. Jessica then gets back to paiting posters for the band. The posters look great tho. Bruce is pleased.

Jessica wants Liz to come with her the next time the band practices to hang up the posters around time advertising the band, but Liz says she’s working on an interview that has something to do with the pen pal club a boy named Peter started. She says she’s been thinking of finding a pen pal in Alaska. Jessica thinks tho that she should interview them. Liz says they haven’t even done anything but play in the basement, but Jessica says they’ll have a gig before she knows it. Jessica has no problem getting the stores to take her posters. When she gets back, her mother compliments her on working so hard to promote her band. Jessica thinks just wait until they get a gig.

Someone calls later and Jessica announces N R G has it’s first job at a birthday party. She tells Bruce about it and says it doesn’t pay much but it’ll be great promotion. She offers to call the guys but Bruce says he’ll do it. They don’t seem to want to give her any appreciation for putting up the posters, Jessica tries to practice but the guys tell her *they* need it more. Jessica says then she’ll just go to a Unicorn meet, but all of a sudden the guys seem to need her. When she takes them their drinks Bruce just complains about the drink she brings him (giner ale). On Tuesday, Bruce decides to tape them and let them listen to themselves so they can see what they need to work on. Bruce discovers he needs work with his fingering. Time runs out before they get to Jessica’s singing. She tells him to let her have the rape she’ll listen to it on her own. When she does she gets a shock! She doesn’t sound like Melody or herself. So she starts to pratice so she can find her own style. She only has two days.

On Thursday, Lila corners Jessica about not coming to a Unicorn meeting. She tells her she must be the best singer in the world as much as she practices. Jessica considers telling Lila the truth, but is too embarrassed to. When Jessica says the kid’s name Lila says she knows him and will see if she can get an invitation to the party. She tries to invite Jessica to come over to try on makeup but Jessica says she can’t come and Lila tells her she’s starting to be a bore. Jessica also has to turn down shopping with Liz and her mom. Liz wonder what’s come over her twin. While she’s shopping she hears Jessica’s band shopping for clothes- minus Jessica-.They start to argue about who started the band and then say at least they found Jessica. She can’t sing but at least she supplied them with a basement. Bruce says he’s thought of a way to keep Jessica from ruining the performance. They’ll tell her to come at three (an hour late). After they perform they can drop her and just rent rehersal space.

Liz can’t wait to tell Jessica but then she thinks about how bad Jessica sounds and thinks maybe it’s for the best. So she decides to keep her mouth shut. Liz sees Jessica after school and tells her she’s going over to Amy’s. She’s even turned down a sleepover. Jessica rushes off to go to a band practice and Liz wonders if she should have told her. Liz tho sees Jessica practing and she’s using her own voice. If she’s using her own voice it would be wrong not to tell her. She goes to her “thinking seat” to work it o ut. Jessica comes in her room later and she tells her she’s nervous. Liz tells her she’ll do fine. Liz told her she heard her singing and she sounds better than she ever has. Then she tells her to get some sleep.

The next morning, Jessica asks if she got any calls. Liz gets an idea and says Bruce called and told her to be thereat two and the band is wearing red and blue. Liz even gives her her new red sweater to wear. Jessica invites Liz to come with her as “her assistant”. When the twins get there no one is impressed with the band. Jessica is introduced as “Gem” and starts to sing. The crowd starts to dance and Simon looks pleased. Lila is there and she’s impressed and can’t wait to tell the Unicorns. Bruce tells her he didn’t know she can sing like that and if he’d known he’d let her rehearse more. But she tells him don’t worry she practiced on her own. Everyone loves Gem and they call for her again.

Everyone is talking about again on Monday. Bruce has learned nothing. HE’s still boasting about the band’s great performace. Liz tells her she’ll do an interview on her and Steven says her head can’t get much bigger (Jessica). At the next practice, all the guys are now asking Jessica what they think. Bruce comes down the steps with her cookies and lemonade. She tells him it’s not the right kind of cookies and he rushes off. Bruce has news they got asked to perform at a HS party. Jessica says she can’t make it and then quits the band. She says being a rock star isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. She’s missed to many Unicorn meetins and a couple of parties. Bruce asks if they can still use her basement and she says NOPE! Lila and Ellen come by for the meeting and Jessica dismisses the boys. Amy is upset because her pen pal Samantha hasn’t written her.

My Thoughts
She called herself GEM! LMAO Uhh Sorry Jessica, I think that name has been taken by the “Truly Outrageous One”. Unless Ned has a super computer hdden inside a secret drive in at the back of his law office I really don’t think you can claim to be JEM and that’s probably why you only did it for one show and then quit. I think that was the best part of this one -the name-.

Rating: 5

[trace ♡°。 · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this one, Jessica just got her life at a Melody Powers concert and decides that she, too, is boutta be a rock star also (weeks after dedicating her life to becoming a Hollywood actress)! Neato fresh and truly wild! Jessica decides to do this by imitating everything Melody Powers does, which results in her voice sounding like a throat shart.

When she auditions to be the lead singer of a band full of middle school douchelords, they accept her but only to use her house for band practice and she herself as a secretary.

"Wow!" Elizabeth exclaimed out loud. "Sounds like they're trying to make up for lack of talent with volume."

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just simply love all of the twins adventures. Some people are addicted to chocolate, I am addicted to Francine Pascal.

[Brandy Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this book at my local thrift store, I couldn't pass up the chance for a glance at the past. In between larger books, I figured this book would be a great and quick read- and boy was it!
Just under a hundred pages this book delivers. I've come a long way from my Sweet Valley Twins fan days- not gonna lie- and the opening pages reminded me of just how far I'd come. But it was nice to settle into, for me, the old and familiar, if just for the day.
Elizabeth is still my favorite, and I'm still shaking my head at Jessica's antics.
However, in this book, that's not all I'm shaking my head at. Jessica's stage name, Gem, isn't a far cry from another 80's memorable- Jem. In fact, Jessica's outrageous sense of style and the fact that their mother is an interior decorator forms some more parallels.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica is starstruck after seeing Melody Power in concert and starts dressing like a rock star and decides she wants to be one. The guys at school are looking for a lead singer for a band, and they pick jessica, but it turns out they were just using her for her basement and didn't like her growling/singing. One day while elizabeth is out, she overheard the guys picking outfits for their upcoming gig and were saying they'll tell jessica the wrong time so she doesn't embarass them. Elizabeth buys her a matching sweater and tells her about the time change and she does a good job singing after realizing how horrible she sounded when listening to playback. This is the only book where she wants to be a singer, so it was short lived.

[Cws]

JEAR3-Pas

[Melenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved these books as a child

[Taylor Troncin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read most of these books a long time ago - but I still remember loving them!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

19/25
4 original
3 good topic
5 fast read
4 plot
3 opinion

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the cover just not the story.