What do you think?
Rate this book
Sweet Valley Twins #42
Jessica's Secret
Growing pains . . .
Jessica Wakefield has always prided herself on being the more sophisticated twin, but suddenly it's her sister, Elizabeth, who's blossoming. Overnight, something wonderful has happened to turn Elizabeth into a young woman. And now Jessica's sure that if anyone—especially her sister—finds out that it hasn't happened to her, she'll die of humiliation. Then the twins get permission to travel to San Diego by themselves to visit their cousin Robin. It's the perfect opportunity for Jessica to prove just how grown-up she really is. But will acting older than her age get Jessica into more trouble than she can handle?
Jessica Wakefield has always prided herself on being the more sophisticated twin, but suddenly it's her sister, Elizabeth, who's blossoming. Overnight, something wonderful has happened to turn Elizabeth into a young woman. And now Jessica's sure that if anyone—especially her sister—finds out that it hasn't happened to her, she'll die of humiliation. Then the twins get permission to travel to San Diego by themselves to visit their cousin Robin. It's the perfect opportunity for Jessica to prove just how grown-up she really is. But will acting older than her age get Jessica into more trouble than she can handle?
133 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 1990
6 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,139 books1,844 followersFrancine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 6, 2013
Synopsis: I swear I have read this one before, though usually I remember covers better than plots. But the story was WAY too familiar to me to not have read it. Either that or all these books from the 90s are just interchangeable... which I don't really doubt.
So Elizabeth has! her! period! now. Which is epic not because she actually has her period (that happens to half the population, after all), but because periods and "supplies" are discussed, and it is more or less acknowledged that the Wakefields actually GO to the bathroom and have private parts (oh my god, ya'll). The title, Jessica's Secret, actually comes from Jessica NOT having her period yet. But when Liz tells her, Jess doesn't say anything. Liz does kind of talk a lot, but Jessica still had a whole freaking book to tell her, but she doesn't. So begins the wrath of Hurricane Jessica who acts alternately really happy and really pissy (and she doesn't even have her period yet!).
Never one to miss a chance for manipulation, Jessica uses Liz's newfound maturity to her advantage, while simultaneously letting everyone believe that she is "so grown up" now. Because Ned and Alice believe that the twins both received their periods, they have decided to let them go to San Diego to visit their cousin, Robin, alone. Right. Jessica is actually depressed that she doesn't get to manipulate her family further, because they say yes right away. Jess and Liz immediately head to the mall to buy new outfits for the occasion. Jess gets a purple skirt and a purple top (ew), and Liz gets a turquoise blouse with puffy sleeves and buttons down the front.
The next day at lunch the Unicorns start talking about periods, natch, and Jess gets in her super-angry mode again. When Liz comes to their table Jessica sneers at her top and insults Liz, telling her how immature her outfit looks and what a baby she is. Okay, Jess. Whatever you say. Jess never apologizes, but Liz forgives her before the trip because Liz is a hopeless doormat.
When they arrive in San Diego and see Robin, Liz notes how much she has changed. She is dressed all in black with her hair super short. Clearly she is going to have much more in common with Jessica than Liz. And (surprise!) she does. Robin has a 16-year-old boyfriend named Johnny (ew) except she's clearly faking it, because she doesn't want the twins to meet him. And she has been asked to join the Jaguars, a super-exclusive club at her middle school that is similar to the Unicorns. The Jags all wear silver ID bracelets, which Jessica thinks is hopelessly cool.
When Liz finds out that night that Robin smokes now (I think she's lying about that, too), she admonishes her for it. Once again, she is called a baby, in an attempt by Jessica to keep holding all the power in their relationship. The next morning Robin is told that she can have a sleepover - IF she invites her former dippy friend Becky. Liz knows that she will like her even if Jess and Robin don't. So Becky is invited, but so are all the Jags. Becky calls them Hags, hehe. Turns out it is Robin's night to be "initiated," as if this is some college sorority important enough to be initiated into. Whatever.
Robin has to go to her supposed boyfriend Johnny's house and get him to drive her to the park. Liz and Becky stay at home. Jessica thinks it will be a breeze since Robin is dating Johnny and all. But only... she's not. So that really sucks. Johnny doesn't even know who Robin is. Instead, Jessica and Robin end up at a man's house that is actually two doors down from Johnny's. Oops. Meanwhile, back at Casa Robin's, Stacey, Robin's younger sister, has just woken up and is intercepted by Liz and Becky. They tell her to go back to sleep, but she is worried about her sister so she goes to fetch her parents. Ruh roh. Jessica will certainly hold a grudge about this and...
She does. She won't talk to Liz ALL the way home on the bus. But Jessica's stomach starts to hurt (where could this be going, I wonder?) and she stops to get some Ginger Ale at a rest stop. She takes too long so Liz gets off and informs her that they will now be late getting back to Sweet Valley. Jessica stops in the bathroom and realizes that she has just gotten her period too! She can finally stop acting like a psycho bitch! (Or not).
She then tells Lizzie about the rest of her night with Robin. They went back to the park and told the Jags what happened, so the leader, Vicki, gave Robin a new dare. She had to cut off all of Becky's hair, but Robin, thankfully, refused. She told them that she wanted no part in a club that could be that cruel to people. Jess insists to Liz that she was actually super proud of Robin for doing this. Yeah right, Jess. You know the Jags are TOTALLY your people. You are the girl who could, after all, starve a DIFFERENT Robin to death and drive Miss Annie to attempted suicide, all in the name of superiority.
Alternate Title : "The Wakefields have Privates!"
Tagline: "Something has come between the twins!" (...And it's a big, red, wet visitor that pops in once a month!)
On a Scale of 1-10, How Annoying is Elizabeth?: 0. I'm with her on this one.
On a Scale of 1-10, How Sociopathic is Jessica?: 5. She's off and on in this one.
The Big Deal: Well, the big deal is actually Liz getting her period and Jessica not, but the big deal is also a trip to San Diego for the twins to see their cousin, Robin.
Lingering Questions: When did we first meet Robin? I don't remember at all. Do they ever visit her again, or in SVH?
Cover: Good or Bad?: Great! Jessica looks like she could punch a ninja. And did you notice she has Unicorn earrings on?! Totally boss. Way better than Unicorns on a t-shirt. Her glowering stare is just priceless, and I love her hair on this one.
Quotes from the Book: "'You're acting snotty and mean,' Elizabeth said, 'And I'm getting really tired of it!' She stormed out of the room."
Go Liz!
"'Are you twins?' asked a second girl."
Wow, these Jaguars are about as brain dead as you could possibly get.
"Jessica was the last to leave. She looked back at Elizabeth and rolled her eyes. What a baby, she thought. Without a word, Jessica closed the door behind her as quietly as she could. She felt VERY mature."
Sure, Jess.
Moral of the Story: Not having your period will make you more emotional than actually having it.
Final Rating: Three stars. The Wakefields ACTUALLY USE THE BATHROOM IN THIS ONE, YA'LL!
So Elizabeth has! her! period! now. Which is epic not because she actually has her period (that happens to half the population, after all), but because periods and "supplies" are discussed, and it is more or less acknowledged that the Wakefields actually GO to the bathroom and have private parts (oh my god, ya'll). The title, Jessica's Secret, actually comes from Jessica NOT having her period yet. But when Liz tells her, Jess doesn't say anything. Liz does kind of talk a lot, but Jessica still had a whole freaking book to tell her, but she doesn't. So begins the wrath of Hurricane Jessica who acts alternately really happy and really pissy (and she doesn't even have her period yet!).
Never one to miss a chance for manipulation, Jessica uses Liz's newfound maturity to her advantage, while simultaneously letting everyone believe that she is "so grown up" now. Because Ned and Alice believe that the twins both received their periods, they have decided to let them go to San Diego to visit their cousin, Robin, alone. Right. Jessica is actually depressed that she doesn't get to manipulate her family further, because they say yes right away. Jess and Liz immediately head to the mall to buy new outfits for the occasion. Jess gets a purple skirt and a purple top (ew), and Liz gets a turquoise blouse with puffy sleeves and buttons down the front.
The next day at lunch the Unicorns start talking about periods, natch, and Jess gets in her super-angry mode again. When Liz comes to their table Jessica sneers at her top and insults Liz, telling her how immature her outfit looks and what a baby she is. Okay, Jess. Whatever you say. Jess never apologizes, but Liz forgives her before the trip because Liz is a hopeless doormat.
When they arrive in San Diego and see Robin, Liz notes how much she has changed. She is dressed all in black with her hair super short. Clearly she is going to have much more in common with Jessica than Liz. And (surprise!) she does. Robin has a 16-year-old boyfriend named Johnny (ew) except she's clearly faking it, because she doesn't want the twins to meet him. And she has been asked to join the Jaguars, a super-exclusive club at her middle school that is similar to the Unicorns. The Jags all wear silver ID bracelets, which Jessica thinks is hopelessly cool.
When Liz finds out that night that Robin smokes now (I think she's lying about that, too), she admonishes her for it. Once again, she is called a baby, in an attempt by Jessica to keep holding all the power in their relationship. The next morning Robin is told that she can have a sleepover - IF she invites her former dippy friend Becky. Liz knows that she will like her even if Jess and Robin don't. So Becky is invited, but so are all the Jags. Becky calls them Hags, hehe. Turns out it is Robin's night to be "initiated," as if this is some college sorority important enough to be initiated into. Whatever.
Robin has to go to her supposed boyfriend Johnny's house and get him to drive her to the park. Liz and Becky stay at home. Jessica thinks it will be a breeze since Robin is dating Johnny and all. But only... she's not. So that really sucks. Johnny doesn't even know who Robin is. Instead, Jessica and Robin end up at a man's house that is actually two doors down from Johnny's. Oops. Meanwhile, back at Casa Robin's, Stacey, Robin's younger sister, has just woken up and is intercepted by Liz and Becky. They tell her to go back to sleep, but she is worried about her sister so she goes to fetch her parents. Ruh roh. Jessica will certainly hold a grudge about this and...
She does. She won't talk to Liz ALL the way home on the bus. But Jessica's stomach starts to hurt (where could this be going, I wonder?) and she stops to get some Ginger Ale at a rest stop. She takes too long so Liz gets off and informs her that they will now be late getting back to Sweet Valley. Jessica stops in the bathroom and realizes that she has just gotten her period too! She can finally stop acting like a psycho bitch! (Or not).
She then tells Lizzie about the rest of her night with Robin. They went back to the park and told the Jags what happened, so the leader, Vicki, gave Robin a new dare. She had to cut off all of Becky's hair, but Robin, thankfully, refused. She told them that she wanted no part in a club that could be that cruel to people. Jess insists to Liz that she was actually super proud of Robin for doing this. Yeah right, Jess. You know the Jags are TOTALLY your people. You are the girl who could, after all, starve a DIFFERENT Robin to death and drive Miss Annie to attempted suicide, all in the name of superiority.
Alternate Title : "The Wakefields have Privates!"
Tagline: "Something has come between the twins!" (...And it's a big, red, wet visitor that pops in once a month!)
On a Scale of 1-10, How Annoying is Elizabeth?: 0. I'm with her on this one.
On a Scale of 1-10, How Sociopathic is Jessica?: 5. She's off and on in this one.
The Big Deal: Well, the big deal is actually Liz getting her period and Jessica not, but the big deal is also a trip to San Diego for the twins to see their cousin, Robin.
Lingering Questions: When did we first meet Robin? I don't remember at all. Do they ever visit her again, or in SVH?
Cover: Good or Bad?: Great! Jessica looks like she could punch a ninja. And did you notice she has Unicorn earrings on?! Totally boss. Way better than Unicorns on a t-shirt. Her glowering stare is just priceless, and I love her hair on this one.
Quotes from the Book: "'You're acting snotty and mean,' Elizabeth said, 'And I'm getting really tired of it!' She stormed out of the room."
Go Liz!
"'Are you twins?' asked a second girl."
Wow, these Jaguars are about as brain dead as you could possibly get.
"Jessica was the last to leave. She looked back at Elizabeth and rolled her eyes. What a baby, she thought. Without a word, Jessica closed the door behind her as quietly as she could. She felt VERY mature."
Sure, Jess.
Moral of the Story: Not having your period will make you more emotional than actually having it.
Final Rating: Three stars. The Wakefields ACTUALLY USE THE BATHROOM IN THIS ONE, YA'LL!
March 30, 2012
I’m laughing at this one. Because can I just talk about the absurdity of it for a minute? Elizabeth gets her period and Jessica is jealous because she doesn’t get hers at the same time. When I was twelve years old, I never had this desire. Truthfully, this is not something I would have been jealous of if someone told me they had it. It trips me out to no end to read these kinds of books. Mrs. Wakefield even makes a special dinner to celebrate. Hah. I remember mine and my mother did get all gooey eyed and give me that "You’re becoming a woman" speech but that’s about all I got. Honey, will you really feel that way when in a couple of months when the reality kicks in and you discover it ain’t so beautiful being bloated, and crampy, and have mood swings? Having it go away is more means to celebrate than come on. Just my opinion here. Then there’s the ludicrous notion that just because they were born at the same time that they’d start at the same time.
But then the twins take a trip, and there’s a plot with there sophisticated older cousin Robin, who dresses in black. She’s trying to join the hardcore version of the Unicorns. She even goes as far to tell them she has a boyfriend whose 16. She's twelve! But you know what? I can’t even get on that too hard because apparently boys don’t look at a silly little thing like age (now or then). No, Robin really doesn’t have a sixteen year old boyfriend, but yeah she could have. This is frighteningly sad. Her ignition to sneak over Johnny’s house, which she chocks on. Do I remember her actually getting inside the house? At the end of the book, Jessica magically gets her period on the bus ride home. Congratulations, Jess! Forty something odd years of monthly irritation for you!
But then the twins take a trip, and there’s a plot with there sophisticated older cousin Robin, who dresses in black. She’s trying to join the hardcore version of the Unicorns. She even goes as far to tell them she has a boyfriend whose 16. She's twelve! But you know what? I can’t even get on that too hard because apparently boys don’t look at a silly little thing like age (now or then). No, Robin really doesn’t have a sixteen year old boyfriend, but yeah she could have. This is frighteningly sad. Her ignition to sneak over Johnny’s house, which she chocks on. Do I remember her actually getting inside the house? At the end of the book, Jessica magically gets her period on the bus ride home. Congratulations, Jess! Forty something odd years of monthly irritation for you!
August 22, 2008
This was one of the SVT books I read over and over. I remember being so excited at the thought of getting my period. lol
April 29, 2009
Oh my god, it's totally a Judy Blume Sweet Valley special! ;)
December 3, 2024
Jessica’s Secret
Elizabeth excitedly shares the news with Jessica that she started her period (assuming that Jessica has also started hers). After all, Jessica is acting irritable and she’s a little pale. They tell Alice, who tells Jessica to lay down and rest and offers to make her whatever she wants for dinner (spaghetti and cream puffs). Elizabeth is a little surprised that Jessica isn’t as excited as she is about it and wants to keep it to herself (that ought to have been a clue. Jessica NEVER keeps anything to herself). Jessica though, thinks they should use their newfound “maturity” to get their parents to let them visit their cousin Robin. Robin and her father lived in Paris for a whole but are now in San Francisco.
Ned and Alice agree. There’s a four-day weekend coming up so it’s good timing. Elizabeth keeps nagging Jessica and bringing up their cycles. Jessica vows that she can’t let anyone find out she hasn’t started yet. There’s this weird part where the twins are in the store trying to buy pads and there are some boys from their school (Bruce is one of em) and the cashier is waving the pads around and yelling there’s not a price on them and asking what the brand is.
Jessica and Elizabeth go to the mall and each buys new outfits. Jessica gets a purple oversize shirt and a mini-skirt. Liz gets a turquoise top with pearl buttons. Jessica tells her it’s cute, but at school, the Unicorns peer pressure her into thinking the outfit is babyish so she insults Elizabeth who comes over to ask Jessica to go shopping for a present for their other cousin.
On the bus, Lizzie hopes they’ll go to the San Diego Zoo, ride bikes, and tell ghost stories. Jessica hopes there will be a party in their honor and Robins coo new friends will come so she can wear her new outfit. Elizabeth is kinda hurt that Jessica hasn’t apologized, but decides just to let it go since they’re getting along. Robin looks different. She has a stylish cut (a bob) and she’s wearing all black with silver jewelry. (Is she going for the Goth look?) They also find out she has a 16-year-old boyfriend (John). But at dinner, when her little sister Stacey teases her about her “boyfriend” in Paris, her mom says Robin’s not allowed to date. Robin also tells them she’s been invited to join an exclusive club called “The Jaguars” but she still needs to do her initiation tasks. If she gets in she gets a silver ID bracelet with her name engraved on it. She and Jessica seem to have the same interest, clothes, boys, etc..
The next day is Stacey’s 8th birthday. Aunt Nancy and Uncle Kirk plan for a day at the San Diego Zoo. Jessica and Robin aren’t feeling this, but what can they do. Aunt Nancy and Uncle K say that they’ve decided to let Robin have a slumber party but with the condition that Robin’s old friend Becky has to come. Robin nearly has a fit, but it’s Becky or no party. Elizabeth is disgusted with the way Jessica and Robin are acting. We also find out Robin says she smokes and then Jessica says she also smokes. Elizabeth is shocked even though it’s clear Jessica is just bull shitting trying to impress Robin (like when Robin said she didn’t like Johnny Buck, immediately Jessica says she doesn’t anymore either).
At the party, the Jags want Robin to sneak into John’s house and get him to bring her to the park where they'll be waiting to make her a member of the club. Jessica goes, but Elizabeth decides to stay home with Becky. Of course, the Jags are rude to Becky and Robin treats her like she’s invisible. The Jags give them their instructions again and head to the park. Left alone, Robin starts to get scared. She convinces to Jessica not only is John not her boyfriend, he doesn’t even know her. They get to his house and Jessica tries to duck out by Robin says she’s coming to. The door is already open. They get inside and there’s a dog. He chases them out. The owners come out. It turns out to be the wrong house. Back at the house, Stacey wakes up and notices Stacey and her friends aren’t there, and tells her parents.
Jessica and Robin are mad at Elizabeth until Stacey admits she was the one who told (even though Elizabeth says she was about to). Robin is grounded for a month. She says she’ll apologize to Becky. At the bus station, Jessica starts to get a stomach ache. Since they have to switch buses she gets off to get some ginger ale but gets left. Elizabeth luckily has followed her. She tells Elizabeth about what happened and that after the first initiation didn’t go through, how the Jags wanted Robin to go home, wait until Becky was asleep, and cut off all her hair. She also confesses that she was jealous because Elizabeth was now “mature” she had to act more mature. She admits that she didn’t start her period. But when she goes to the bathroom, she realizes she has started.
My Thoughts:
I really thought this one was RIDICULOUS! Elizabeth was ridiculous because first of all why did she *assume* that just because she had started Jessica had also started. Shouldn’t it be common sense that even twins don’t always do things at the same time? Even identical ones. Then there was the way Elizabeth was practically OBSESSED over starting hers and kept bringing it up at every given chance. Jessica was even more ridiculous because she actually made not having a period turn her jealous. And FOR WHAT?! Fifty or so years of cramps and aches? I think she’s gonna learn REAL QUICK that having a period really isn’t all that great. In fact, it really kinda SUCKS, and then when you get it you wish it would LEAVE! I do remember being the twin's age when it happened to me and my sister was excited, but I don’t ever remember being this excited. In fact, I thought silly enough as it is when I saw it I was dying. Hey, I was twelve, I didn’t know. There certainly weren't cream puffs. But then this is Sweet Valley and a puff of sweet-smelling pain reliever probably comes included in the twin's cycles. With Robin, I was kind of like Becky. I just didn’t see the appeal of the Jags “Hags” (funny). But I guess I’ve always been to much of an individual and being a part of the popular crowd never swayed me in the least so..
Rating: 5
Elizabeth excitedly shares the news with Jessica that she started her period (assuming that Jessica has also started hers). After all, Jessica is acting irritable and she’s a little pale. They tell Alice, who tells Jessica to lay down and rest and offers to make her whatever she wants for dinner (spaghetti and cream puffs). Elizabeth is a little surprised that Jessica isn’t as excited as she is about it and wants to keep it to herself (that ought to have been a clue. Jessica NEVER keeps anything to herself). Jessica though, thinks they should use their newfound “maturity” to get their parents to let them visit their cousin Robin. Robin and her father lived in Paris for a whole but are now in San Francisco.
Ned and Alice agree. There’s a four-day weekend coming up so it’s good timing. Elizabeth keeps nagging Jessica and bringing up their cycles. Jessica vows that she can’t let anyone find out she hasn’t started yet. There’s this weird part where the twins are in the store trying to buy pads and there are some boys from their school (Bruce is one of em) and the cashier is waving the pads around and yelling there’s not a price on them and asking what the brand is.
Jessica and Elizabeth go to the mall and each buys new outfits. Jessica gets a purple oversize shirt and a mini-skirt. Liz gets a turquoise top with pearl buttons. Jessica tells her it’s cute, but at school, the Unicorns peer pressure her into thinking the outfit is babyish so she insults Elizabeth who comes over to ask Jessica to go shopping for a present for their other cousin.
On the bus, Lizzie hopes they’ll go to the San Diego Zoo, ride bikes, and tell ghost stories. Jessica hopes there will be a party in their honor and Robins coo new friends will come so she can wear her new outfit. Elizabeth is kinda hurt that Jessica hasn’t apologized, but decides just to let it go since they’re getting along. Robin looks different. She has a stylish cut (a bob) and she’s wearing all black with silver jewelry. (Is she going for the Goth look?) They also find out she has a 16-year-old boyfriend (John). But at dinner, when her little sister Stacey teases her about her “boyfriend” in Paris, her mom says Robin’s not allowed to date. Robin also tells them she’s been invited to join an exclusive club called “The Jaguars” but she still needs to do her initiation tasks. If she gets in she gets a silver ID bracelet with her name engraved on it. She and Jessica seem to have the same interest, clothes, boys, etc..
The next day is Stacey’s 8th birthday. Aunt Nancy and Uncle Kirk plan for a day at the San Diego Zoo. Jessica and Robin aren’t feeling this, but what can they do. Aunt Nancy and Uncle K say that they’ve decided to let Robin have a slumber party but with the condition that Robin’s old friend Becky has to come. Robin nearly has a fit, but it’s Becky or no party. Elizabeth is disgusted with the way Jessica and Robin are acting. We also find out Robin says she smokes and then Jessica says she also smokes. Elizabeth is shocked even though it’s clear Jessica is just bull shitting trying to impress Robin (like when Robin said she didn’t like Johnny Buck, immediately Jessica says she doesn’t anymore either).
At the party, the Jags want Robin to sneak into John’s house and get him to bring her to the park where they'll be waiting to make her a member of the club. Jessica goes, but Elizabeth decides to stay home with Becky. Of course, the Jags are rude to Becky and Robin treats her like she’s invisible. The Jags give them their instructions again and head to the park. Left alone, Robin starts to get scared. She convinces to Jessica not only is John not her boyfriend, he doesn’t even know her. They get to his house and Jessica tries to duck out by Robin says she’s coming to. The door is already open. They get inside and there’s a dog. He chases them out. The owners come out. It turns out to be the wrong house. Back at the house, Stacey wakes up and notices Stacey and her friends aren’t there, and tells her parents.
Jessica and Robin are mad at Elizabeth until Stacey admits she was the one who told (even though Elizabeth says she was about to). Robin is grounded for a month. She says she’ll apologize to Becky. At the bus station, Jessica starts to get a stomach ache. Since they have to switch buses she gets off to get some ginger ale but gets left. Elizabeth luckily has followed her. She tells Elizabeth about what happened and that after the first initiation didn’t go through, how the Jags wanted Robin to go home, wait until Becky was asleep, and cut off all her hair. She also confesses that she was jealous because Elizabeth was now “mature” she had to act more mature. She admits that she didn’t start her period. But when she goes to the bathroom, she realizes she has started.
My Thoughts:
I really thought this one was RIDICULOUS! Elizabeth was ridiculous because first of all why did she *assume* that just because she had started Jessica had also started. Shouldn’t it be common sense that even twins don’t always do things at the same time? Even identical ones. Then there was the way Elizabeth was practically OBSESSED over starting hers and kept bringing it up at every given chance. Jessica was even more ridiculous because she actually made not having a period turn her jealous. And FOR WHAT?! Fifty or so years of cramps and aches? I think she’s gonna learn REAL QUICK that having a period really isn’t all that great. In fact, it really kinda SUCKS, and then when you get it you wish it would LEAVE! I do remember being the twin's age when it happened to me and my sister was excited, but I don’t ever remember being this excited. In fact, I thought silly enough as it is when I saw it I was dying. Hey, I was twelve, I didn’t know. There certainly weren't cream puffs. But then this is Sweet Valley and a puff of sweet-smelling pain reliever probably comes included in the twin's cycles. With Robin, I was kind of like Becky. I just didn’t see the appeal of the Jags “Hags” (funny). But I guess I’ve always been to much of an individual and being a part of the popular crowd never swayed me in the least so..
Rating: 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2017
I think I'll miss this book most of all because it really demonstrates true maturity. In my opinion, I think true maturity is making responsible decisions, thinking about consequences, and asking for help when your friend's in danger. She might be angry at first, but is that better than her premature death? I think I might write my own story about maturity next year. I also think it's going to take Robin a while to earn her parents' trust back.
March 17, 2018
One of the few books I read as a young girl that talked about periods. Jessica feels like she's not a woman because Elizabeth got her period before she did, so she pretends to act more mature than she is. As someone who got her first period when she was ten years old and no where near mature enough to fully understand what was happening to my body, I remember this struck a cord with me: how a girl only thinks of herself a certain way because of something her body does naturally.
December 29, 2019
I’m pretty sure this is the first and only time that any Sweet Valley book discusses the topic of periods. Usually the books operate as if the girls have no bodily functions whatsoever, and so this one is kinda bizarre because of that.
Even as a kid, I was perplexed as to why Elizabeth was so positive that she and Jessica would have started their periods at exactly the same moment. And she’s supposed to be the smart twin?!
Even as a kid, I was perplexed as to why Elizabeth was so positive that she and Jessica would have started their periods at exactly the same moment. And she’s supposed to be the smart twin?!
January 17, 2016
This is a storyline that I have a problem with. Elizabeth gets her first period and is really happening, considering herself now basically grown up. Jessica is angry that she hasn't gotten her first period and so pretends she has gotten it.
The reason is that the girls want to visit a friend and, until now, their parents did not think they were mature enough to go there by themselves on a bus. This is one of the reasons Jessica has lied so then can make the trip.
Here is where I have a rather major problem with the storyline. Elizabeth has already been the more mature of the two sisters with Jessica generally being a responsible young girl and she is even, at times, outright devious.
Herein is the rub. Just getting a period does not make a girl a totally responsible, mature person overnight. Jessica, especially, is not going to change into someone who is as responsible and obedient as Elizabeth just because she's gotten her period (or, in her case, pretended she has gotten it.) I just don't think parents would make such an assumption.
They visit their cousin. Elizabeth is bored with the kinds of girls her cousin hangs around with but Jessica fits in automatically. There is one girl that is rejected by the others and that is he one Elizabeth becomes friends with. The other girls, along with Jessica, get into trouble (as expected.) Jessica gets mad at Elizabeth for supposedly telling on her.
The reason is that the girls want to visit a friend and, until now, their parents did not think they were mature enough to go there by themselves on a bus. This is one of the reasons Jessica has lied so then can make the trip.
Here is where I have a rather major problem with the storyline. Elizabeth has already been the more mature of the two sisters with Jessica generally being a responsible young girl and she is even, at times, outright devious.
Herein is the rub. Just getting a period does not make a girl a totally responsible, mature person overnight. Jessica, especially, is not going to change into someone who is as responsible and obedient as Elizabeth just because she's gotten her period (or, in her case, pretended she has gotten it.) I just don't think parents would make such an assumption.
They visit their cousin. Elizabeth is bored with the kinds of girls her cousin hangs around with but Jessica fits in automatically. There is one girl that is rejected by the others and that is he one Elizabeth becomes friends with. The other girls, along with Jessica, get into trouble (as expected.) Jessica gets mad at Elizabeth for supposedly telling on her.
September 13, 2016
I remember that I chose this book for an oral bookreport when I was in elementary school. And how I regretted it! It's about becoming a woman and getting your period and I didn't even know what a period was! So I had to have an awkward talk with my mom and an even more awkward oral bookreport. I was mortified!
Those old memories might have affected the grading but I don't think so. The storyline is kind of lame anyway because Jessica and Robin are so bitchy and mean.
Those old memories might have affected the grading but I don't think so. The storyline is kind of lame anyway because Jessica and Robin are so bitchy and mean.
April 23, 2008
I thought that this book was really good i give this book 5 stars.
Read
August 15, 2008One for pre-pubescent school boys.
Paul Graham liked it.
Read
June 4, 2009JEAR3-Pas
November 10, 2009
a menstruation narrative!
elizabeth and jessica could both learn from reading The Emotionally Abusive Relationship
elizabeth and jessica could both learn from reading The Emotionally Abusive Relationship
November 7, 2010
Please only read this book if you are a girl trust my boys how read this are going to freak out
October 24, 2010
It was always hard for me to resist picking up a Sweet Valley book, no matter where I was - Walmart, grocery store, airport...
Read
December 4, 2012Snort. Mine was either the day after my 13th or 14th birthday, and all I remember feeling is vaguely resigned.
May 6, 2021
Loved these books as a child
June 22, 2013
I remember the cover just not the story.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews