What do you think?
Rate this book
Sweet Valley Twins #61
Jessica the Nerd
Jessica Wakefield is humiliated when she finds out she's been accepted into a special program called SOAR!, for gifted math and science students. Along with her twin sister, Elizabeth, Jessica must go to special science classes every day with some of the biggest nerds at Sweet Valley Middle School.<
Then a strange thing happens—Jessica discovers that she actually likes SOAR! But Jessica's friends in the Unicorn Club aren't happy about her new interests. They tell Jessica she must choose: SOAR! or the Unicorns!
Then a strange thing happens—Jessica discovers that she actually likes SOAR! But Jessica's friends in the Unicorn Club aren't happy about her new interests. They tell Jessica she must choose: SOAR! or the Unicorns!
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
3 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,140 books1,851 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 13, 2009
I loved this book! I think everyone should read it!
April 7, 2018
Francine Pascal keeps wanting to convince me that Jessica is smart. I’m not sure I’m buying it. But anyway, in this book Jess wishes she were dumb.
Because, well, she may not be dumb anymore, and it’s cramping her style with the Unicorns. That’s because the SOAR! Program has come to town. It stands for Science Offers Awesome Rewards or, if you are Lila, Seriously Obnoxious and Repulsive.
The kids all have to take a test to see who will join the two week program. Jessica realizes the test isn’t hard and that the problems are like little puzzles for her. But she is shocked and dismayed when the next day her name is called along with a bunch of NERDS to join the SOAR! Program. Jess thinks there must be a mistake. So does Amy, because her name ISN’T called. But Amy sucks at tests, even though she does not suck at science. Commence Amy moping the rest of the book until the SOAR! Program ends.
Probably the only good thing about the program for Jess is that Liz is in it too. Their teacher, Mr. Baker, has clearly never seen them around school, or seen twins in his life, because on the first day he has to confirm they really are twins. This schtick is getting old. He insists on dropping a water balloon on the girls in the name of science. They get to wear raincoats, but it’s obviously Jessica’s nightmare to ever ruin her perfect hair.
Jessica joins the Unicorns later and tries to play it off like she hated the class something fierce, but she actually doesn’t. Janet likes that Denny is in the program, but she doesn’t extend the same courtesy to Jess. Because Janet is the literal worst.
Her literal worst duties include giving Jess an ultimatum to choose between the Unicorns or SOAR! I think Janet is seriously obnoxious and repulsive.
But Jess is off doing awesome things like studying with her twin and planting trees with the group, and she forgets Ellen’s birthday, Unicorn meetings, and Booster practice.
The book’s second goal is to convince everyone that girls can do science. Duh. Also to prove that Steven is still an idiot. Duh. Cathy beats him at ping pong and he loses his shit. So they play again and Cathy LETS him win, which sucks for the twins because they made a bet with Steven that if he lost he would have to take over trash duty for a month. Finally, they play one last time in what ends up being a tight game. But Cathy wins by one point, and Steven finally sucks in his pride.
Meanwhile, Jess asks Mr. Baker to help her with the Unicorns. So he tells her to explain to them that everything they use is possible only because of science. So Jess goes over and unplugs the curling irons and turns off phones and the light and explains to them that she can and will do both. It’s the only time Jess hasn’t been insufferable. But Janet is still a cunt and makes up a rule on the spot that she can kick people out of the Unicorns arbitrarily.
Mandy comes over later and tells her that she thinks Janet just won’t let her back in because Janet believes Denny likes Jess. So Jess tells Denny the next day to hurry up and ask Janet out so she can have the Unicorns back. But Janet comes up to Jess anyway and tells her that she realized the previous night how important science is. She ALMOST apologizes, and Jess gets to stay in the Unicorns and the program.
But imagine how different these books would have been if Jess has ditched the Unicorns for good!
Quotes:
Steven: Everybody knows girls are rotten at science.
And everybody knows you are rotten at girls, Steven.
Jessica to Janet: Since when do you make decisions for me?
Since always, Jess. And usually you roll over immediately.
Jess: You don’t understand what I’d be giving up if I dropped out.
Liz: It would be a tragic waste of all that purple clothing in your closet.
Because, well, she may not be dumb anymore, and it’s cramping her style with the Unicorns. That’s because the SOAR! Program has come to town. It stands for Science Offers Awesome Rewards or, if you are Lila, Seriously Obnoxious and Repulsive.
The kids all have to take a test to see who will join the two week program. Jessica realizes the test isn’t hard and that the problems are like little puzzles for her. But she is shocked and dismayed when the next day her name is called along with a bunch of NERDS to join the SOAR! Program. Jess thinks there must be a mistake. So does Amy, because her name ISN’T called. But Amy sucks at tests, even though she does not suck at science. Commence Amy moping the rest of the book until the SOAR! Program ends.
Probably the only good thing about the program for Jess is that Liz is in it too. Their teacher, Mr. Baker, has clearly never seen them around school, or seen twins in his life, because on the first day he has to confirm they really are twins. This schtick is getting old. He insists on dropping a water balloon on the girls in the name of science. They get to wear raincoats, but it’s obviously Jessica’s nightmare to ever ruin her perfect hair.
Jessica joins the Unicorns later and tries to play it off like she hated the class something fierce, but she actually doesn’t. Janet likes that Denny is in the program, but she doesn’t extend the same courtesy to Jess. Because Janet is the literal worst.
Her literal worst duties include giving Jess an ultimatum to choose between the Unicorns or SOAR! I think Janet is seriously obnoxious and repulsive.
But Jess is off doing awesome things like studying with her twin and planting trees with the group, and she forgets Ellen’s birthday, Unicorn meetings, and Booster practice.
The book’s second goal is to convince everyone that girls can do science. Duh. Also to prove that Steven is still an idiot. Duh. Cathy beats him at ping pong and he loses his shit. So they play again and Cathy LETS him win, which sucks for the twins because they made a bet with Steven that if he lost he would have to take over trash duty for a month. Finally, they play one last time in what ends up being a tight game. But Cathy wins by one point, and Steven finally sucks in his pride.
Meanwhile, Jess asks Mr. Baker to help her with the Unicorns. So he tells her to explain to them that everything they use is possible only because of science. So Jess goes over and unplugs the curling irons and turns off phones and the light and explains to them that she can and will do both. It’s the only time Jess hasn’t been insufferable. But Janet is still a cunt and makes up a rule on the spot that she can kick people out of the Unicorns arbitrarily.
Mandy comes over later and tells her that she thinks Janet just won’t let her back in because Janet believes Denny likes Jess. So Jess tells Denny the next day to hurry up and ask Janet out so she can have the Unicorns back. But Janet comes up to Jess anyway and tells her that she realized the previous night how important science is. She ALMOST apologizes, and Jess gets to stay in the Unicorns and the program.
But imagine how different these books would have been if Jess has ditched the Unicorns for good!
Quotes:
Steven: Everybody knows girls are rotten at science.
And everybody knows you are rotten at girls, Steven.
Jessica to Janet: Since when do you make decisions for me?
Since always, Jess. And usually you roll over immediately.
Jess: You don’t understand what I’d be giving up if I dropped out.
Liz: It would be a tragic waste of all that purple clothing in your closet.
April 10, 2022
I like the continuity of Jessica being secretly smart (and getting accused of cheating when she aces tests) because that all comes up again in high school for her.
January 17, 2016
The sixth grade class learns that a special two-week project called SOAR will be held. It emphasizes science. The students have to take a test to determine which ones will make that special class.
Now, I have a problem right off with this. No students are asked if they want to be in it; the test is involuntary. There is nothing said about students not being in the project if they don't want to be. This, to me, is wrong. Special classes like this should be voluntary.
On the other hand, if Jessica did not want to be in it, which she didn't, she should have either refused to take the test or, on purpose, put a bunch of wrong answers on it. The second would have been the more logical thing to do. She ends up placing high enough on the test to be put into the program which she then tries desperate to get out of but, as usual, adults won't listen to her.
The problem for Jessica is that this causes her social problems. She's a member of the Unicorns, and they disapprove of her being in the course since it doesn't match the normal things that the Unicorns ae interested in.
This shows what is often taken for granted, and that is girls are not smart enough to be in science and should just occupy themselves with traditional 'girly' types of things. Matters get worse when Janet, the president of the Unicorns, kicks Jessica out since she won't quite the special program which, by now, she has actually come to like.
The teacher helps Jessica to figure out how to present her case to the Uni
Now, I have a problem right off with this. No students are asked if they want to be in it; the test is involuntary. There is nothing said about students not being in the project if they don't want to be. This, to me, is wrong. Special classes like this should be voluntary.
On the other hand, if Jessica did not want to be in it, which she didn't, she should have either refused to take the test or, on purpose, put a bunch of wrong answers on it. The second would have been the more logical thing to do. She ends up placing high enough on the test to be put into the program which she then tries desperate to get out of but, as usual, adults won't listen to her.
The problem for Jessica is that this causes her social problems. She's a member of the Unicorns, and they disapprove of her being in the course since it doesn't match the normal things that the Unicorns ae interested in.
This shows what is often taken for granted, and that is girls are not smart enough to be in science and should just occupy themselves with traditional 'girly' types of things. Matters get worse when Janet, the president of the Unicorns, kicks Jessica out since she won't quite the special program which, by now, she has actually come to like.
The teacher helps Jessica to figure out how to present her case to the Uni
December 2, 2011
Elizabeth thinks the Unicorns are rude and privately calls them the "Snob Squad," but Jessica thinks they are great friends. Elizabeth is only friends with three of the Unicorns: Mary, Belinda, and Mandy. In this book, Jessica gets accepted into SOAR!, a program for gifted science students. The Unicorns try to get Jessica out of the program, but their plan fails. Jessica is stuck with the program, but actually end up liking it.
Not the greatest message to deliver to young tweens out there (that girls shouldn't exert that much effort in academics and that nerds are losers) but still, points to Pascal for showing us that Jessica actually can be academically inclined if she if really wanted to be.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title: Jessica the Nerd (Sweet Valley Twins, #61)
Author: Francine Pascal
Reviewed By: Purplycookie
Not the greatest message to deliver to young tweens out there (that girls shouldn't exert that much effort in academics and that nerds are losers) but still, points to Pascal for showing us that Jessica actually can be academically inclined if she if really wanted to be.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title: Jessica the Nerd (Sweet Valley Twins, #61)
Author: Francine Pascal
Reviewed By: Purplycookie
April 29, 2009
Because being smart is NOT COOL! Sigh. Kind of a shitty message to be sending to girls reading these, who are already being bombarded with the idea that skinny cheerleaders are the ideal, you know? Still, I like the books that show that Jessica does have a brain.
May 11, 2011
Girls are always the well-adjusted folks in math/science programs. I think that by the time I whizzed through all the Sweet Valley Kids books, Mom said it was OK for me to read Sweet Valley Twins, as long as we talked about any questionable stuff. Totally fair.
October 24, 2010
Like Judy Blume when I was younger, Francine Pascal just had a way of making me feel normal and I love that.
June 22, 2013
I remember the cover but just not the story
March 22, 2015
Love this book. Sweet Valley............my childhood.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews