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Sweet Valley Twins #60
Ciao, Sweet Valley!
Culture clash...
Jessica Wakefield and her twin sister, Elizabeth, are looking forward to having an exchange student named Giovanna come live with them for three weeks. Jessica can't wait to show the Italian country girl all the great things about Sweet Valley. But when the Wakefields finally meet Giovanna, Jessica is in for a shock. Giovanna is gorgeous and sophisticated—and Sweet Valley bores her to death!
When Giovanna arrives at Sweet Valley Middle School, she's rude to Jessica's friends in the Unicorn Club, she talks constantly about how great Italy is, and she flirts with the cutest boys in school. As far as Jessica is concerned, Giovanna has worn out her welcome. How will she ever get through the next three weeks?
Jessica Wakefield and her twin sister, Elizabeth, are looking forward to having an exchange student named Giovanna come live with them for three weeks. Jessica can't wait to show the Italian country girl all the great things about Sweet Valley. But when the Wakefields finally meet Giovanna, Jessica is in for a shock. Giovanna is gorgeous and sophisticated—and Sweet Valley bores her to death!
When Giovanna arrives at Sweet Valley Middle School, she's rude to Jessica's friends in the Unicorn Club, she talks constantly about how great Italy is, and she flirts with the cutest boys in school. As far as Jessica is concerned, Giovanna has worn out her welcome. How will she ever get through the next three weeks?
134 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
8 people are currently reading
300 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,145 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.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 9, 2013
Synopsis: Liz & Jess want to participate in the new GO Foreign Exchange program at their school. The only problem? You have to speak a foreign language. Please. What person in Sweet Valley would get his or her head out of his or her ass long enough to learn a different language? Anyway, Mrs. Wakefield to the rescue! She immediately suggests that the twins just invite a foreign student to stay with them. Mr. Wakefield agrees in one second. No discussion happens over this whatsoever. So it's set. Mr. Lane, who organizes the program, sets the Wakefields up with Giovanna Screti from Florence, Italy. Only Jessica takes the call and she hears that Giovanni Screti will be coming, so she assumes she will get to room part-time (she and Liz are splitting) with a cute Italian boy. Of course she tells the Unicorns right away without any thought whatsoever, so she looks like a dumbass the next day when Liz tells her that it's actually Giovanna, not Giovanni. Steven, of course, doesn't want another 12-year-old girl running around the house.
The twins go over to Mrs. Dalone's house to borrow a cot. Turns out that Mrs. Dalone is actually from Sicily, Italy (how convenient). She makes the twins promise that they will bring Giovanna to meet her. But she also shows Jessica of an old picture from her life back in Sicily. The children are wearing rags and leading goats around. Naturally Jessica assumes that, in this day and age, Giovanna will look like that as well.
Only she looks BETTER than Jessica and Lila put together. She wears a fantastic leather jacket and has long, dark hair. The only trouble is that she's really not all that fluent in English. This gives the ghostwriters plenty of chances to make all foreign people sound brain damaged when they attempt English. It would seem that having an exchange student is not all sunshine and roses. Liz gets Giovanna first, and she leaves Liz's room a complete mess. She borrows things without asking. When the twins and Mrs. Dalone, on separate occasions, try to feed Giovanna Italian food, she criticizes everything about the meals. She won't eat eggs for breakfast. She doesn't get along with Jessica's friends, especially Lila, who has NOT been to Florence, Italy (only Venice and Rome). Lila truly hates Giovanna, and none more so than when they both show up at the Wakefields' "Welcome Giovanna" pool party wearing matching red bikinis. Worst of all is that Giovanna "flirts" with the boyfriends of Unicorn Club members. Really she just loves sports, and Bruce, Aaron, and Jake are more than happy to show her how it's done in America. To Jessica, Giovanna doesn't seem to like that much about Sweet Valley. The Unicorns decide that Giovanna must pay when they see Aaron and Giovanna at an ice cream shop together.
Jessica and Lila alter Giovanna's speech for Mr. Bowman's class. They make her say all of these wonderful, splendid things about America - and nothing good about Italy! Giovanna is, very rightfully, furious. She calls Jessica "locked-minded," and I believe that she is the most astute character to ever exist in Sweet Valley. She goes home to pack and return to Florence early, but Liz butts in and tries to stop her once she hears what Jessica has done. There is like a ten-page make-up session between the three of them. Jessica says that Giovanna hates everything about Sweet Valley and America, until Giovanna calls her on her bullshit and lists a lot of things that she likes. On the other hand, Jessica can't tell Giovanna one thing she likes about Italy. Ha. But Giovanna explains herself and the twins explain themselves, and all is well. Giovanna wasn't on a date with Aaron, either, she was actually buying the twins thank you gifts. She gets Jessica a matching red bikini and Liz a map of Italy and an Italian-English dictionary. The twins were total jerks to ever be so mean to her. But look at the "locked-minded" world they live in.
OH, and why do Jess & Liz get the ratings they get below? Because when it's Jessica's turn to have Giovanna move into her room for the remainder of the time, she weasles out of it with Liz at least on three separate occasions. Liz takes it in the ass, and I hated both of them so much in that moment for being so stuck-up and conceited and childish.
Or it could just be that in trying to meet my "read 75 books in 2013" goal I have grown thoroughly frustrated with the Wakefields.
Alternate Title : "Italy Vs. Sweet Valley"
Tagline: "Just how welcome is Giovanna in Sweet Valley?" (About as welcome as a boa constrictor around your neck.)
On a Scale of 1-10, How Annoying is Elizabeth? 8. She should be punched in the face by Muhammed Ali.
On a Scale of 1-10, How Obnoxious is Jessica? 8. She should get thrown into a Florida swamp with the alligators.
The Big Deal: The Wakefields' welcome party for Giovanna.
Lingering Questions: What store did Giovanna get her splendid leather jacket from?
Cover: Good or Bad?: I like it. I LOVE Maria's yellow cut-out one-piece. Liz looks like she is literally about to stab Giovanna in the back with a knife. Lila is clearly pissed, and Jessica is planning god-knows-what. Fun times!
Quotes from the Book: "Giovanna could probably teach HER a thing or two."
Take notes, Jessica Wakefield.
"'Now, now, Melissa. That's none of your business,' Elizabeth said with a laugh."
Is Liz forty years old?
"'But Jessica!'"
"'Elizabeth, you really ARE the most excellent sister in the whole, wide world.'"
"Elizabeth sighed. 'No I'm not. I'm just the most gullible.'"
You're also the most fantastically annoying person on the face of the Fiction earth.
"'I was asking you,' Janet said, 'because Giovanna is YOUR friend. YOU invited her here to Sweet Valley. YOU'RE responsible for what she does.'"
Please, Janet. Jessica isn't even responsible for what SHE does.
Moral of the Story: Italians are better than Californians.
Final Rating: 1 star. I was appalled. And I feel sorry for the residents of Florence, Italy.
The twins go over to Mrs. Dalone's house to borrow a cot. Turns out that Mrs. Dalone is actually from Sicily, Italy (how convenient). She makes the twins promise that they will bring Giovanna to meet her. But she also shows Jessica of an old picture from her life back in Sicily. The children are wearing rags and leading goats around. Naturally Jessica assumes that, in this day and age, Giovanna will look like that as well.
Only she looks BETTER than Jessica and Lila put together. She wears a fantastic leather jacket and has long, dark hair. The only trouble is that she's really not all that fluent in English. This gives the ghostwriters plenty of chances to make all foreign people sound brain damaged when they attempt English. It would seem that having an exchange student is not all sunshine and roses. Liz gets Giovanna first, and she leaves Liz's room a complete mess. She borrows things without asking. When the twins and Mrs. Dalone, on separate occasions, try to feed Giovanna Italian food, she criticizes everything about the meals. She won't eat eggs for breakfast. She doesn't get along with Jessica's friends, especially Lila, who has NOT been to Florence, Italy (only Venice and Rome). Lila truly hates Giovanna, and none more so than when they both show up at the Wakefields' "Welcome Giovanna" pool party wearing matching red bikinis. Worst of all is that Giovanna "flirts" with the boyfriends of Unicorn Club members. Really she just loves sports, and Bruce, Aaron, and Jake are more than happy to show her how it's done in America. To Jessica, Giovanna doesn't seem to like that much about Sweet Valley. The Unicorns decide that Giovanna must pay when they see Aaron and Giovanna at an ice cream shop together.
Jessica and Lila alter Giovanna's speech for Mr. Bowman's class. They make her say all of these wonderful, splendid things about America - and nothing good about Italy! Giovanna is, very rightfully, furious. She calls Jessica "locked-minded," and I believe that she is the most astute character to ever exist in Sweet Valley. She goes home to pack and return to Florence early, but Liz butts in and tries to stop her once she hears what Jessica has done. There is like a ten-page make-up session between the three of them. Jessica says that Giovanna hates everything about Sweet Valley and America, until Giovanna calls her on her bullshit and lists a lot of things that she likes. On the other hand, Jessica can't tell Giovanna one thing she likes about Italy. Ha. But Giovanna explains herself and the twins explain themselves, and all is well. Giovanna wasn't on a date with Aaron, either, she was actually buying the twins thank you gifts. She gets Jessica a matching red bikini and Liz a map of Italy and an Italian-English dictionary. The twins were total jerks to ever be so mean to her. But look at the "locked-minded" world they live in.
OH, and why do Jess & Liz get the ratings they get below? Because when it's Jessica's turn to have Giovanna move into her room for the remainder of the time, she weasles out of it with Liz at least on three separate occasions. Liz takes it in the ass, and I hated both of them so much in that moment for being so stuck-up and conceited and childish.
Or it could just be that in trying to meet my "read 75 books in 2013" goal I have grown thoroughly frustrated with the Wakefields.
Alternate Title : "Italy Vs. Sweet Valley"
Tagline: "Just how welcome is Giovanna in Sweet Valley?" (About as welcome as a boa constrictor around your neck.)
On a Scale of 1-10, How Annoying is Elizabeth? 8. She should be punched in the face by Muhammed Ali.
On a Scale of 1-10, How Obnoxious is Jessica? 8. She should get thrown into a Florida swamp with the alligators.
The Big Deal: The Wakefields' welcome party for Giovanna.
Lingering Questions: What store did Giovanna get her splendid leather jacket from?
Cover: Good or Bad?: I like it. I LOVE Maria's yellow cut-out one-piece. Liz looks like she is literally about to stab Giovanna in the back with a knife. Lila is clearly pissed, and Jessica is planning god-knows-what. Fun times!
Quotes from the Book: "Giovanna could probably teach HER a thing or two."
Take notes, Jessica Wakefield.
"'Now, now, Melissa. That's none of your business,' Elizabeth said with a laugh."
Is Liz forty years old?
"'But Jessica!'"
"'Elizabeth, you really ARE the most excellent sister in the whole, wide world.'"
"Elizabeth sighed. 'No I'm not. I'm just the most gullible.'"
You're also the most fantastically annoying person on the face of the Fiction earth.
"'I was asking you,' Janet said, 'because Giovanna is YOUR friend. YOU invited her here to Sweet Valley. YOU'RE responsible for what she does.'"
Please, Janet. Jessica isn't even responsible for what SHE does.
Moral of the Story: Italians are better than Californians.
Final Rating: 1 star. I was appalled. And I feel sorry for the residents of Florence, Italy.
August 10, 2009
This book is really good! I recommend this book to girls 8 and up.
May 5, 2022
Ah, another secondary character that will never, ever be mentioned again.
March 29, 2007
i read this whole book not knowing what Ciao really meant and thinking it was pronounced see-ay-oh
i also read like every sweet valley twins book there is.
i also read like every sweet valley twins book there is.
April 1, 2011
So good. I love this stuff. The parties, the academics, the friendships, the rivalries, the awesomeness that was Sweet Valley.
June 22, 2013
I remember the cover of the book but just don't remember what it was about.
Read
October 13, 2014awesome
Read
March 6, 2018I am pretty sure this is why I wanted my name to be Giovanna growing up.
Also, don't mess with Lila Fowler.
Also, don't mess with Lila Fowler.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews