Little Drummer Girls

Sweet Valley Kids #75

by Francine Pascal, Marcy Dunn Ramsey (Illustrator)

In the words of 7-year-old Jessica Wakefield...



There are two Wakefield twins in our marching band, but only one drum. Which twin should play it? Me, of course. But my twin sister, Elizabeth, got picked instead! I want to play that drum more than anything. And I won't stop making noise until I do!

Genres: Childrens

96 pages, Paperback

First published February 9, 1998

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

[Neil Aplin · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, I have now audio-read several Carré books, and they all take the same form, amd have now merged into one. The style throughout is terse, with short sentences and with a knowing confidence reminiscent of public school and the establishment. Some of the references are familiar and therefore have some pleasure, whilst the humour also resonates which again makes the reading remind me of other times and places. But I wouldn't recommend audio-reading several at a time, it becomes too repetitive.

[Andy]

The Wakefield twins are at in again in another volume of the Sweeet Valley Kids series. Elizabeth and Jessica join the marching band, but there’s only one drum. Jessica really wants to play the drum, but Elizabeth gets picked to play it instead. What will Elizabeth do?

[Ruvi Perera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haha this one reminded me of my own childhood when I so badly wanted to play the drum and I managed to get it in the end!

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s Saint Pats Day! And the class is learning musical instruments to play in a parade. They all try out for whatever they want, and Mr Crane assigns the instruments. Jess really wants the drums (to be the star) even though she’s horrible at them. Liz isn’t, and of course gets to play them while Jess get the flutophone (what the hell is that by the way? I assume like a recorder?). But Jess convinces Liz to twin swap so she can play the drums. But she doesn’t get any better! Liz is acing the flutophone and gets a solo! The night before the parade, Liz gets sick, and Jess finally decides to come clean on the switch so Mr Crane can play the drums. But then Liz shows up after faking sick to get Jess to realise/own up, even though she’d already told Mr Crane (who let them waste everyone’s time) and they play their own instruments. Jess rocks the solo of course 🧐
My rating - 2/10 - once more, no lessons learned and I’m not even sure what the point was...

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the cover just not the story.