What do you think?
Rate this book
Sweet Valley Twins #58
Elizabeth and the Orphans
Friends in need ...
Elizabeth Wakefield's friend Melissa McCormick needs help. Her mother has suddenly died, leaving Melissa and her brother, Andy, alone. Their father left years ago, so they only have each other to depend on.
If the social works find out that Melissa and Andy are now orphans, they will be put in separate foster homes. So Andy devises a plan: he and Melissa will get jobs to pay the bills and they'll tell everyone that their father is returning home soon.
Only Elizabeth knows the truth, and she sees how fast the bills and responsibilities are piling up. She also knows she has to do something—the right thing—before it's too late.
Elizabeth Wakefield's friend Melissa McCormick needs help. Her mother has suddenly died, leaving Melissa and her brother, Andy, alone. Their father left years ago, so they only have each other to depend on.
If the social works find out that Melissa and Andy are now orphans, they will be put in separate foster homes. So Andy devises a plan: he and Melissa will get jobs to pay the bills and they'll tell everyone that their father is returning home soon.
Only Elizabeth knows the truth, and she sees how fast the bills and responsibilities are piling up. She also knows she has to do something—the right thing—before it's too late.
134 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1992
2 people are currently reading
192 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 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 21, 2013
Synopsis: Dear God. The worst thing about this book is that they make the mother die WHILE YOU ARE READING IT. I would have just as soon had them be orphans before I started the book. Way to go, Francine.
So, yeah, Melissa's and Andy's mom dies around page 37 or something from a heart attack. Coincidentally (or not coincidentally at all), Elizabeth is signed up to work with Melissa on their Families project for Social Studies. Obviously this assignment is in the book because Melissa DOESN'T have a family apart from her brother. And also, conveniently enough, Jessica and Steven are feuding. Gee, I wonder if Melissa's and Andy's life troubles will teach them any sort of life lesson on how to appreciate one another? Couldn't be, could it?
I don't even want this to be a long synopsis, because I promise you that you will fall asleep. So, here is the essence of it: After their mom dies, Melissa and Andy stay with a neighbor to dodge social services so they won't be split up. Then when the neighbors go out of town, Andy gets his friend, Sam Hughes, to pretend to be their absentee father to fool social services. They move back into their old house, alone, and Andy takes up a job to make ends meet. He quits the basketball team. Then Melissa has to get a job too. She's been lying to everyone. Naturally, Liz butts in and Melissa tells her the truth. And, naturally, Liz doesn't tell anyone the truth. They find a bunch of letters under Melissa's mom's bed that are from Melissa's dad. She reads them and realizes that her dad still cares about them. She tells Liz not to contact him, even though she's dying to solve yet another family crisis.
Well, social services come in and wreck everything. They find out the truth and send Melissa and Andy to separate foster homes. But wait! Meddling Liz saves the day! She writes to the last hotel Mr. McCormick was at (okay?? and he's still there??) and tells him Melissa's and Andy's situation. Mr. McCormick, despite having been gone all of their lives, is welcomed with open arms back into the kids' lives. Problem(s) solved! Yikes.
Alternate Title : "The Most Depressing Book You Will Ever Read"
Tagline: "Can Melissa and Andy make it on their own?" (Nobody can do anything without Saint Liz.)
The Big Deal: Families Project in Social Studies
Lingering Questions: We have a new Sweet Valley Reader of the Month: Jacqueline Hurvid from Canada. I wonder what she looks like today? She was 7 when this book came out in 1992. That actually makes me pause, because I am reading a book that 7-year-olds read back in the day. Anyway, Ms. Hurvid should be 28 in 2013 time, depending on her birthday.
Cover: Good or Bad?: A typical Elizabeth cover. She is in her "pat, pat" pose. The kids are Melissa and Andy, the subjects of the book. Liz looks okay on this one.
Quotes from the Book: "'He's too cute to trade in, Jessica,' Lila pointed out."
She's talking about Steven, and this is totally foreshadowing her fling with him in Sweet Valley High!
"'How do you know she's boring?' Elizabeth demanded. 'We hardly know her.'
'If she were worth knowing, we'd know her,' Lila remarked."
Lila is fantastic.
"'You know we don't allow homework at the Unicorner. It's bad for our image.'" -Janet Howell
What is their image? To appear stupid at all times?
"'I guess I'm just not as tolerant as you, Saint Elizabeth.'"
I have to agree with Jess there. I'm not tolerant either. And I love that she called her Saint Liz!
Moral of the Story: If your mother just died and you are now an orphan, you don't have to worry, because your long-absent father will suddenly turn up and save the day.
Final Rating: One star. This is probably the most depressing thing you have ever or will ever read.
So, yeah, Melissa's and Andy's mom dies around page 37 or something from a heart attack. Coincidentally (or not coincidentally at all), Elizabeth is signed up to work with Melissa on their Families project for Social Studies. Obviously this assignment is in the book because Melissa DOESN'T have a family apart from her brother. And also, conveniently enough, Jessica and Steven are feuding. Gee, I wonder if Melissa's and Andy's life troubles will teach them any sort of life lesson on how to appreciate one another? Couldn't be, could it?
I don't even want this to be a long synopsis, because I promise you that you will fall asleep. So, here is the essence of it: After their mom dies, Melissa and Andy stay with a neighbor to dodge social services so they won't be split up. Then when the neighbors go out of town, Andy gets his friend, Sam Hughes, to pretend to be their absentee father to fool social services. They move back into their old house, alone, and Andy takes up a job to make ends meet. He quits the basketball team. Then Melissa has to get a job too. She's been lying to everyone. Naturally, Liz butts in and Melissa tells her the truth. And, naturally, Liz doesn't tell anyone the truth. They find a bunch of letters under Melissa's mom's bed that are from Melissa's dad. She reads them and realizes that her dad still cares about them. She tells Liz not to contact him, even though she's dying to solve yet another family crisis.
Well, social services come in and wreck everything. They find out the truth and send Melissa and Andy to separate foster homes. But wait! Meddling Liz saves the day! She writes to the last hotel Mr. McCormick was at (okay?? and he's still there??) and tells him Melissa's and Andy's situation. Mr. McCormick, despite having been gone all of their lives, is welcomed with open arms back into the kids' lives. Problem(s) solved! Yikes.
Alternate Title : "The Most Depressing Book You Will Ever Read"
Tagline: "Can Melissa and Andy make it on their own?" (Nobody can do anything without Saint Liz.)
The Big Deal: Families Project in Social Studies
Lingering Questions: We have a new Sweet Valley Reader of the Month: Jacqueline Hurvid from Canada. I wonder what she looks like today? She was 7 when this book came out in 1992. That actually makes me pause, because I am reading a book that 7-year-olds read back in the day. Anyway, Ms. Hurvid should be 28 in 2013 time, depending on her birthday.
Cover: Good or Bad?: A typical Elizabeth cover. She is in her "pat, pat" pose. The kids are Melissa and Andy, the subjects of the book. Liz looks okay on this one.
Quotes from the Book: "'He's too cute to trade in, Jessica,' Lila pointed out."
She's talking about Steven, and this is totally foreshadowing her fling with him in Sweet Valley High!
"'How do you know she's boring?' Elizabeth demanded. 'We hardly know her.'
'If she were worth knowing, we'd know her,' Lila remarked."
Lila is fantastic.
"'You know we don't allow homework at the Unicorner. It's bad for our image.'" -Janet Howell
What is their image? To appear stupid at all times?
"'I guess I'm just not as tolerant as you, Saint Elizabeth.'"
I have to agree with Jess there. I'm not tolerant either. And I love that she called her Saint Liz!
Moral of the Story: If your mother just died and you are now an orphan, you don't have to worry, because your long-absent father will suddenly turn up and save the day.
Final Rating: One star. This is probably the most depressing thing you have ever or will ever read.
April 8, 2022
That ending is so far-fetched, but then again this is Sweet Valley so what did I expect?
The best part of this book is when Steven demands the "channel changer" from Jessica. I guess the word "remote" wasn't really a thing at this point?
The best part of this book is when Steven demands the "channel changer" from Jessica. I guess the word "remote" wasn't really a thing at this point?
January 26, 2024
What a great book
April 29, 2009
One of those books that makes you go, BUT THEY'RE TWELVE FFS!
May 11, 2011
To a point, I actually liked when the plots started getting super-dramatic.
June 22, 2013
I remember the cover just not the story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews