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Sweet Valley Twins #5
Sneaking Out
All the kids at Sweet Valley Middle School are talking about the big Johnny Buck concert. For the second year in a row, the twins' parents say they are too young to go. Elizabeth is disappointed, but will do what her parents say. But nothing and no one in the world can stop Jessica from seeing her rock idol—even if it means sneaking out.
Soon Jessica comes up with a plan that she knows will fool her parents—but it means neglecting her responsibilities. Will Elizabeth, once again, step in and take over for her sister—or will she tell her parents the truth?
Soon Jessica comes up with a plan that she knows will fool her parents—but it means neglecting her responsibilities. Will Elizabeth, once again, step in and take over for her sister—or will she tell her parents the truth?
112 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1986
11 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,142 books1,839 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 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 27, 2013
Super Short Synopsis: Jessica wants to see her favorite rock star, Johnny Buck, live at Secca Lake, but her parents insist she's too young to go. I don't know what they're talking about, because clearly 12-year-olds go to rock concerts all the time. Or at least they go to see Taylor Swift. Jessica is more stubborn than a bull in Pamplona, so she finds a way to get the money for the $25 ticket (what?! It was only 1986) and sneak past her parents. Lila says she can stay with her and that they will go together. While with the family at Casey's Ice Cream one night, Jessica sees a sign on the bulletin board for a dog-sitting job that pays exactly $25 (coinky-dink!). She gets the job, gets paid in advance, and buys her ticket to see The Buck (fuck her gently with a chainsaw!). However, she has to watch Mrs. Bramble's dog, Sally, for three days in a row. She (Sally) stays at the Wakefield's Spanish-tiled split-level Barbie dream home with all of Casa Wakefield (sans Jessica) doing the work. Jessica traipses to the concert in Liz's dress for the upcoming 6th-grade dance and her mom's Mother's Day present (a pair of gold hoop earrings). She finds out that The Buck (aka Johnny) has given every girl there the same autograph and same souvenir cap. She is humiliated, and her night is a total bust. While she is gone Mrs. Bramble comes home to find Sally missing. Liz stalls to protect her twin from further punishment (the horrors!) and convinces Mrs. B that Sally has already made it back to Shady Dale Road. Sally has, indeed, and Jessica is made to apologize in person (and earn back the money). Jess never gets punished for attending the concert, but she has to walk Sally for a whole month to work off her debt (she was previously terrified of dogs).
Alternate Title: "The Buck Stops Here"
On a Scale of 1-10, How Sociopathic is Jessica?: 8, but at least half of that is due to her family's enabling behavior. She gets away with sneaking off to the concert because of Liz. Her family doesn't force her to care for Sally. Jessica lies to her parents to attend the concert, abandons Sally to go, wears her sister's brand new dress and her mother's to-be-gifted earrings, hastily ties Sally up and loses her, and doesn't think twice about losing poor old Mrs. Bramble's only companion.
On a Scale of 1-10, How Annoying is Elizabeth?: A perfect 10, because she says at LEAST five or six times how much she loooooves Jess and how she just CANNOT STAND for her sociopathic other to be punished, because Jessica always means well. (Clearly. Not.)
Cover: Good or Bad?: Fantastic! Jessica's hair is amazing, and I love her outfit (even today). She looks so mysterious and not at all like the awkward 12-year-old she should so clearly look like.
Fantabulous Quotes (with Commentary):
"Only a few years older than the girls and their friends, he was light-years away in sophistication and maturity."
-First of all, only a FEW years older? So, like, what? 15, tops? Was he the Justin Bieber of Sweet Valley circa 1986? Also, it takes incredibly little to be more mature than Jessica and Elizabeth. I've met 5-year-olds with more self-control.
"'It's just that when his eyes met mine, I couldn't move. It was the same soft, wonderful feeling I get when I kiss his poster good night.'"
-Ew. Jessica, you are 12. Just stop.
Jessica "explodes like a blond bomb" into Liz's room on page 11. I was actually giddy for the ghostwriters on that one.
"She was shocked to find Amy standing in front of the full-length mirror, wearing the purple blouse Jessica had bought at Kendall's. It was a few sizes too big for her."
-HOLD THE PHONE. Are you telling me that in the middle school someone was actually skinnier than the Wakefields? No wonder Jessica didn't want Amy on the Booster Squad.
"For as long as she could remember, Jessica had detested the sight, smell, and touch of all dogs."
-That makes no sense. What about Prince Albert in Sweet Valley High? Jessica loved that dog as much as Liz.
"The last thing Mrs. Wakefield wanted to discourage in her daughter was loving concern."
-"Instead, she hoped to encourage sociopathic and narcissistic tendencies."
"So, although Jessica was in hot water for being careless, at least her parents didn't know she had also disobeyed them. Elizabeth couldn't bear to see her twin punished, even when she deserved it!"
-It's admirable that we all think proper punishment would change Jessica. Once a sociopath, always a sociopath.
Lingering Questions: Why yes. Is Johnny Buck the Justin Bieber of our generation? And why doesn't Jessica go running in fear from Prince Albert at age 16? I would also like to know what concert in the history of rock concerts was ever held at TWO THIRTY in the AFTERNOON?! I know this was never a thing, even in the 80s.
Final Rating: 2 1/2 stars. You can suck my right big toe, Jessica Wakefield!
Alternate Title: "The Buck Stops Here"
On a Scale of 1-10, How Sociopathic is Jessica?: 8, but at least half of that is due to her family's enabling behavior. She gets away with sneaking off to the concert because of Liz. Her family doesn't force her to care for Sally. Jessica lies to her parents to attend the concert, abandons Sally to go, wears her sister's brand new dress and her mother's to-be-gifted earrings, hastily ties Sally up and loses her, and doesn't think twice about losing poor old Mrs. Bramble's only companion.
On a Scale of 1-10, How Annoying is Elizabeth?: A perfect 10, because she says at LEAST five or six times how much she loooooves Jess and how she just CANNOT STAND for her sociopathic other to be punished, because Jessica always means well. (Clearly. Not.)
Cover: Good or Bad?: Fantastic! Jessica's hair is amazing, and I love her outfit (even today). She looks so mysterious and not at all like the awkward 12-year-old she should so clearly look like.
Fantabulous Quotes (with Commentary):
"Only a few years older than the girls and their friends, he was light-years away in sophistication and maturity."
-First of all, only a FEW years older? So, like, what? 15, tops? Was he the Justin Bieber of Sweet Valley circa 1986? Also, it takes incredibly little to be more mature than Jessica and Elizabeth. I've met 5-year-olds with more self-control.
"'It's just that when his eyes met mine, I couldn't move. It was the same soft, wonderful feeling I get when I kiss his poster good night.'"
-Ew. Jessica, you are 12. Just stop.
Jessica "explodes like a blond bomb" into Liz's room on page 11. I was actually giddy for the ghostwriters on that one.
"She was shocked to find Amy standing in front of the full-length mirror, wearing the purple blouse Jessica had bought at Kendall's. It was a few sizes too big for her."
-HOLD THE PHONE. Are you telling me that in the middle school someone was actually skinnier than the Wakefields? No wonder Jessica didn't want Amy on the Booster Squad.
"For as long as she could remember, Jessica had detested the sight, smell, and touch of all dogs."
-That makes no sense. What about Prince Albert in Sweet Valley High? Jessica loved that dog as much as Liz.
"The last thing Mrs. Wakefield wanted to discourage in her daughter was loving concern."
-"Instead, she hoped to encourage sociopathic and narcissistic tendencies."
"So, although Jessica was in hot water for being careless, at least her parents didn't know she had also disobeyed them. Elizabeth couldn't bear to see her twin punished, even when she deserved it!"
-It's admirable that we all think proper punishment would change Jessica. Once a sociopath, always a sociopath.
Lingering Questions: Why yes. Is Johnny Buck the Justin Bieber of our generation? And why doesn't Jessica go running in fear from Prince Albert at age 16? I would also like to know what concert in the history of rock concerts was ever held at TWO THIRTY in the AFTERNOON?! I know this was never a thing, even in the 80s.
Final Rating: 2 1/2 stars. You can suck my right big toe, Jessica Wakefield!
February 10, 2018
Jessica, how low can you sink? And why in the world does Elizabeth enable her so darn much? Argh.
I really didn't like this one very much. Jessica wants to go to a concert and works out a plan to sneak out. She just needs money and gets a dog sitting job to pay for her ticket - only she hates dogs.
This really bugged me. I can forgive a lot from the twins, they're only 12 after all, but her treatment of Sally the poor dog in the book, is callous and cruel. I don't care if she is afraid of dogs, can she at least show a little compassion and not be resentful of filling a stupid water dish? And then everyone else jumping in to do her work...that's so not cool.
So... in the end there are really no lessons learned. Jessica makes a friend in the dog's owner (who turns out to be pretty cool) and everyone lives happily ever after - in a way that guarantees Elizabeth is going to need some serious therapy as an adult.
*shakes head* I really am questioning my decision to re-read this series.
I really didn't like this one very much. Jessica wants to go to a concert and works out a plan to sneak out. She just needs money and gets a dog sitting job to pay for her ticket - only she hates dogs.
This really bugged me. I can forgive a lot from the twins, they're only 12 after all, but her treatment of Sally the poor dog in the book, is callous and cruel. I don't care if she is afraid of dogs, can she at least show a little compassion and not be resentful of filling a stupid water dish? And then everyone else jumping in to do her work...that's so not cool.
So... in the end there are really no lessons learned. Jessica makes a friend in the dog's owner (who turns out to be pretty cool) and everyone lives happily ever after - in a way that guarantees Elizabeth is going to need some serious therapy as an adult.
*shakes head* I really am questioning my decision to re-read this series.
December 31, 2020
Aside from Jessica’s stellar outfit in the cover if this book, this series rapidly went down hill for me.
Another Jessica heavy storyline, as she “works” to get money for a concert ticket that she will have to sneak out to (girl you are TWELVE). Of course miss snob Elizabeth is there to cover for her (badly) while fighting her conscious...
My teenage years make more sense now re-reading these books. So far they are terrible role models the both of them, and I don’t think there’s any moral, or lesson learned? They just keep on being terrible.
Another Jessica heavy storyline, as she “works” to get money for a concert ticket that she will have to sneak out to (girl you are TWELVE). Of course miss snob Elizabeth is there to cover for her (badly) while fighting her conscious...
My teenage years make more sense now re-reading these books. So far they are terrible role models the both of them, and I don’t think there’s any moral, or lesson learned? They just keep on being terrible.
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October 26, 2025Another anomaly - in SVH Jessica convinces the Wakefields to get a golden retriever, Albert. In this book, she has a deathly fear of dogs 🤣
Despite this, Jessica answers an advert to dogsit for Mrs Bramble's elderly dog, Sally. She even asks for an advance on her pay so she can buy a ticket to Johnny Buck's concert (tickets have only just been released and the concert is at 3pm on a Saturday??) She's in such a hurry to get to the concert that she ties Sally to a tree with a washing line (!) The way I screamed 😱
Despite this, Jessica answers an advert to dogsit for Mrs Bramble's elderly dog, Sally. She even asks for an advance on her pay so she can buy a ticket to Johnny Buck's concert (tickets have only just been released and the concert is at 3pm on a Saturday??) She's in such a hurry to get to the concert that she ties Sally to a tree with a washing line (!) The way I screamed 😱
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2017
Two things I will never forget about this book is the quote about maturity (I'll have to remember that.) and the idea of earning trust. The punishment was somewhat reasonable, the moral about sneaking out was age-appropriate, but my interest in this book diminished halfway through the book.
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March 24, 2023The first five Sweet Valley Twins books make for a lot of difficult reading, and not because of the vocabulary in them. We're already had to deal with orphan bullying, gross injustice and tomboy teasing, and now the series throws in lying to sweet old ladies and disliking sweet old dogs.
Jessica desperately wants to go to the Johnny Buck concert. Unfortunately her parents won't let her and, while that wouldn't stop her, she's also broke. She needs to come up with $25—fast. The trouble is, the only job that's on offer involves dog-sitting for a dear old lady—and Jessica's terrified of dogs.
Of course, this is Jessica, so she lies to Mrs Bracken and says that she absolutely adores dogs, gets the job, and proceeds to make her parents, Liz and Steven do most of the work. Meanwhile, she's telling the Unicorns and Bruce that she and Johnny Buck are tight, which is just a slight exaggeration on “he threw his cap to Liz and me last time he was in town”.
As I said earlier, it's hard to watch Jessica manipulating an elderly lady for a quick buck, but at the same time I understand the mentality, because when I was around her age I would've probably done much worse if it meant I could've gone to the Guns n' Roses concert my parents banned me from seeing. And this time around, there really is a consequence to Jess's actions. Not just a punishment, but also a genuine realisation that her behaviour's been pretty shoddy.
I also find Elizabeth more likeable than usual in this book. She's not a complete goody-two-shoes for a change. She covers up for her sister and helps her out, but grows a spine by the end and refuses to take on any more of Jess's dirty work.
Moral of the Story? Don't make commitments you can't or won't keep.
[re-read]
Jessica desperately wants to go to the Johnny Buck concert. Unfortunately her parents won't let her and, while that wouldn't stop her, she's also broke. She needs to come up with $25—fast. The trouble is, the only job that's on offer involves dog-sitting for a dear old lady—and Jessica's terrified of dogs.
Of course, this is Jessica, so she lies to Mrs Bracken and says that she absolutely adores dogs, gets the job, and proceeds to make her parents, Liz and Steven do most of the work. Meanwhile, she's telling the Unicorns and Bruce that she and Johnny Buck are tight, which is just a slight exaggeration on “he threw his cap to Liz and me last time he was in town”.
As I said earlier, it's hard to watch Jessica manipulating an elderly lady for a quick buck, but at the same time I understand the mentality, because when I was around her age I would've probably done much worse if it meant I could've gone to the Guns n' Roses concert my parents banned me from seeing. And this time around, there really is a consequence to Jess's actions. Not just a punishment, but also a genuine realisation that her behaviour's been pretty shoddy.
I also find Elizabeth more likeable than usual in this book. She's not a complete goody-two-shoes for a change. She covers up for her sister and helps her out, but grows a spine by the end and refuses to take on any more of Jess's dirty work.
Moral of the Story? Don't make commitments you can't or won't keep.
[re-read]
July 15, 2017
Ugh, the way Jessica treats poor Sally in this book is just disgusting. As an animal lover, I really had a hard time with that.
I did get a good laugh out of the "big rock concert" starting at 4:30 PM, though. I was on Ned and Alice's side about the girls being too young to go until I read that! I'm pretty sure any concert that has you home by 8 PM (as stated in the book) is not one you need to worry about.
I did get a good laugh out of the "big rock concert" starting at 4:30 PM, though. I was on Ned and Alice's side about the girls being too young to go until I read that! I'm pretty sure any concert that has you home by 8 PM (as stated in the book) is not one you need to worry about.
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July 21, 2009this is so dumb. jessica decides to sneak away to a rock concert even though her parants have said no.
how stupid can she be?!!!!!!!!????????
how stupid can she be?!!!!!!!!????????
November 1, 2012
wow! loved it!
February 21, 2015
This book was. Good
December 20, 2019
Further proof that Jessica really should have been drowned at birth.
June 12, 2024
“Sneaking Out” (Sweet Valley Twins, Number 5) by Francine Pascal was released by Bantam Skylark Books in 1986. This wonderful children’s book tells a story about eleven year old Jessica Wakefield’s defiance of her parents decision that she not attend a Johnny Buck rock and roll concert with her middle school friend Lila Fowler. Jessica has a deep dislike of animals, she struggles with learning the pragmatics of mathematics, and she has a very unique view of how to plan conflicting life events. She also has a twin sister who loves animals, has excellent math skills, and is very open to following parental guidance. When the twins are told by their parents to not attend the Johnny Buck rock concert, Elizabeth complies but Jessica refuses to obey her parents’ directive. In defiance Jessica develops a very unique strategy for raising money to buy the Johnny Buck concert tickets by getting her family to care for an old and infirm dog that is loved deeply by an elderly owner; and she uses deception to leverage her friendship group to provide her transportation to the concert. Also, she implements a set of very unusual tactics for procuring concert memorabilia. However with few exceptions all of Jessica’s strategies fail. The dog under her care named Sally escapes, the concert memorabilia is worthless, her parents discover her “sneaking out” deceptions, and these failures cause Jessica to experience great sadness and emotional turmoil. When the book ends, Jessica experiences forgiveness, and she is embraced by the healing love of her family and friends. (P)
September 30, 2017
I once again think that Jessica was just awful.
She was told she couldn't go to a concert and yet she went anyway. She claimed she was staying with her friend Lila. She did, but she didn't say that she was going to the concert too.
Jessica tried to do everything to get 25 bucks to go to the concert. She ended up being a dog sitter and she hates dogs. She was just awful to that dog I thought. Not abusing it but putting it off on her brother and sister. The worst part was she lost Sally, the dog. She wanted to get to her concert so bad that she left Sally tied to a tree to wait on Elizabeth and she escaped.
I thought that Jessica should have gotten a worse punishment than she did. A month of walking Sally is nothing even if she hates the dog. She should have had to pay the money back with her allowance or something. I thought she should have been caught at the concert by her brother or after by her mom.
Elizabeth thankfully didn't give in when Jessica tried get her to walk Sally the first morning she was supposed to. I didn't think Elizabeth should have forgiven Jessica for losing their mom's earrings that would been her bday present that Elizabeth had saved up for. Jessica got off to easy and acted like a she was spoiled brat and things revolved around her when it doesn't.
She was told she couldn't go to a concert and yet she went anyway. She claimed she was staying with her friend Lila. She did, but she didn't say that she was going to the concert too.
Jessica tried to do everything to get 25 bucks to go to the concert. She ended up being a dog sitter and she hates dogs. She was just awful to that dog I thought. Not abusing it but putting it off on her brother and sister. The worst part was she lost Sally, the dog. She wanted to get to her concert so bad that she left Sally tied to a tree to wait on Elizabeth and she escaped.
I thought that Jessica should have gotten a worse punishment than she did. A month of walking Sally is nothing even if she hates the dog. She should have had to pay the money back with her allowance or something. I thought she should have been caught at the concert by her brother or after by her mom.
Elizabeth thankfully didn't give in when Jessica tried get her to walk Sally the first morning she was supposed to. I didn't think Elizabeth should have forgiven Jessica for losing their mom's earrings that would been her bday present that Elizabeth had saved up for. Jessica got off to easy and acted like a she was spoiled brat and things revolved around her when it doesn't.
May 29, 2022
Jessica is genuinely one of the worst characters I've ever read. She is so self-centered that she can't even stop to look at what she is doing or how much trouble she is going to be in. Jessica is so annoying. I love love love Elizabeth though and I understand her trying to protect Jessica since that is her twin. I'm really sad that I don't own a Sweet Valley Twins story that focuses on Elizabeth's story, because I think I would've liked it a lot more.
All in all, this book is average. It is kind of what you would expect in a book created for elementary children and I probably would've enjoyed it at that time, but I'm just not an elementary school child anymore.
All in all, this book is average. It is kind of what you would expect in a book created for elementary children and I probably would've enjoyed it at that time, but I'm just not an elementary school child anymore.
June 3, 2025
My daughter and I started our own Sweet Valley book club. I’m reading the book first, then she reads it and we discuss. This one was darling- about one sister being devious but learning a lesson in the end.
May 27, 2022
Sneaking Out
Plot" The Buck is coming to town and all the girls of Sweet Valley Middle School are all hot and bothered. Well as PG as you can get because after all this *is* the Sweet Valley Twins series and Jessica's "fantasies" don't go past an autograph. Which if this was when I was in middle school. well, I'll just leave it there. Anyway, she cannot WAIT to pull this blue-eyed, curly, blond-haired, hottie backstage and have him get his hands all over … her striped hat. Which he tossed "especially to her" the last time he was there. (Hey The Buck's sounds just like Jessica and Elizabeth's descriptions that we're hit over the head within every book. Wouldn't it be intriguing and a scary twist if they were all related?). (Alice's secret love child). BUT as all kids know parents just DO NOT understand and will not let the twins go to the concert. But does this stop Jessica? What do you think? She's JESSICA WAKEFIELD. So she thinks up a plan and she thinks it up quickly. There's a sweet old lady named Mrs. Bramble that just so happens to be paying 25.00 (the exact price of the tickets) to watch her dog Sally for the weekend. BUT Isn't Jessica afraid of dogs? I think we all know where this is going. Jessica takes the job but we all know Sally can't (and will never) be able to compete with the Buck. So off Jess goes to meet her blond, curly-haired, flavor of the month. But it turns out she's not the only one that can "sneak out".
My Thoughts:
*You can tell this is an old book. Only 25.00 for a concert ticket? You won't even get a seat way in the back with 25.00.
*Why can Steven go to the concert and the twins can't? What happened at the last JB concert? A riot? A shooting? Does The Buck get buck wild on stage and strip? Do a little bumping and grinding? The Wakefield's claim the concert and the crowd is "too fast" for them. HMM!
*But yet I doubt that and the concert is over at 8:30. Now you tell me what concert do you know of that's over at 8:30. The WARM up act isn't even on at that time. You're out of a concert at least 12:30 going on one in the morning normally. So that in itself is LAME! Even if it's an outdoor concert.
*And why would JB want to join the Unicorns (snorts)? And not only that meet up with him after the concert because she wrote him a letter. That must have been SOME letter. Did she put provocative pictures inside? I bet had this been today she would have sent them to his Snap Chat or Instagram account in a message. It's crazy that she even thinks he READ her letter period. He's probably got "people" to answer his fan mail.
*This book kind of has the feel of the "Right On" and "Fresh" era in the 80's were you posted the pictures out of the magazines of all your favorite pop and RNB singers all over your walls. I remember it well. I bet we all had a "Johnny Buck" back then. Who we would have done ANYTHING to see live in concert and fantasized about. (Thinking) hmm. Who was "The Buck" of my middle school fantasies?
*Now I can't really fault Jessica. Especially the part where she freaks out when Sally shoots between her legs. I'm TERRIFIED of dogs myself and I would NEVER volunteer to watch one. NEVER EVER E V E R! So part of me wants to say she's brave for even staying in the same room with Sally for 10 minutes and having her get that close to her. That took GUTS! Double cut in the gut to do it for a "fantasy" (which is about all JB is summed up) to get to a concert and not only lose 25 dollars (cause it doesn't sound like she even enjoyed the show ) AND an expensive earring to find out that the thing you treasure and think he's given only to you he's passing around in every town he goes (LOL) I'm talking about CAPS here people. Get your mind out of the gutter. I want SO BAD to fault Jessica for being naïve about this cap thing, but it is kinda hard. It's easy to do it with the letter. He never even answered that! But this is the first concert she's been to of his so she probably, in all honesty, wouldn't know about the hat. And then I guess I can see being in middle school and you get something from your idol and want to believe you’re the only one. So I'll excuse Jessica just this once. She had a ROUGH enough life lesson. And then in all "reality" what "CAN" you say about a rock star "belongs" just to you? Jessica is 12. Johnny Buck is probably at LEAST sixteen and famous. He's been from city to city. He's probably been just as passed around as those hats of his. I'm just saying. I even felt bad she had to face Mrs. Bramble. Even tho she was cool about it. BUT even though Jessica needs to learn a lesson for almost letting poor Sally possibly run out in the road and get run over, I thought it was just a little mean of Mrs. Bramble to make her do something she's clearly terrified off. Couldn't she have had some house chores she could have substituted? But clearly, it did Jess some good because in SVH her fear of dogs seems to have vanished and she becomes a dog lover and tries to sneak in a dog. I think this book is also referenced. I bet she owes that all to Mrs. Bramble.
RATING: 5
Plot" The Buck is coming to town and all the girls of Sweet Valley Middle School are all hot and bothered. Well as PG as you can get because after all this *is* the Sweet Valley Twins series and Jessica's "fantasies" don't go past an autograph. Which if this was when I was in middle school. well, I'll just leave it there. Anyway, she cannot WAIT to pull this blue-eyed, curly, blond-haired, hottie backstage and have him get his hands all over … her striped hat. Which he tossed "especially to her" the last time he was there. (Hey The Buck's sounds just like Jessica and Elizabeth's descriptions that we're hit over the head within every book. Wouldn't it be intriguing and a scary twist if they were all related?). (Alice's secret love child). BUT as all kids know parents just DO NOT understand and will not let the twins go to the concert. But does this stop Jessica? What do you think? She's JESSICA WAKEFIELD. So she thinks up a plan and she thinks it up quickly. There's a sweet old lady named Mrs. Bramble that just so happens to be paying 25.00 (the exact price of the tickets) to watch her dog Sally for the weekend. BUT Isn't Jessica afraid of dogs? I think we all know where this is going. Jessica takes the job but we all know Sally can't (and will never) be able to compete with the Buck. So off Jess goes to meet her blond, curly-haired, flavor of the month. But it turns out she's not the only one that can "sneak out".
My Thoughts:
*You can tell this is an old book. Only 25.00 for a concert ticket? You won't even get a seat way in the back with 25.00.
*Why can Steven go to the concert and the twins can't? What happened at the last JB concert? A riot? A shooting? Does The Buck get buck wild on stage and strip? Do a little bumping and grinding? The Wakefield's claim the concert and the crowd is "too fast" for them. HMM!
*But yet I doubt that and the concert is over at 8:30. Now you tell me what concert do you know of that's over at 8:30. The WARM up act isn't even on at that time. You're out of a concert at least 12:30 going on one in the morning normally. So that in itself is LAME! Even if it's an outdoor concert.
*And why would JB want to join the Unicorns (snorts)? And not only that meet up with him after the concert because she wrote him a letter. That must have been SOME letter. Did she put provocative pictures inside? I bet had this been today she would have sent them to his Snap Chat or Instagram account in a message. It's crazy that she even thinks he READ her letter period. He's probably got "people" to answer his fan mail.
*This book kind of has the feel of the "Right On" and "Fresh" era in the 80's were you posted the pictures out of the magazines of all your favorite pop and RNB singers all over your walls. I remember it well. I bet we all had a "Johnny Buck" back then. Who we would have done ANYTHING to see live in concert and fantasized about. (Thinking) hmm. Who was "The Buck" of my middle school fantasies?
*Now I can't really fault Jessica. Especially the part where she freaks out when Sally shoots between her legs. I'm TERRIFIED of dogs myself and I would NEVER volunteer to watch one. NEVER EVER E V E R! So part of me wants to say she's brave for even staying in the same room with Sally for 10 minutes and having her get that close to her. That took GUTS! Double cut in the gut to do it for a "fantasy" (which is about all JB is summed up) to get to a concert and not only lose 25 dollars (cause it doesn't sound like she even enjoyed the show ) AND an expensive earring to find out that the thing you treasure and think he's given only to you he's passing around in every town he goes (LOL) I'm talking about CAPS here people. Get your mind out of the gutter. I want SO BAD to fault Jessica for being naïve about this cap thing, but it is kinda hard. It's easy to do it with the letter. He never even answered that! But this is the first concert she's been to of his so she probably, in all honesty, wouldn't know about the hat. And then I guess I can see being in middle school and you get something from your idol and want to believe you’re the only one. So I'll excuse Jessica just this once. She had a ROUGH enough life lesson. And then in all "reality" what "CAN" you say about a rock star "belongs" just to you? Jessica is 12. Johnny Buck is probably at LEAST sixteen and famous. He's been from city to city. He's probably been just as passed around as those hats of his. I'm just saying. I even felt bad she had to face Mrs. Bramble. Even tho she was cool about it. BUT even though Jessica needs to learn a lesson for almost letting poor Sally possibly run out in the road and get run over, I thought it was just a little mean of Mrs. Bramble to make her do something she's clearly terrified off. Couldn't she have had some house chores she could have substituted? But clearly, it did Jess some good because in SVH her fear of dogs seems to have vanished and she becomes a dog lover and tries to sneak in a dog. I think this book is also referenced. I bet she owes that all to Mrs. Bramble.
RATING: 5
December 21, 2019
I just can't stand Jessica... she gets worse from book to book and everyone enables her
April 11, 2020
Jessica Wakefield is her typical self doing what she can to get what she wants while her twin loves and supports her choices even when it’s upsetting.
November 22, 2020
You would think that Elizabeth would catch on to Jessica's mind games at some point but I doubt she ever will.
June 15, 2021
It was amazing
December 20, 2023
What a great book
February 27, 2022
Sweet Valley Twins 5 - Sneaking Out
It’s Johnny Buck time baby! Jess is even going to convince him to join the Unicorns! Unfortunately the twins are still too young to go alone, and their parents are busy. Steven won’t let them tag along on his date, so no go 🤷🏼♀️ Jess of course doesn’t accept that. So now she has to find $25 to buy a ticket. She tries to convince Amy to buy her new purple blouse, but Liz foils her plan. Then - the solution - a neighbour needs a dog sitter and is paying $25! Jess hates dogs but convinces Mrs Bramble she’s the perfect companion for Sally. Jess sells the Unicorns on a secret romance with the Buck (because she wrote one purple letter 😬) and Lila agrees to help her sneak out to the concert 👌🏻 Of course, all the Wakefields help look after Sally - except Jess. But it’s finally Johnny Buck day! Mrs Bramble is held up, Jess is running late and no one is home, so she ties up Sally outside. Genius! Of course Liz gets home and Sally is gone. Jess meanwhile, loses Lila at the concert and realises Johnny gives out hats to girls like candy on Halloween! She gets trampled by a crowd and is miserable. But so is Liz who has to admit to Alice and Mrs Bramble what happened (leaving out the concert). Luckily after hours of searching they find Sally at home, and Liz allows Jess enough time to get back to Lila’s. Where Liz discovers she’s wearing Liz’s new dress and lost one of Alice’s birthday present earrings! Jess admits everything to Mrs Bramble, who makes her walk Sally twice a day for a month as payment. The bracelet Mrs B got Jess is regifted to Alice and Jess gets no punishment and learns nothing!
My rating - 3/10 - Jess was horrid and selfish and this one was a bit slow 🥱.
#sweetvalley #sweetvalleykids #sweetvalleytwins #unicornclub #sweetvalleyjnrhigh #sweetvalleyhigh #sweetvalleysenioryear #sweetvalleyuniversity #sweetvalleyseries #bookreview
It’s Johnny Buck time baby! Jess is even going to convince him to join the Unicorns! Unfortunately the twins are still too young to go alone, and their parents are busy. Steven won’t let them tag along on his date, so no go 🤷🏼♀️ Jess of course doesn’t accept that. So now she has to find $25 to buy a ticket. She tries to convince Amy to buy her new purple blouse, but Liz foils her plan. Then - the solution - a neighbour needs a dog sitter and is paying $25! Jess hates dogs but convinces Mrs Bramble she’s the perfect companion for Sally. Jess sells the Unicorns on a secret romance with the Buck (because she wrote one purple letter 😬) and Lila agrees to help her sneak out to the concert 👌🏻 Of course, all the Wakefields help look after Sally - except Jess. But it’s finally Johnny Buck day! Mrs Bramble is held up, Jess is running late and no one is home, so she ties up Sally outside. Genius! Of course Liz gets home and Sally is gone. Jess meanwhile, loses Lila at the concert and realises Johnny gives out hats to girls like candy on Halloween! She gets trampled by a crowd and is miserable. But so is Liz who has to admit to Alice and Mrs Bramble what happened (leaving out the concert). Luckily after hours of searching they find Sally at home, and Liz allows Jess enough time to get back to Lila’s. Where Liz discovers she’s wearing Liz’s new dress and lost one of Alice’s birthday present earrings! Jess admits everything to Mrs Bramble, who makes her walk Sally twice a day for a month as payment. The bracelet Mrs B got Jess is regifted to Alice and Jess gets no punishment and learns nothing!
My rating - 3/10 - Jess was horrid and selfish and this one was a bit slow 🥱.
#sweetvalley #sweetvalleykids #sweetvalleytwins #unicornclub #sweetvalleyjnrhigh #sweetvalleyhigh #sweetvalleysenioryear #sweetvalleyuniversity #sweetvalleyseries #bookreview
August 8, 2019
RATING: 4 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
I picked up one of the Sweet Valley Twins novel at the library (before my strict read in order only rule) and fell in love with the California twins and their friends and family. I had just started reading thicker chapter books, and joining the library summer reading club, I went through these books pretty quick. I was excited that I could read and really fell in love with books and reading. I believe I was about 7-9 when I read these books so it was exciting to read about 12 year old popular preteens. I could relate to both Elizabeth and Jessica, and really could not pick which twin I liked better. I would not finish this series as I would quickly move on to Sweet Valley High (Double Love). These are very tame books, and any age could read them. First crushes and bullying were the big issues that I can remember. This is very Full House (TV series) kind of books.
***This is a series review***
(Review Not on Blog)
I picked up one of the Sweet Valley Twins novel at the library (before my strict read in order only rule) and fell in love with the California twins and their friends and family. I had just started reading thicker chapter books, and joining the library summer reading club, I went through these books pretty quick. I was excited that I could read and really fell in love with books and reading. I believe I was about 7-9 when I read these books so it was exciting to read about 12 year old popular preteens. I could relate to both Elizabeth and Jessica, and really could not pick which twin I liked better. I would not finish this series as I would quickly move on to Sweet Valley High (Double Love). These are very tame books, and any age could read them. First crushes and bullying were the big issues that I can remember. This is very Full House (TV series) kind of books.
***This is a series review***
January 17, 2016
A rock star that Jessica loves is going to perform in town and she wants to see the concert but her parents think that she is too young to be around that many people at an event that might and might not cause problems. So they tell her she can't go which, of course, causes Jessica to plot even more to go.
She has to get money which she figures out to do but leaves all the work to Elizabeth and Steven. She finds out that just because you think someone likes you personally, that someone might be the same way with everyone else. She also learns that leaving others to do your job isn't the right way to do things. It's a good fifth book in the series.
She has to get money which she figures out to do but leaves all the work to Elizabeth and Steven. She finds out that just because you think someone likes you personally, that someone might be the same way with everyone else. She also learns that leaving others to do your job isn't the right way to do things. It's a good fifth book in the series.
December 29, 2014
My teenage babysitter gave this book to me once she started dating an actual teenage boy who had, like, an actual car and probably, like, an actual penis and everything. She was like, “I can’t read this anymore, you have it.”
I was in fifth grade the first time I read this (in 1989) and I remember thinking, “oh my gosh, this is so scandalous and cool!” I never sought out another Sweet Valley book but still reread this one at least 47 times until I hit eighth grade and read my first bodice ripper and decided the Sweet Valley twins were shit for babies.
I was in fifth grade the first time I read this (in 1989) and I remember thinking, “oh my gosh, this is so scandalous and cool!” I never sought out another Sweet Valley book but still reread this one at least 47 times until I hit eighth grade and read my first bodice ripper and decided the Sweet Valley twins were shit for babies.
November 16, 2015
In this Sweet Valley Twins Jessica really wants to go to the Johnny Buck concert, but her parents said no. Lila Fowler says that she can come to the concert with her, but Jessica has to pay for her own ticket. Jessica gets a job as a dog sitter to get the money. Only thing is Jessica HATES dogs. I really enjoyed this book because it really brought out the trouble maker side of Jessica. It wasn't quite at my reading level though. I recommend this book to anyone who likes plot twists and schemes.
August 21, 2012
this is the first book i had read in this series but it was a year or so ago and i liked it so bought more and read them i dont read them anymore cos im more mature now and the range of books i read varies all the time
September 15, 2008
i liked this book alot.. i mean its so me sneaking out to go a concet.. if the jonas brothers come to guatemala and my parents wouldnt let me go i will totaly sneak out.
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February 5, 2009JAR4-Pas
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