The Cousin War

Sweet Valley Twins #90

by Francine Pascal

Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield are psyched when their favorite cousin, Robin, comes to visit. They can't wait for Robin to meet their friends—and maybe even find a date for the Girls-ask-boys dance at Sweet Valley Middle School.

When Robin meets Todd Wilkins, she's certain he's the one for her. But she's in for a big surprise: Todd already has a girlfriend—Elizabeth! Will Robin have to fight her own cousin to win the boy of her dreams?

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Romance

137 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

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

[Atikah Wahid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, this book has so much nostalgia value to me. This was my first "teen" novel and it's about dating! Before that, I mostly read kiddie Enid Blyton books or comic books. So, Sweet Valley High is that transition for me to much more "mature" tween reading. I was at the age where I wanted to grow up asap. Also, I rented this book from a bookstore in Subang Parade (REAL SUBANG KIDS WILL KNOW THIS PLACE). I also read this in an overnight trip to Singapore on a train and basically stayed up to finish it one sitting. So, I remember this book cover very clearly and has a special spot in my heart.

Ironically, plotwise, this novel is not even one of my favourite Sweet Valley High books. If anything, this book convinces me that Elizabeth is a nauseating simpleton who's supposingly smart while Jessica is a manipulative... witch (I don't feel right swearing at a book targeted to children).

SPOILERS! Basically, cousin Robin visits the Wakefield twins and then, falls madly in love with Elizabeth's beau, Todd, not knowing they're together. Logically, somebody from their school or just their massive gang of friends, would mention that Todd is basically Elizabeth's soulmate right? Nope. Jessica lied to Robin because her crush, some rando who's not her "sorta boyfriend Aaron", is crushing on Robin. So good ol Jess basically threw her dear sister Lizzie under the bus by saying Todd is single. And Lizzie, finding out Robin's crush, and not having a backbone to stand her ground, RELENTED and even asked her boyfriend to ask her cousin on a date! The whole entire "war" is just people not wanting to tell the truth to Robin for god knows what reason. Todd, the only one here with a brain, finally told Robin that he's dating Elizabeth since kindergarten. The book ends with the girls patching things up. Excuse me?? What Jessica did was unforgiveable! Shank her!

The plot is so "what even is this" that I remember it till this day.

[Renee P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the best modern commentary on the fickleness of young, 6th grade dating.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

So what you've got is Robin, a cousin visiting for two weeks, a Sadie Hawkins dance uncoming (where the girls ask the boys out), maneuvering on the part of Jessica (nothing unusual) and a lot of misunderstandings based on who will ask who to the dance.

There's a tangle of relationships, too, where Jessica wants someone to go to the dance with her, Robin is the same way and Elizabeth figures she'll go with Todd but there's a whole lot of maneuvering and some things that are not understand leading to confusion about who likes who.

It's basically a romantic comedy and it's pretty good.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I refuse to believe that Robin didn't know about Elizabeth and Todd.

Also - does Robin ever appear again in the SVH books?

[Renee Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was at one point in my life my favorite book. it’s gossipy, bitchy, and full of romantic intrigue. i think this started my thing for boyfriend stealers, or at least revealed it to me. maybe two girls fighting over a guy was just the closest i could get to the lesbians i was craving. i had a huge crush on the character of robin. the author put her in little striped t shirts and doc martens which is now reading queer to me as well. reading this again it’s hard to understand how the plot and the many betrayals it contains captivated me as much as they did. when i was in elementary school this book could create waves of emotion in me—yearning, ecstasy. it just reads like an episode of gossip girl now. but the writing isn’t awful and the dialogue is at times pretty snappy for a children’s book.

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the cover but just not the story

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was cute. I don't remember ever reading this one when I was little.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

20/25
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