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Sweet Valley Kids #48
Lila's April Fool
Lila Fowler invites the entire second-grade class to her April Fools' Day party, but when she tells them it is all a joke, the Wakefield twins and their friends play a little prank on Lila.
- GenresMiddle GradeChildrens
70 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1994
2 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,148 books1,854 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 3, 2022
Lila is the brattiest brat in this.
She lies about having a giant party, and when her father hears about it (because Mrs. Wakefield snitches,) instead of being like "whoa, maybe I spoil her too much," he instead decides that telling her "no party" is a great April Fool's Joke, but *really*, she's going to get a party anyways.
Mr. Fowler, you have some issues.
She lies about having a giant party, and when her father hears about it (because Mrs. Wakefield snitches,) instead of being like "whoa, maybe I spoil her too much," he instead decides that telling her "no party" is a great April Fool's Joke, but *really*, she's going to get a party anyways.
Mr. Fowler, you have some issues.
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February 14, 2026Lila’s April Fool
Jessica and Elizabeth are at recess. Jessica jokes that if they were graded on recess she’s get a better grade than Elizabeth. Lila, Ellen, and Amy come over. Lila decides they’ll play “Cinderella”.
Amy wants to be Cinderella. Lila, Ellen, and Jessica just look at each other. Lila tells her she can’t be Cinderella because everyone knows she has long hair and Amy’s hair is short. Mrs. Otis just happens to wander by and overhears the conversation. She tells Amy there’s nothing wrong with her hair. Liz points out that Ellen can’t be Cinderella either because her hair is chin-length.
Mrs. Otis tells them it isn’t what you look like that counts. It’s what’s inside and they pretend to agree with her but when she walks off Lila quickly lets Amy kow she doesn’t care what Mrs. Otis said. She’ll never be Cinderella because her hair isn’t beautiful. Amy hopes Lila turns into a pumpkin.
Jessica convinces Liz from running off after Amy. All the girls talk about what gowns they’re going to wear to the ball. Jessica says she wishes they could go to party and wear a fancy dress and Lila says oh didn’t I tell you. I’m having a party. (Because isn’t she always?) In class, Mrs. Otis asks Lila and Jessica their opinion on if she should dye her hair red like Carolines. Liz tells her she’s perfect the way she is, but Mrs. Otis says appearances count for a lot.
Jessica and Elizabeth go over to Lia’s the next day. Jessica starts to talk about the party while they have snacks in front of the housekeeper, but Lila rushes them to her room. Lila brags about their being cotton candy and says her parents will give her whatever she wants. Jessica gets tired of her bragging and goes downstairs to get some more cookies. She mentions the party to the housekeeper but she says first she’s heard of it. So, Jessica confronts Lila and she admits she hasn’t asked her father if she can have it yet.
At dinner the twins complain to Alice that they don’t know know if there will be a party and Alice calls Mr. Fowler. Jessica hopes he’ll cancel the party to teacher Lila a lesson, but on the other hand she really wants to go to a party. Mr. Fowler is upset that Lila planned a party without asking him. So, he’s going to tell her she can’t have the party but he doesn’t want to upset her so he’ll give her a surprise party on the beach. How is this teaching her a lesson? Either way she gets a party.
Lila’s party has grown by the next day. It has a magician, a lion tamer, and a carousel. Liz asks Lila if she’s told her father yet and she admits she hasn’t but says she’s not worried. Mrs. Otis tells them she’s definitely going to get her hair dyed and there’s no talking her out of it.
Lila continues to brag about the party. She still hasn’t asked permission yet. She starts to act like she’s sick so she’ll have an excuse to cancel her party. Jessica tells the other kids about the April fool’s joke. Lila asks Jessica what she’s going to do and Jessica tells her not to worry. Mr. Fowler always gives her what she wants.
Mrs. Otis shows up with her red hair. Everyone is so shocked they don’t have words. When she asks what Lila, Ellen, and Jessica think they throw her words back at her. It’s what’s inside that counts. Mrs. Otis then yanks off the wig and tells them it’s an April Fool’s joke. Lila then tells the class her party was also an April Fool’s joke. Mrs. Otis isn’t amused and tells her that wasn’t cool. Lila doesn’t care. She got the last laugh.
The twins invite Lila to come to the beach with them on Saturday. Everyone is there and George tells Lila he wanted her to see it’s not how expensive the party is. It’s the people around you that matter. Lila even lets Amy be Cinderella.
Rating: 5 This is NOT the way to teach you’re a kid “a lesson” for planning a party you didn’t know about. SMH!
Jessica and Elizabeth are at recess. Jessica jokes that if they were graded on recess she’s get a better grade than Elizabeth. Lila, Ellen, and Amy come over. Lila decides they’ll play “Cinderella”.
Amy wants to be Cinderella. Lila, Ellen, and Jessica just look at each other. Lila tells her she can’t be Cinderella because everyone knows she has long hair and Amy’s hair is short. Mrs. Otis just happens to wander by and overhears the conversation. She tells Amy there’s nothing wrong with her hair. Liz points out that Ellen can’t be Cinderella either because her hair is chin-length.
Mrs. Otis tells them it isn’t what you look like that counts. It’s what’s inside and they pretend to agree with her but when she walks off Lila quickly lets Amy kow she doesn’t care what Mrs. Otis said. She’ll never be Cinderella because her hair isn’t beautiful. Amy hopes Lila turns into a pumpkin.
Jessica convinces Liz from running off after Amy. All the girls talk about what gowns they’re going to wear to the ball. Jessica says she wishes they could go to party and wear a fancy dress and Lila says oh didn’t I tell you. I’m having a party. (Because isn’t she always?) In class, Mrs. Otis asks Lila and Jessica their opinion on if she should dye her hair red like Carolines. Liz tells her she’s perfect the way she is, but Mrs. Otis says appearances count for a lot.
Jessica and Elizabeth go over to Lia’s the next day. Jessica starts to talk about the party while they have snacks in front of the housekeeper, but Lila rushes them to her room. Lila brags about their being cotton candy and says her parents will give her whatever she wants. Jessica gets tired of her bragging and goes downstairs to get some more cookies. She mentions the party to the housekeeper but she says first she’s heard of it. So, Jessica confronts Lila and she admits she hasn’t asked her father if she can have it yet.
At dinner the twins complain to Alice that they don’t know know if there will be a party and Alice calls Mr. Fowler. Jessica hopes he’ll cancel the party to teacher Lila a lesson, but on the other hand she really wants to go to a party. Mr. Fowler is upset that Lila planned a party without asking him. So, he’s going to tell her she can’t have the party but he doesn’t want to upset her so he’ll give her a surprise party on the beach. How is this teaching her a lesson? Either way she gets a party.
Lila’s party has grown by the next day. It has a magician, a lion tamer, and a carousel. Liz asks Lila if she’s told her father yet and she admits she hasn’t but says she’s not worried. Mrs. Otis tells them she’s definitely going to get her hair dyed and there’s no talking her out of it.
Lila continues to brag about the party. She still hasn’t asked permission yet. She starts to act like she’s sick so she’ll have an excuse to cancel her party. Jessica tells the other kids about the April fool’s joke. Lila asks Jessica what she’s going to do and Jessica tells her not to worry. Mr. Fowler always gives her what she wants.
Mrs. Otis shows up with her red hair. Everyone is so shocked they don’t have words. When she asks what Lila, Ellen, and Jessica think they throw her words back at her. It’s what’s inside that counts. Mrs. Otis then yanks off the wig and tells them it’s an April Fool’s joke. Lila then tells the class her party was also an April Fool’s joke. Mrs. Otis isn’t amused and tells her that wasn’t cool. Lila doesn’t care. She got the last laugh.
The twins invite Lila to come to the beach with them on Saturday. Everyone is there and George tells Lila he wanted her to see it’s not how expensive the party is. It’s the people around you that matter. Lila even lets Amy be Cinderella.
Rating: 5 This is NOT the way to teach you’re a kid “a lesson” for planning a party you didn’t know about. SMH!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 18, 2023I always love a Lila-heavy book, but I'm not such a big fan of parents teaching small children a lesson by playing cruel tricks on them. (Or, yanno, 'teaching them a lesson' at all, as opposed to having a conversation.) Also, it's very weird how the kids books portray George Fowler as a loving father when we know how absent he'll be by SVH. It rather removes a lot of Lila's reason for being who she is, if she's exactly the same BEFORE the divorce & absent parenting that have always been shown as having a huge part in that.
May 21, 2017
This wasn't one that I'd read as a little girl so it was extra sweet to read! Mrs Otis was a sweetheart of a teacher wasn't she?! I will never understand why Liz let's Jessica dictate what she can and can't do and Lola's snobbiness shone through in this story...funny thing is that Mr Fowler actually seems like a really sweet Dad!
February 27, 2019
Amy Sutton says "It doesn't matter how you look, it matters who you are." - Thank you! The Young of today don't seem to understand that concept and seem to see surface only so that you can be categorized into your groups!
January 24, 2025
A nice story where Lila's father teaches a lesson.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2021
sweetvalleyrecaps
Sweet Valley Kids 48 - Lila’s April Fool
Okay so bare with me here, because I’m not quite sure what the point of this book was! The twins are playing Cinderella with Lila, Amy and Ellen. They all (except Liz) tease Amy about getting a short boy hair cut and say she can’t be Cinderella because she doesn’t have long beautiful hair. Mrs Otis tries to tell them that it’s what’s on the inside that counts, but Jess and especially Lila don’t agree. Lila gets carried away, saying she’s going to have a fancy party on Saturday, for April Fools Day. The twins go to her house after school and her housekeeper knows nothing about it. Lila admits her Dad hasn’t said anything yet, but he will. The twins complain to Alice who calls George. He decides to teach Lila a lesson by… wait for it… throwing her a party. Huh? He tells Alice to tell the twins he’s going to say no to Lila but then April Fools surprise her with a party at the beach. Yep. So for the next few days, after being told no, Lila keeps talking about her party, certain he’ll change her mind. Meanwhile Mrs Otis asks the girls opinion about dying her hair bright red, because they all agreed beauty was on the inside. Lila starts to sweat and ‘not feel well’. The twins let the class in on the joke as well. Friday morning Mrs Otis shows up for class with bright red hair, gets the girls to say it’s not how you look that’s important, and April Fools them by pulling off the wig. Hmm 🤔 Lila joins in and says she’s not having a party, April Fools! Of course the beach party goes ahead the next day and apparently the lesson George was trying to teach Lila was you don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a good party. Yep.
My rating -2 /10 - I like Lila centric books but this was missed the mark!
July 26, 2012
Just when I thought Lila was too snobby, she goes & throws some party! Too bad it was an April Fool's joke, but I think b/c everyone wanted the party, they had one anyway.
June 22, 2013
I remember the cover just not the story
April 3, 2025
I read this every April Fools Day.Great Book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews