Welcome to Litsy!

Sorry I‘ve been AWOL this week to my #haikuhive — been under a huge amount of stress lately. Today‘s haiku is inspired by me FINALLY being able to bring all of my beloved Sweet Valley books home after my ex has been holding them hostage for 2 years. Most people would think I‘m nuts for saying that out of all of my stuff, this was the most important for me to get, but I know my Litsy peeps will understand. 💚📚

#haikuaday #poetry #SweetValley

This kicks off the only #SweetValley series that is totally new to me! Told with multiple POVs in first person, it reminds me of the SVHSY books. Somehow, only the Wakefield twins are re-zoned to attend SVJH. Unsurprisingly, it takes Liz no time to find a new set of friends in Anna Wang and Salvador del Valle. But Jessica‘s stuck with nerdy Ronald Rheece for a locker buddy & isn‘t making in-roads with the popular girls— even old friends ditch her!

While Elizabeth‘s in Costa Rica, she leaves a purple journal for Jessica to use for the last summer of the Unicorns. Lila‘s been extra insufferable since she snagged a high school boyfriend, Wiley Upjohn. But Kimberly‘s surfer aunt invites them all to spend a month at her Hawaiian condo! Unfortunately, Kimberly‘s annoying younger cousin brings out the worst in the girls— but Jessica surprisingly steps up with kindness & even saves Marissa‘s life!

The nostalgia! My mom came across my collection of SVH and sent them home with me. I intend to donate them to my kiddos classroom library, but I am going to enjoy them for a few days first.

It‘s the last book of #TheUnicornClub! Kimberly feels like the odd one out again as the only 8th grader & makes a play to stir things up to claim the club presidency. When a prank from the unlikely crush between Lila Fowler & Jerry McAllister ends up trapping the girls inside the mall, it‘s like a dream come true… until it becomes more like a nightmare! This spinoff has been fun & hopefully I can track down the missing book IN LOVE WITH MANDY!

Johnny Buck‘s back in #SweetValley for a benefit concert for the Sweet Valley Children‘s Hospital (no mention of his surprise concert from the 15th book!). Jessica wins a contest for the day of the concert to be spent at his side, showing him around. As usual, she exaggerates a bit but with Mandy there to document the date, it winds up being leverage as Johnny‘s image also exaggerates his talents (he can‘t ride horses, swim or drive a moped)!

Back from their Caribbean adventure, Lila comes home to the unsettling news that her dad thinks the 75-room Fowler Crest mansion is too big for them & that they‘ll sell, downsizing to a modest 6-bedroom cottage on Secca Lake. Horrified that this will mean less time with the Unicorns who so love her home, Lila goes all out in trying to convince equally snobby Rachel Grant to talk her dad out of buying her mansion. She also uncovers Rachel‘s secret!

Some friends of the Parentals have dropped off their 2 little hellions for the weekend at Casa Wakefield. They proceed to terrorize the twins with mean pranks until Jess & Liz have had enough & decide to run away. They run all the way away to their fort in the backyard 😆 & eventually, all is right in their world again. So cute. 4⭐️

#SweetValley
#SweetValleyKids
#SVK
#twins
#nostalgia

The Unicorns arrived on St. Maurice Island but no one is enjoying their trip! Ellen‘s still juggling the 4 boys each of her friends realized they are crushing on while still keeping her away from surfer Curtis. When the cold shoulder fails, they try to straighten it out with the boys instead of Ellen which backfires & sends an upset Ellen out in a hurricane to get away from them! Eventually it all gets straightened out & ends with love in the air!

Kimberly Haver narrates here, feeling a little disdainful of the 7th grade Unicorns and their immaturity with popping gum & prank calls. When the president of the rival club, Eight Times Eight, abruptly moves, Kimberly‘s flattered by their wooing. The Eights hang out with high schoolers & have invited her to the front row seats for the Johnny Buck concert! When her dad winds up in the hospital, it‘s only her true friends-The Unicorns- who show up!