Sweet Valley Super Edition - Spring Break
Sweet Valley Super Edition - Spring Break, or, The One That Never Happened
According to the year this one was written, it takes place after book 27, which sounds about right... Todd has just moved to Vermont, Liz hasn't hooked up with Jeffrey yet, and Steven has only recently started going out with Cara. But as soon will become obvious - this book never happened!!!
The A plot: Elizabeth and Jessica Go To France Elizabeth and Jessica apparently take French at Sweet Valley High (am I the only one who wasn't aware of that? I don't remember it being mentioned elsewhere at all. If that's the case, I here present you with Exibit A that this book never happened), and because Ms. Dalton has arranged a language exchange, they're going to France for two weeks to stay together with Avery and her son, Rene while her daughter, Feney, is off to Sweet Valley to stay with the Wakefields. The book opens as Elizabeth and Jessica are on the plane en route to Cannes, France. They're discussing the letter and photo they were sent, and Elizabeth notices that Rene looks rather cute. Aware that Elizabeth needs somebody new in her life after Todd moved away, Jessica generously tells her to go for him. What? No sister-duel over who gets him? How boring!
Avery turns out to be a sweet and generous hostess, but Rene is sour and obstinate from the very beginning. It's obvious that he doesn't want to have anything to do with the twins, and would rather have that they had never come. The twins discover that Rene's father left them very abruptly when Rene was young. His father was American and therefore in Rene's eyes nothing good can ever come out of America, which is why he takes an instant dislike to the twins.
Rene is supposed to show the twins around Cannes, but takes off in a huff to Avery's embarrassment. Liz and Jess ensure her that it's no big deal and decide to go running (Exhibit B. I remember no other books (though they may exist) where the twins jog for recreation). Jessica quickly gives up - exercise just isn't fun when no guys nor cheerleading is involved. On her way back she bumps into a very kind but plain-looking guy getting out of his porche. Always the one to appreciate wealth, Jessica lets Marc talk her into taking her to his beach club that afternoon.
Meanwhile Elizabeth finds a dog that's run away from home. She finds its address on its tag and asks some neighbourhood kids how to find it. Turns out the dog is owned by a lovely old countess, whose son, Jean-Claude, just happens to be Elizabeth's age, and very willing to show her around the countryside.
When Jessica finds out how Elizabeth is spending the following day, she gets jealous. It's no fair that Elizabeth gets the guy who's both rich AND cute when hers is only rich! She claims to have a headache and gets Marc to take her home early, only to discover that Elizabeth isn't home, and there's a note on the door for Jean-Claude. Avery called while Elizabeth was home alone, trying to get hold of Rene, as she desperately needed some medicine for a patient of hers. Being ever the doormat sweet person, Elizabeth offered to take the bus and bring her the medicine instead. Unfortunately there was a traffic accident which made the bus home very late, so she wasn't there to greet Jean-Claude when he came to pick her up.
Jessica fully intended to tell Jean-Claude who she was - until she saw him, and fell head over heels in love with him. Better pretend to be somebody else and have a cute guy, than be yourself and leave him to your sister.
The next couple of days Jessica hangs out with Jean-Claude pretending she's Elizabeth, and they fall deeper in love with each other than ever before. Elizabeth wonders why on earth Jean-Claude doesn't return her phonecalls (not knowing that he did, but Jess picked up - nice sis there), but then shrugs, deciding he's not worth worrying about, and trying to make the most out of being in Cannes alone.
One day Marc comes around asking how Jessica is doing, as she'd - once again - canceled their plans on the grounds that she had a headache. Liz realizes that Jess has been neglecting poor Marc, and generously offers to go to the art gallery with him. Rene sees the two of them drive off, and comes with a jive about sisters stealing each other's boyfriends, which of course Liz understands nothing off.
Once back from the gallery, Jessica STILL isn't home. Elizabeth starts to worry, because even though Jessica never keeps a curfew (if that's the case, how come her parents keep letting her go out at night? Wouldn't breaking a curfew often enough be reason to be grounded? It would in my family...) she's never two hours late! A storm is brewing and she has no idea where to look for her. Finally Rene comes home, and sees how upset Liz is. For once he has no snarky comments for her, but tells her that he saw Jess and Jean-Claude head off together. Liz calls the Countess and is told that she and Jean-Claude were going out sailing.
Elizabeth has to get to the beach immediately, but Rene has no car, only a motorbike! Gasp! This is no time to follow rules though, so she puts on the helmet and they race to the beach, this time with nobody getting into an accident and developing amnesia/split personalities (Exhibit C). At the beach they see Jessica and Jean-Claude fight against the wind and waves. Jessica falls into the sea, and Liz rushes into the water to save her. But the wind is too strong and the waves too big. She'll never be able to make it! Until suddenly their hero Rene turns up next to her! He had been afraid of the sea ever since a friend of his drowned with him being unable to save him, but even so he was unable to stand by and watch while history repeated itself. Go Rene! Together they manage to save Jean-Claude and Jessica.
The story ends nicely wrapped up with Rene realizing not all Americans are bad and that Liz in particular is not, and Jessica admitting who she really is to Jean-Claude and he loves her anyway! To holiday romances, and neither is heard of again. How sad. (Exhibit D),
The B plot: Steve's An Idiot The B-plot is the hugest give-away that this book never happened. Rene's sister Feney is a dead-ringer for Tricia Martin, and naturally Steve falls for her, because even though she speaks only little English and he speaks no French whatsoever, he's convinced that not only does Feney LOOK just like Tricia, she IS just like her too. So obviously he learns nothing between this book and "The Ghost of Tricia Martin" OR this book never happened!
It's pretty much a repeat of TGoTM - Steve hangs out with Feney all the time, Cara gets hurt and is WAY too forgiving about it. Finally Steve introduces Feney to one of his friends who actually does speak French, and just like the similar plot line in "Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizzaria", he discovers that not only is Feney nothing like Tricia, she's actually really immature and he was much better off with Cara.
Steve, Steve, Steve... why couldn't you remember this 30+ books later? Cara too for that matter. Are you going to let him treat you like this EVERY time a Tricia-look-alike comes by? Apparently so.
According to the year this one was written, it takes place after book 27, which sounds about right... Todd has just moved to Vermont, Liz hasn't hooked up with Jeffrey yet, and Steven has only recently started going out with Cara. But as soon will become obvious - this book never happened!!!
The A plot: Elizabeth and Jessica Go To France Elizabeth and Jessica apparently take French at Sweet Valley High (am I the only one who wasn't aware of that? I don't remember it being mentioned elsewhere at all. If that's the case, I here present you with Exibit A that this book never happened), and because Ms. Dalton has arranged a language exchange, they're going to France for two weeks to stay together with Avery and her son, Rene while her daughter, Feney, is off to Sweet Valley to stay with the Wakefields. The book opens as Elizabeth and Jessica are on the plane en route to Cannes, France. They're discussing the letter and photo they were sent, and Elizabeth notices that Rene looks rather cute. Aware that Elizabeth needs somebody new in her life after Todd moved away, Jessica generously tells her to go for him. What? No sister-duel over who gets him? How boring!
Avery turns out to be a sweet and generous hostess, but Rene is sour and obstinate from the very beginning. It's obvious that he doesn't want to have anything to do with the twins, and would rather have that they had never come. The twins discover that Rene's father left them very abruptly when Rene was young. His father was American and therefore in Rene's eyes nothing good can ever come out of America, which is why he takes an instant dislike to the twins.
Rene is supposed to show the twins around Cannes, but takes off in a huff to Avery's embarrassment. Liz and Jess ensure her that it's no big deal and decide to go running (Exhibit B. I remember no other books (though they may exist) where the twins jog for recreation). Jessica quickly gives up - exercise just isn't fun when no guys nor cheerleading is involved. On her way back she bumps into a very kind but plain-looking guy getting out of his porche. Always the one to appreciate wealth, Jessica lets Marc talk her into taking her to his beach club that afternoon.
Meanwhile Elizabeth finds a dog that's run away from home. She finds its address on its tag and asks some neighbourhood kids how to find it. Turns out the dog is owned by a lovely old countess, whose son, Jean-Claude, just happens to be Elizabeth's age, and very willing to show her around the countryside.
When Jessica finds out how Elizabeth is spending the following day, she gets jealous. It's no fair that Elizabeth gets the guy who's both rich AND cute when hers is only rich! She claims to have a headache and gets Marc to take her home early, only to discover that Elizabeth isn't home, and there's a note on the door for Jean-Claude. Avery called while Elizabeth was home alone, trying to get hold of Rene, as she desperately needed some medicine for a patient of hers. Being ever the doormat sweet person, Elizabeth offered to take the bus and bring her the medicine instead. Unfortunately there was a traffic accident which made the bus home very late, so she wasn't there to greet Jean-Claude when he came to pick her up.
Jessica fully intended to tell Jean-Claude who she was - until she saw him, and fell head over heels in love with him. Better pretend to be somebody else and have a cute guy, than be yourself and leave him to your sister.
The next couple of days Jessica hangs out with Jean-Claude pretending she's Elizabeth, and they fall deeper in love with each other than ever before. Elizabeth wonders why on earth Jean-Claude doesn't return her phonecalls (not knowing that he did, but Jess picked up - nice sis there), but then shrugs, deciding he's not worth worrying about, and trying to make the most out of being in Cannes alone.
One day Marc comes around asking how Jessica is doing, as she'd - once again - canceled their plans on the grounds that she had a headache. Liz realizes that Jess has been neglecting poor Marc, and generously offers to go to the art gallery with him. Rene sees the two of them drive off, and comes with a jive about sisters stealing each other's boyfriends, which of course Liz understands nothing off.
Once back from the gallery, Jessica STILL isn't home. Elizabeth starts to worry, because even though Jessica never keeps a curfew (if that's the case, how come her parents keep letting her go out at night? Wouldn't breaking a curfew often enough be reason to be grounded? It would in my family...) she's never two hours late! A storm is brewing and she has no idea where to look for her. Finally Rene comes home, and sees how upset Liz is. For once he has no snarky comments for her, but tells her that he saw Jess and Jean-Claude head off together. Liz calls the Countess and is told that she and Jean-Claude were going out sailing.
Elizabeth has to get to the beach immediately, but Rene has no car, only a motorbike! Gasp! This is no time to follow rules though, so she puts on the helmet and they race to the beach, this time with nobody getting into an accident and developing amnesia/split personalities (Exhibit C). At the beach they see Jessica and Jean-Claude fight against the wind and waves. Jessica falls into the sea, and Liz rushes into the water to save her. But the wind is too strong and the waves too big. She'll never be able to make it! Until suddenly their hero Rene turns up next to her! He had been afraid of the sea ever since a friend of his drowned with him being unable to save him, but even so he was unable to stand by and watch while history repeated itself. Go Rene! Together they manage to save Jean-Claude and Jessica.
The story ends nicely wrapped up with Rene realizing not all Americans are bad and that Liz in particular is not, and Jessica admitting who she really is to Jean-Claude and he loves her anyway! To holiday romances, and neither is heard of again. How sad. (Exhibit D),
The B plot: Steve's An Idiot The B-plot is the hugest give-away that this book never happened. Rene's sister Feney is a dead-ringer for Tricia Martin, and naturally Steve falls for her, because even though she speaks only little English and he speaks no French whatsoever, he's convinced that not only does Feney LOOK just like Tricia, she IS just like her too. So obviously he learns nothing between this book and "The Ghost of Tricia Martin" OR this book never happened!
It's pretty much a repeat of TGoTM - Steve hangs out with Feney all the time, Cara gets hurt and is WAY too forgiving about it. Finally Steve introduces Feney to one of his friends who actually does speak French, and just like the similar plot line in "Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizzaria", he discovers that not only is Feney nothing like Tricia, she's actually really immature and he was much better off with Cara.
Steve, Steve, Steve... why couldn't you remember this 30+ books later? Cara too for that matter. Are you going to let him treat you like this EVERY time a Tricia-look-alike comes by? Apparently so.