XoXo, Elizabeth Wakefield

Magnet #338 - Pekklemint Twins

Yeah, you thought it was a stretch before? I'm totally using this Pekkle magnet to talk about the demise of the Sweet Valley High twins.

It's FB's fault, I'm sure, but I've spent the last couple of days reminiscing the past, thinking about my former career, people I used to know, and what led me to and away from publishing.

I suppose one of the "turn left" conversations of my life that led me down the publishing path was with Jenny Douglas (who moved away, never to be heard from again. Sniff). She first introduced me to Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, letting me borrow Dear Sister, Sweet Valley High book #7. (Would you believe that I totally typed #7, then looked it up, and 25 years later, I still remember the title number. Dang.)

I loved Francine Pascal's SVH series - good gravy, I wanted to be a Wakefield twin. When you're 12, high school was like this amazing place, where crazy insane things happen, and you get to go places and live somewhat adventurous lives. And get to have chocolate-brown painted bedrooms!

I hung out with the Sweet Valley High crowd for a couple of years - until I made the jump to Loveswept (that's another magnet). As I aged up, Elizabeth and Jessica didn't (and no, I don't count any of the other SV series), and so inevitably I left them behind.

But, here I sit, almost three decades later, appalled by the fact that the SVH series has been revamped. Gawker totally called them on the carpet for their silliness, but basically now instead of the perfect size 6, blonde, blue-eyed twins who rode around SV in their Fiat, they're the perfect size 4, blonde, blue-eyed twins who ride around SV in their Jeep Wrangler.

Apparently, they also revamped their personalities as well. And I quote: "Sometimes Elizabeth couldn't help thinking that Robin could be a be a serious hottie, if she'd just stop giving in to her cravings so easily."

Whoa. What? Elizabeth? I mean, c'mon, she was always just a bit judgey, but I don't ever remember her being that much of a bitka.

Seriously.