Sweet Valley High 
Ana and I watched Season 1 Disc 3 of Sweet Valley High on DVD. I remembered catching the show a couple of times on a Saturday or a Sunday, but I never knew its regular time slot. It aired from 1994—1997. Watching the DVD I couldn’t believe how big and colorful the fashions were. The show was a bit cheesy, but enjoyable enough. It brought back memories of reading the book series.
My Aunt Kelly first introduced them to me to the Sweet Valley High world around 1989 or so. I remember seeing one of the first few books of the series lying around her house. I asked if I could read it, which I did. From then on I began reading the entire series. I usually just check them out of the library, but occasionally I bought a used copy at a yard sale or used book store.
It didn’t take long to catch up on the books written from 1984 to 1989. Each year after that they’d put out another book or two and I read that as well. I read about the first 100 books before getting bored with them. There are roughly 181 books in the Sweet Valley High series today, not counting the most recent reinventions like Sweet Valley University and Sweet Valley Confidential. Although I got rid of most of my Sweet Valley Books, I do still own four of them. Kidnapped, Secrets and On the Edge along with Double Jeopardy Super Edition.
My friend Elizabeth Keene and I shared the love of Sweet Valley High and would often trade books and discuss them. We both loved Elizabeth Wakefield. I liked her because she was a writer like me and Elizabeth liked her because she shared the same name. Elizabeth continued reading the series long after I stopped though, so she has read more of them than I have over the years. I never really got into Sweet Valley Twins book either like she did.
The inspiration for Richard’s sister in my 1992 story In Too Deep was Regina Marrow from the book (#40) On the Edge. She tried cocaine once and tragically died of an allergic reaction. Also, I would often imagine my hunky boyfriend as Nicholas because I liked the character of Nicholas Marrow.
Though light and easy reading, they were inspirational. For a girl of 12 years to 14 years old they weren’t bad reading. They were full of mystery and drama without being overly dark or depressing. I recommend picking up the books if you are young or want to feel young again. They are great fun to read!
carilynn27 