First published 1989
★★★
Sometimes I just can't help myself: I read the most recent graphic novel adaptation instalment of the Sweet Valley Twins series, and I knew I had to give the originals a quick whirl. Sweet Valley Kids was the elementary-school version of the series, and in Surprise! Surprise!, the first book of the series, Elizabeth and Jessica are on the cusp of turning 7. The big dilemma: what on earth to get each other?
I didn't read a tonne of the SVK books—I think I moved on pretty quickly to Sweet Valley Twins—but I remember this one pretty well, and the dresses on the cover give me instant nostalgia, so it must have been on the shelves. I didn't remember the illustrations, though! They'd be largely at home in a 1950s children's book, but they're very sweet. It's nice to see that Jessica was not actually born a sociopath; she's already her giggly, gossipy self, but she's at least invested in Elizabeth's happiness as well as her own, and generally a pretty happy-go-lucky kid. (Also, matching yellow sweatsuits!) I don't think I'll read more of this particular series (except Trapped in Toyland, because I also have some vague memories of that), but it'll be interesting to see in the SV Twins and SV High versions just how quickly Jessica lets her true sociopathic colors fly and just how quickly Elizabeth becomes Little Miss Priss. I am so very looking forward to this.
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