Monday, October 4, 2010

A Sweet (Valley) Giveaway

By Melissa Amster


**Giveaway is now closed**

Before there was a set of twins living in a wealthy town in California called Beverly Hills, there was another set of twins living in what seemed like an equally wealthy town known as Sweet Valley. And just like there was drama surrounding the most popular characters at West Beverly High, there was quite a lot happening in the halls of Sweet Valley High.

When I was in fifth grade, I started reading "Sweet Valley High" books and became rather obsessed after a while. I don't even remember how many of those books I read, but they came out often and I was always excited to see what drama would unfold. They even had larger books that would take place on vacation or have some sort of murder mystery going on. I even read the more adolescent series called "Sweet Valley Twins," about Jessica and Elizabeth's junior high days.

There were some memorable situations in the SVH series. One that sticks out a lot is when Elizabeth got kidnapped. It just seemed so far-fetched, but I guess that's what made it memorable. I also remember one where this girl named Regina dies after trying cocaine. If I wasn't put off by drug use before, that really sealed the deal for me. (Nice work, Francine Pascal!) I also think there was a time that Jessica got a makeover so she wouldn't be mistaken for Elizabeth.

Now there's a new book coming out called "Sweet Valley Confidential." It takes place ten years later. I'm not sure if it's ten years after high school or ten years after they attended "Sweet Valley University" (just like in "Beverly Hills, 90210," they never stray too far from home). In any case, "Sweet Valley Confidential" will be in bookstores this coming spring, but you can read the first chapter here.

And as an added bonus, Ann-Marie Nieves at Get Red PR has one set of Team Jessica/Team Elizabeth shirts to give away to a lucky winner in the US or Canada.

How to win this set of T-shirts:
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite "Sweet Valley High" memory (either about he books or something related to them)?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

US/Canada residents only. Giveaway ends Thursday, October 7th, at midnight EST.

46 comments:

Sarah said...

Thanks for the giveaway:)

foxchick0323@live.com

Sarah said...

My older sister has lots of the books and I remember tring to read and understand them:)

foxchick0323@live.com

Sarah said...

I am a loyal follower:)


foxchick0323@live.com

Sarah said...

Posted to twitter @happymama82

Sarah said...

Facebook fan:)

foxchick0323@live.com

Jonnie (JB) said...

Awesome giveaway!

dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

Jonnie (JB) said...

I remember in middle school reading the Sweet Valley books every day at school for "Silent Reading" after lunch

dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

Jonnie (JB) said...

I follow with GFC

dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

Myra C said...

Great giveaway!

myra0502@yahoo.com

Myra C said...

I am a GFC follower

myra0502@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Johnnie LOVES 'Sweet Valley'

miss.orangeblossom@yahoo.com

Amy said...

I love Sweet Valley! I still have most of my SVH & SVU books. One of my fave SV memories is playing the SVH board game with my best friend (I was always Elizabeth) and also reading my fave book (The Evil Twin) for the 1st time. I started reading Sweet Valley books in 4th grade, so I literally grew up with the twins.

Jerrica17@aol.com

Amy said...

I'm a fan on Facebook! What a fun giveaway.

Jerrica17@aol.com

Amy said...

Posted a link to my Facebook.

Jerrica17@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this!! Sweet Valley High was a big part of my teenage years and still into my adult years i love reading about the twins. I even loved the short lived tv series. Needless to say i really want to win these shirts!!!

billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com

Kristy Hope Maxey said...

I grew up reading these!

kristyhopemaxey@hotmail.com

nicole thibodeau said...

nicole._@live.ca

My favourite Sweet valley memory is being 8 or 9, and reading "Kidnapped" and being so freaked out I restricted myself to SVT for the next 5 years.

I posted on Twitter... http://twitter.com/#!/nicoletinfoil

And I joined Chick Lit Central! :)

Tin Bird said...

Thanks for the contest...Sweet Valley forever!!!

spidermansmom578 said...

Thanks! :)
sarah_prime@yahoo.ca

spidermansmom578 said...

Thanks! :)
sarah_prime@yahoo.ca

spidermansmom578 said...

When I was in grade 5 my friend and I called each other Jessica and Elizabeth (I was Jessica) and we "named" everyone else in our class a SVH character. You could say we were obsessed :)

sarah_prime@yahoo.ca

spidermansmom578 said...

I am a follower :)

sarah_prime@yahoo.ca

spidermansmom578 said...

Contest posted on FB and Twitter :)

sarah_prime@yahoo.ca

spidermansmom578 said...

And have joined the FB group

sarah_prime@yahoo.ca

Anonymous said...

my favorite book is SVU and i am a follower.


sept1978@inbox.com

Briel said...

I love the books and still have them tucked away under my bed. Thanks for the giveaway!

b_krystek79[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Briel said...

I think my favorite SV memory would just have to be when I first started reading Sweet Valley Twins. I was 7 or 8 and my grandmother bought me the first three books to read while on a family road trip. I fell in love and never looked back! :)

b_krystek79[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Briel said...

I joined the Facebook group!


b_krystek79[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Anonymous said...

i tried to be like Jessica, even had my friends calling me Jessica.

Sable955@aol.com

Alana said...

I am a follower of the blog.

alanampower@gmail.com

Alana said...

I am a member of Chick Lit Central on Facebook.

alanampower@gmail.com

chantelguertin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
chantelguertin said...

A few years ago I attended a funeral and met a man in his late 50s named George Fowler. I was sure I knew him, but I didn't know how. Finally, it came to me. I said to him, "I know your daughter, Lila." He said, "I don't have a daughter named Lila." Which is when I realized, I don't have a friend named Lila either. But Jessica Wakefield does. Embarrassing...

Thanks for the amazing contest!!

chantel@chantelsimmons.com

Anonymous said...

Neato! I'd love to win this!
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

My favourite Sweet Valley High memory was reading the first book which was called "Surprise! Surprise!". wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog through Google Friend Connect. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I shared this giveaway on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000843986813&v=wall&story_fbid=157949367561758 - wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I shared this giveaway on Twitter - http://twitter.com/lemonslippers/status/26573808340 - wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I've already joined Chick Lit Central on Facebook.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

tina gates said...

i follow on facebook, and i loved the sweet valley series. i read them from the 2nd grade on. i wish i could get my niece into it.

tinabop20@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I follow the facebook group. I loved SVH, SVU, and SVT! My favorites included the Christmas specials and the first SVU book when Elizabeth has a hard time adjusting to college life.

I have many happy memories reading these books!

meganoconnor@pacbell.net

Unknown said...

I remember reading the books in class. Trying to hide the book from my teacher when I was supposed to be doing other work. I always seemed to get caught.

Suzhonse@gmail.com

Kelly said...

What a great trip down memory lane!

stardestiny@bigfoot.com

Kelly said...

My favorite SVH memory was getting the latest book, and having a race with my sister (who was like my twin) to see who could finish reading it first! The winner would always tease the loser about the ending and drop big plot points.

stardestiny@bigfoot.com

Anonymous said...

Just joined Chick Lit Central on fb. Love Sweet Valley High. My favorite books thru late elementary, middle school, and high school. Can't wait to see what's happened to the twins!

yacosta@earthlink.net

StereoQueenBee said...

MY favorite memory of SWH was fighting over them in high school. I follow your blog, group on Facebook and posted on Twitter about this contest.

My email is queenofcrunk at gmail.com