Fans of Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, get ready to see the sisters in a whole new light.
Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley Twins books, staples of young readers in the 1980s and ’90s, are being adapted into graphic novels, Random House Children’s Books announced in a news release. The publisher says the books “promise to introduce these classic characters to a new generation of readers in the ever-growing middle-grade graphic novel category.”
The Sweet Valley Twins series began in 1986 with the book Best Friends. The series, which follows the middle-school experiences of twins Jessica and Elizabeth, was a spin-off of Pascal’s hugely popular Sweet Valley High series.
The first graphic novel in the new series will be an adaptation of Best Friends, written by Nicole Andelfinger and illustrated by Claudia Aguirre, to be followed by a second installment, Teacher’s Pet.
“I remember absolutely devouring Sweet Valley Twins as a preteen and felt like I couldn’t get enough of the drama, the shenanigans, and of course the sisters ultimately having each other’s backs,” Andelfinger said in a statement. “Being able to take the twins into the modern age has been an absolute joy. I can’t wait for a new generation of preteens to fall in love with Jessica, Elizabeth, and their friends!”
Sweet Valley Twins: Best Friends is slated for publication on Nov. 1, with Teacher’s Pet following in 2023.
Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.
