Remember in previous posts when I said I had no memory of some of the Sweet Valley stories?
That all changed with SVH Book 4—Power Play.
Robin Wilson wants to join Pi Beta Alpha, Sweet Valley High’s highly selective sorority. She may not be beautiful or popular, but she’s friendly and smart. So when Elizabeth nominates her for the sorority, Jessica is less than thrilled. She is determined to find a way to keep Robin from Pi Beta.
But Elizabeth is just as determined to make Robin a sorority sister, and the twins become locked in a struggle that develops into the biggest power play at Sweet Valley High. Who will prevail? Which twin will triumph? What happens when sisters go head-to-head?
- Age Range: 12 and up
- Mass Market Paperback
- Publisher: Bantam (December 1, 1984)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0553251430
- ISBN-13: 978-0553251432
Pre-Review Rant
Yeah, I know, this is a new header title. And for good reason.
If you’ve been reading my posts, you’ll know that I grew up reading Sweet Valley High books. I liked them as a whole, but my memory of the stories is quite hazy. I do remember there were a few that I didn’t like. Like this one.
I can’t BELIEVE she went there. No, not Jessica this time. FRANCINE PASCAL or whichever ghostwriter wrote Power Play. My brain is still trying to process what I just read.
Let me just say that it is NO WONDER there were attitudes back in the 80s and 90s. This book sent the message to young girls that it’s ok to belittle—no, completely DEVASTATE—someone who doesn’t have a perfect body.
And I will say that I remember this book! I remember! Why do I remember? Well, Francine Pascal has a history of tackling hard stuff in her books—cancer, drugs, shoplifting—but this one. WOW. The content was most definitely memorable once I began reading.
Remember Robin that I mentioned in the last review? Yeah, Book 3 Playing with Fire introduced her. That said, it wasn’t a surprise that Robin was a big feature in Power Play, but the way in which her story unfolded was pretty harsh.
Initial Thoughts
I’m going to try not to go too spoiler on you, because I always do that in my Q&A post (which will premiere next week, along with the GIVEAWAY winner!), but I do want to spill a few beans.
“Robin, doesn’t eating that make you”—don’t say “fat,” she warned herself—”break out?”
“Oh, no,” said Robin, licking her sticky fingers. “I never get zits, just pounds. But I just wasn’t meant to be slim like you and Jessica….”
That was the first time I thought “No way” in my head while I was reading. I did take count. I thought “No way” fourteen times, and each time I thought it, my inner voice got louder.
Characters called Robin names over and over and over again, and it just seemed way over the top. The scenes were absolutely mind-blowing to me, and the fat-shaming was incredibly cruel.
To say that Jessica Wakefield is a mess in this book is an understatement. I thought she was a nightmare in the last book, but this one truly takes the cake. I have no idea how the author will make Jessica any worse than she was in Power Play. While I was reading, I was thinking, “Where are the Wakefields while their daughter is bullying kids all over the school?” But, naturally, it would MAKE SENSE for the author to address this . . . and probably ruin the story. Anyway.
Power Play is another story where Jessica royally destroys lives and her twin Elizabeth manages to pull everything together all while chronically denying that Jessica needs to grow up. Oy.
Final Thoughts
I was pretty disappointed with the lengths that the author went to to make sure that the reader knew that Jessica was out to publicly destroy Robin’s life.
Thank heaven for a secondary plot that was thrown into the mix regarding Lila Fowler. Finally, some of Lila’s story! If it hadn’t been for that little bit of bait and switch, I might’ve just ripped my hair out.
Here’s to hoping that All Night Long, Book 5 doesn’t make me angry. It looks like Jessica’s going to get in another mess, though, so no promises!
Content Guide
- Bullying
Giveaway
Enter NOW until Midnight 3/1!
Come back next Thursday to find out who wins!
Book 1 posts: Double Love Review / Q&A
Book 2 posts: Secrets Review / Secrets Pinterest Board & Q&A
Book 3 posts: Playing with Fire review / Playing with Fire Q&A
Yes I definitely read some of the sweet valley high books when I was a kid.
I read a few of the SVH, I read quite a few of the ones for younger readers (which was the age group I was in at that time), Sweet Valley Twins. I think those were not quite as strong on some of the difficult topics… I enjoy reading your posts on these.
I didn’t read the Sweet Valley Twins. I’ll have to check them out if I see them sometime. Thanks for visiting!!
This one was infuriating 🙁
For sure!