Very sorry that I did not recap this book last week as promised. But work has been crazy in the past week, and over the weekend I had a friend over soo… attention not paid to this here blog. But, alas, that will change.
Todd Wilkins is moving back to California! Recap: Todd Wilkins’ father’s job transferred him to Vermont- see what occurs there in my post on ” Say Goodbye.” Elizabeth is heartbroken at first when Todd leaves, and becomes even more upset when, during a ski trip ( see ” Special Christmas” for THAT recap) Todd falls in love with Suzanne Hanlon and ditches Elizabeth. Elizabeth is, of course, crushed, until she meets the new boy from Oregon, Jeffrey French, and Elizabeth and Jeffrey have been a hot item for months, and Elizabeth thought she was over Todd forever. But then in Book #57- Teacher Crush which I LOVE and wish I had a coup of but alas I do not- Lila Fowler announces that Todd’s dad got a HUGE promotion- he is Vice President at Varitronics and therefore has to return to Sweet Valley!!! Elizabeth is upset that Todd sent Ken and Winston letters announcing his return to California, but he never sent Elizabeth a letter. Elizabeth knows they are not dating anymore, but they were once very special to each other, so why wouldn’t Todd tell her? Also, Todd and Suzanne are now splitsville. Well, right before Todd comes back, Elizabeth gets a letter in the mail ( this is pre Internets) that was dated three weeks ago- from Todd. Todd announces the split from Suzanne, and Todd says that he can’t hold out hope that Liz is still single after all this time, but he is really hoping that Elizabeth is, and that he and Liz can get back together when he returns. Meanwhile, Jeffrey is freaking out over the thought that Liz’s first love is returning to Sweet Valley- and all of Jeffrey’s friends, like Winston and Aaron, are telling Jeffrey how Todd is a star basketball player, is a sweetheart, funny, etc, etc. But too bad Todd won’t return to Sweet Valley High- Todd’s dad has decided that Todd has to go to school with the movers and shakers- like children of CEO’s and celebs- and so Todd has been enrolled at the snooty private school, Lovett Academy, which is about forty minutes from Sweet Valley. And if you are wondering why Bruce and Lila don’t go there when they are so rich, and Lovett is so great? Well, it’s because Sweet Valley has an awesome public school system- just not awesome enough for Mr. Wilkins.
When Todd returns, Elizabeth meets him wearing the locket Todd gave her before he left. Todd takes that to mean that Liz wants him back- but nooo…. Liz is dating Jeffrey and loves him, but being with Todd feels great too- Elizabeth has no idea which boy to choose. Jeffrey- her new love, who is so sweet and has great legs from playing soccer ( and is clearly way more awesome than Todd?) or Todd, the basketball player who will also be rich since his dad got the promotion. Elizabeth is torn, and turns to Enid for constant support as she figures out what the heck to do.
Meanwhile… there is a gorgeous, but bitchy, brunette girl named Courtney Kane who is a fellow Lovett student who apparently plays tennis with Todd quite a bit. Courtney WANTS Todd due to his hotness and new-richness- and she is bored with the Lovett boys as she has dated most of them. Courtney is pretty much using Lila to get information out of her so that she can try to land Todd. Lila knows Courtney from the country club and thinks Courtney is the best thing since Tiffany’s. Courtney finds Liz too ” Plain Jane” and boring , and when Courtney wants a man- she gets him! Another Lovett student that features rather prominently in this book is Sheffield- he is the boy that Jessica goes after because Jessica decides she wants a private school boy. Sheffield is smart, sophisticated, rich and loves a good cappuchino- all qualities that attract the average 16 year old. But- the love affair between Jess and Sheffield quickly ends when Jessica learns that Sheffield is going to spend a year living in a homeless shelter as part of his independent study for his senior year at Lovett- and he’s selling his Mercedes!
So,Lila decides to have a huge party to welcome Todd back to Sweet Valley. Courtney schemes to land Todd at this party- Courtney writes a letter ” from Todd” to Liz, telling her to meet him at the gazebo. Elizabeth runs over to meet Todd, because Liz is thinking she may love Todd more than Jeffrey after all- and well Todd is there- WITH COURTNEY! Courtney manages to drag Todd to the gazebo, saying she has a headache and needs to get away from the loud party. Courtney then starts kissing Todd and Liz sees it! Liz goes running back to the party crying. Then Jeffrey sees the letter Todd ” wrote” to Elizabeth and realizes the handwriting is off. Jeffrey figures out that Courtney schemed to land Todd, and Jeffrey, being the awesome as FUCK human being that he is ( God, I found this sooo utterly romantic and noble of him when I was 12) , Jeffrey talks to Todd and tells him that Elizabeth loves him, and Jeffrey loves Elizabeth so much that if being with Todd makes her happy, Jeffrey is happy to step aside to let Liz and Todd be together. So Todd rushes over to Secca Lake, a spot that used to be special to Liz and Todd, and Todd explains what happened and that Jeffrey gave them his blessing, and Todd twirls Liz around in his arms and I puke. By the way, does anyone recall the episode of Dr. Quinn when another man and Michaela fell in love but Michaela also still loved Sully, but Sully says that he loves Michaela so much that if she’s happier w/ the other dude than Sully, he can accept that because it would make her happy- and so Michaela realizes Sully loves her more than the other man does, so she STAYS WITH SULLY? Yeah, because Dr. Quinn rocks, and Liz Wakefield- ugggghhhhhh….. And I don’t have Book #59- but that is just more drivel about Elizabeth and Todd being together again but it’s soooo hard because Todd goes to Lovett Academy- by the way, that book only served to make me jealous of the fact that I wasn’t in private school!
Soooo Ok I am going to say for next week ( I hope this week but as you know….) that I will recap what has to be one of the BSC’s most asinine books, ” Baby Sitters Island Adventure.”
And coming soon:
Sweet Valley Twins #51- Elizabeth the Impossible
Baby Sitters Super Special #11- The Baby Sitters Remember ( a favorite of mine!!)
Sweet Valley High #7- Dear Sister
Sweet Valley Twins #21- Left Behind
Sweet Valley Twins #62- Sarah’s Dad and Sophia’s Mom
There also will be some Unicorn Club, Sweet Valley High ( including ” A Night to Remember” and ” The Evil Twin!”) and Freshman Dorm books!
Fitzie's Soda Shoppe 