The debate over the merits of young adult fiction has been a longstanding one, with some arguing that it can be a gateway to more substantial literary pursuits, while others worry that it can create a lifelong taste for shallow, escapist fare. This debate was reignited in the early 2000s with the rise of the Harry Potter series, but it was not a new phenomenon. Decades earlier, the Sweet Valley High series had sparked similar concerns among parents and educators, who wondered whether the books’ focus on teenage drama and romance would prepare readers for more challenging literary works.
Francine Pascal, the creator of the Sweet Valley High series, passed away on July 28 at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most successful young adult authors of all time. Born in Manhattan in 1932, Pascal grew up with a love of storytelling, fueled by her childhood fascination with comic books, fairy tales, and movies. She began her writing career in the 1960s, working as a freelance writer for gossip magazines and eventually landing jobs at more established publications like Cosmopolitan and Ladies’ Home Journal.
Pascal’s entry into the world of young adult fiction was a circuitous one. She and her husband, journalist John Pascal, worked together as writers for the ABC soap opera The Young Marrieds, before striking out on their own to write books and other projects. It wasn’t until Pascal was in her 50s that she hit upon the idea that would make her a household name: a soap opera-style series for teenagers, which would eventually become Sweet Valley High.
The series, which followed the lives of identical twin sisters Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield as they navigated the ups and downs of high school, was an instant hit. Pascal wrote the first book in the series, and then hired a team of ghostwriters to help her churn out subsequent titles at a rate of one per month. The series went on to sell over 250 million copies worldwide, spawning numerous spinoffs and cementing Pascal’s place as one of the most successful young adult authors of all time.
So what was the secret to Sweet Valley‘s enduring popularity? Pascal believed that the series offered a modern take on the classic novels of Jane Austen, helping young girls navigate the complexities of relationships and social hierarchies. But for many readers, the appeal of Sweet Valley was simpler: the books were fun, relatable, and spoke to the universal concerns of adolescence.
