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Sweet Valley Twins Graphic Novels #4
The Haunted House
There's a new girl in Sweet Valley...and she's a witch?! Join twin sisters Jessica and Elizabeth as they discover if the rumors match reality in this all new graphic novel from the The New York Times bestselling world of Sweet Valley Twins.
The buzz at Sweet Valley Middle School is all about Nora Mercandy, the new girl living in the town's infamous haunted house. Jessica is convinced there's something witchy about her, but Elizabeth thinks there's more to the story. Caught in a whirl of rumors and a rift with her twin, can Elizabeth discover the truth before friendships are torn apart?
The buzz at Sweet Valley Middle School is all about Nora Mercandy, the new girl living in the town's infamous haunted house. Jessica is convinced there's something witchy about her, but Elizabeth thinks there's more to the story. Caught in a whirl of rumors and a rift with her twin, can Elizabeth discover the truth before friendships are torn apart?
224 pages, Library Binding
Published May 7, 2024
118 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
April 28, 2024
I was an avid Sweet Valley fan growing up and followed the twins from elementary school to college. The fact that they are still popular and being featured in graphic novels makes me happy knowing new fans are reading them.
Jessica and Elizabeth are twins but vastly different. Elizabeth is studious, sweet, quiet, and has a solid ground of friends. Jessica is flaky, mean, popular, and will do anything to ensure she stays in the chosen group. (I remember this being VERY evident in the college books). In the Haunted House, Jessica and her friends terrorize new student Nora because.....???? Actually it does not matter why.
Elizabeth and her friends try to help Nora and get others to leave her alone with little success. When Halloween roles around we get a resolution to the bullying and a hopeful ending. However, I did not feel that the viciousness of the Unicorn club was handled correctly and it was too easily forgotten. This was a severe case of bullying and there were no repercussions. I would be hesitant to have this in my classroom, as I am not sure what the message is in this book. I recommend the series but not this one.
This was a gifted copy from Random House Graphic. All opinions are my own.
Jessica and Elizabeth are twins but vastly different. Elizabeth is studious, sweet, quiet, and has a solid ground of friends. Jessica is flaky, mean, popular, and will do anything to ensure she stays in the chosen group. (I remember this being VERY evident in the college books). In the Haunted House, Jessica and her friends terrorize new student Nora because.....???? Actually it does not matter why.
Elizabeth and her friends try to help Nora and get others to leave her alone with little success. When Halloween roles around we get a resolution to the bullying and a hopeful ending. However, I did not feel that the viciousness of the Unicorn club was handled correctly and it was too easily forgotten. This was a severe case of bullying and there were no repercussions. I would be hesitant to have this in my classroom, as I am not sure what the message is in this book. I recommend the series but not this one.
This was a gifted copy from Random House Graphic. All opinions are my own.
June 17, 2024
It’s not a bad adaptation; the problem is the source material. How did I read so many of these when Jessica is such a garbage human being??
July 21, 2024
This is such a fun graphic novel that brings me lots of nostalgia, but most of all it’s such a wonderful book that teaches about kindness, friendship, and relying on each other. Fantastic book!
May 10, 2024
Loved the story as much as I can love one where Jessica gives in to the worst side of herself but I don't like the art for most of this one. The costumes for the non-Unicorns are pretty great but seeing Nora at the end of the last book and this book? Oof. Nora's been my favorite C-list SV resident for years and she finally gets to show up again and yet... Oof. Just oof.
July 24, 2024
Wow, everyone was awful in this. Where were the parents? Elizabeth and her friends didn’t even really do anything, just the bare minimum.
July 11, 2024
Really boring, didn’t finish the book.
August 9, 2024
okay, so i hated the art style at first- but it ended up really growing on me. there’s a different illustrator, hence the different art style, but it’s actually super cute!
this book is proof that kids are just mean. and insane, if we’re talking about jessica and lila.
also, rick was introduced in this book! he’s one of my favorite side characters in the sweet valley multiverse of madness and i wish he existed in SVH. (i don’t think he does?)
now we need a graphic novel for “the middle school gets married” 🥲 that one has a special place in my heart and features jessica and rick!
i don’t know what i’m saying anymore. i always love the sweet valley graphic novels and they never disappoint! 🌚🌚
this book is proof that kids are just mean. and insane, if we’re talking about jessica and lila.
also, rick was introduced in this book! he’s one of my favorite side characters in the sweet valley multiverse of madness and i wish he existed in SVH. (i don’t think he does?)
now we need a graphic novel for “the middle school gets married” 🥲 that one has a special place in my heart and features jessica and rick!
i don’t know what i’m saying anymore. i always love the sweet valley graphic novels and they never disappoint! 🌚🌚
July 28, 2024
I’m familiar with the Sweet Valley universe but have never read the books before, so this was my first real introduction.
I’ve really been loving how so many older books are now being made into graphic novels. I loved that this graphic novel was set around Halloween, but that’s pretty much it.
Elizabeth was a good friend to Nora, but holy crap are the Unicorns little jerks! I liked the ending but can’t believe there was no resolution. Lila was just allowed to be a jerk and not say sorry?? 😅
I’ve really been loving how so many older books are now being made into graphic novels. I loved that this graphic novel was set around Halloween, but that’s pretty much it.
Elizabeth was a good friend to Nora, but holy crap are the Unicorns little jerks! I liked the ending but can’t believe there was no resolution. Lila was just allowed to be a jerk and not say sorry?? 😅
August 22, 2024
Maybe, MAYBE hold the mean rich girls accountable for bullying the poor new girl 🫶👍
July 20, 2024
Ugh, bullies are the worst.
November 13, 2024
Meh The plot was a little cringe and there were a lot of avoidable things that happened.
June 27, 2024
Wow, this is a brutal version of SVT #3. The bullying is OTT, and I'm still not sure why Nora put up with it? I mean, looks at this girl:
She could care less what the Unicorns think of her!
Lila was particularly monstrous in this version, which really doesn't make sense - of all the people in Sweet Valley, *she* would understand the particular hurt that comes with losing a mother. She also doesn't care this much about tennis. And the bit of tennis in this book? Yikes on bikes, it is cringeworthy to the max!
The coda/preview of the next story was the best part, IMO. I loved Amy's reaction to the news of Johnny Buck's concert coming to town. That was a classic panel ("Eighty five dollars a ticket to listen to some guy autotune his voice? No thanks."). They've already morphed Johnny Buck into a teel idol (how soon we forget Rock Star's Girl); I'm shocked they didn't turn him into a kpop star.
She could care less what the Unicorns think of her!
Lila was particularly monstrous in this version, which really doesn't make sense - of all the people in Sweet Valley, *she* would understand the particular hurt that comes with losing a mother. She also doesn't care this much about tennis. And the bit of tennis in this book? Yikes on bikes, it is cringeworthy to the max!
The coda/preview of the next story was the best part, IMO. I loved Amy's reaction to the news of Johnny Buck's concert coming to town. That was a classic panel ("Eighty five dollars a ticket to listen to some guy autotune his voice? No thanks."). They've already morphed Johnny Buck into a teel idol (how soon we forget Rock Star's Girl); I'm shocked they didn't turn him into a kpop star.
June 12, 2024
I did not like the illustrations in this one. The other 3 books all had the same illustrator and to switch in the 4th book just threw things off for me. The illustrations almost deterred me from reading. But i pushed through. In the end though, they detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
October 30, 2024
Wow, books like this one make me SO glad I didn't go to a school large enough to have cliques (or, if I did, I was too oblivious to be affected by them). Kids sure can be psychopaths, huh? ...to be fair, adults can be, too, as surely too many folks can attest. :(
I'm also not sure I like the new art style as much; it's not as clean, like the linework was done with pencil and just adjusted for higher contrast... I don't know how to describe it. It felt very unfinished compared to the earlier books.
The story is one huge dogpile on Nora, though, and for honestly no good reason. Literally just because she lives in a certain house?? I remember being mean when I was younger, but not to REMOTELY the extent that the "Unicorns" have done.* The bullying is just painful to read and seems to belabour the point. Honestly, it feels like they could have cut some of it to both bring the page count and pain count down a little. I guess they wanted to be as accurate as possible to the original book, though?
(Even though the next book is the next book from the original version of the graphic novel. I'm curious about their reasoning for this, but not so curious as to spend more time on it than a mention here.)
Also the trope of the new girl attracts the attention of the hottest boy in school, haha, though I think that's only a trope because there's only so many reactions one can have to a new kid in school (especially to cause drama with the hottest *girl* in school).
Recommended for readers who need a lesson on why bullying is bad, but I have the feeling the ones who need to learn aren't the ones who will read the book (or, they'll be Lilas about it.)
*—though, point in their favour that they apologised where I... probably didn't... sorry, everybody I pissed off... Granted, my life might not be as good now as it could have been as a result of karma from back then, haha.
I'm also not sure I like the new art style as much; it's not as clean, like the linework was done with pencil and just adjusted for higher contrast... I don't know how to describe it. It felt very unfinished compared to the earlier books.
The story is one huge dogpile on Nora, though, and for honestly no good reason. Literally just because she lives in a certain house?? I remember being mean when I was younger, but not to REMOTELY the extent that the "Unicorns" have done.* The bullying is just painful to read and seems to belabour the point. Honestly, it feels like they could have cut some of it to both bring the page count and pain count down a little. I guess they wanted to be as accurate as possible to the original book, though?
(Even though the next book is the next book from the original version of the graphic novel. I'm curious about their reasoning for this, but not so curious as to spend more time on it than a mention here.)
Also the trope of the new girl attracts the attention of the hottest boy in school, haha, though I think that's only a trope because there's only so many reactions one can have to a new kid in school (especially to cause drama with the hottest *girl* in school).
Recommended for readers who need a lesson on why bullying is bad, but I have the feeling the ones who need to learn aren't the ones who will read the book (or, they'll be Lilas about it.)
*—though, point in their favour that they apologised where I... probably didn't... sorry, everybody I pissed off... Granted, my life might not be as good now as it could have been as a result of karma from back then, haha.
October 26, 2024
Book 200 of 300 ~ 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
My kinda horror story.. for those who know me, I'm a big chicken. Jerrid has now trained me in a way to watch horror films but during the day. My cut-off time is 8pm if it is something tolerable.
Slender man or candy man 4pm. Lol.
Anyway, this is horrifying for the wrong reasons - not cause of the haunted house but because of peer pressure and bullying.
I was bullied badly in both primary and secondary school - mostly by this one Eurasian girl who hated or was jealous of me, and she somehow managed to get others on board with her.
Secondary school especially - I still have ptsd till today..
I love that they are reintroducing the sweet valley series to a new generation... well told stories are ageless.
#book200of300 #amreading #sweetvalleytwins #tbrpile #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2024 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
My kinda horror story.. for those who know me, I'm a big chicken. Jerrid has now trained me in a way to watch horror films but during the day. My cut-off time is 8pm if it is something tolerable.
Slender man or candy man 4pm. Lol.
Anyway, this is horrifying for the wrong reasons - not cause of the haunted house but because of peer pressure and bullying.
I was bullied badly in both primary and secondary school - mostly by this one Eurasian girl who hated or was jealous of me, and she somehow managed to get others on board with her.
Secondary school especially - I still have ptsd till today..
I love that they are reintroducing the sweet valley series to a new generation... well told stories are ageless.
#book200of300 #amreading #sweetvalleytwins #tbrpile #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2024 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds
September 20, 2024
I had never read the original SVT series so I don't know how true the graphic novels remain to the originals.
I liked the previous 3 graphic novels pretty much. Didn't love them but liked them enough to continue. I had a LOT of difficulty with this one. I even stopped halfway through, tinkered with making it a DNF, waited a few days, read some of the GR comments, then decided to just finish it. I am glad I did finish it but was not happy with the topic - BULLYING. It went way beyond bullying and that is what I have an issue with. I don't know if I am sensitive to the topic or what, but this book just made me feel so ... uncomfortable.
The artwork/illustrator differs from the previous books. Can't say I liked it. At times the art seems unfinished. Here is an example.
I'm undecided at this point whether I will continue with the SVT graphic novel series. They just haven't 'wowed' me so far. With my 300+ catalog of other graphic novels I want to read, if I decide to continue on with the series, it will go on the back burner.
I liked the previous 3 graphic novels pretty much. Didn't love them but liked them enough to continue. I had a LOT of difficulty with this one. I even stopped halfway through, tinkered with making it a DNF, waited a few days, read some of the GR comments, then decided to just finish it. I am glad I did finish it but was not happy with the topic - BULLYING. It went way beyond bullying and that is what I have an issue with. I don't know if I am sensitive to the topic or what, but this book just made me feel so ... uncomfortable.
The artwork/illustrator differs from the previous books. Can't say I liked it. At times the art seems unfinished. Here is an example.
I'm undecided at this point whether I will continue with the SVT graphic novel series. They just haven't 'wowed' me so far. With my 300+ catalog of other graphic novels I want to read, if I decide to continue on with the series, it will go on the back burner.
June 27, 2024
"You always have a choice to be nice."
Despite the change to a different artist, Whittle's illustrations are sleek and complementary to the story and characters. I like the fashions and the anime-like expressions.
Jessica is still a terribly vain, stuck-up child. Her popular friends are the worst they have ever been in this volume with the constant bullying of the new character Nora. The Carrie vibes are strong here! Also, ending spoiler:
I never knew or was interested in Sweet Valley, but I hope the series is building toward character development for Jessica staying to the next book. It would be a unique turn though it will probably keep the status quo for the twin dynamic.
Despite the change to a different artist, Whittle's illustrations are sleek and complementary to the story and characters. I like the fashions and the anime-like expressions.
Jessica is still a terribly vain, stuck-up child. Her popular friends are the worst they have ever been in this volume with the constant bullying of the new character Nora. The Carrie vibes are strong here! Also, ending spoiler:
I never knew or was interested in Sweet Valley, but I hope the series is building toward character development for Jessica staying to the next book. It would be a unique turn though it will probably keep the status quo for the twin dynamic.
July 2, 2024
𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲
1. If you love graphic novels that teach a moral, then you’ll love this one!
2. If you grew up reading The Sweet Valley Twins books as a kid, then you’ll love seeing them come to life in this graphic novel adaptation!
3. The morals taught in this story are still ringing true - don’t be a bully, don’t assume, and be kind to everyone. You don’t really know what’s happening behind the scenes.
4. If you’re a preteen, I’d recommend checking this one out.
5. The Haunted House takes place around Halloween, so read this one if Halloween is your favorite holiday!
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
The buzz at Sweet Valley Middle School is all about Nora Mercandy, the new girl living in the town's infamous haunted house. Jessica is convinced there's something witchy about her, but Elizabeth thinks there's more to the story. Caught in a whirl of rumors and a rift with her twin, can Elizabeth discover the truth before friendships are torn apart?
1. If you love graphic novels that teach a moral, then you’ll love this one!
2. If you grew up reading The Sweet Valley Twins books as a kid, then you’ll love seeing them come to life in this graphic novel adaptation!
3. The morals taught in this story are still ringing true - don’t be a bully, don’t assume, and be kind to everyone. You don’t really know what’s happening behind the scenes.
4. If you’re a preteen, I’d recommend checking this one out.
5. The Haunted House takes place around Halloween, so read this one if Halloween is your favorite holiday!
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
The buzz at Sweet Valley Middle School is all about Nora Mercandy, the new girl living in the town's infamous haunted house. Jessica is convinced there's something witchy about her, but Elizabeth thinks there's more to the story. Caught in a whirl of rumors and a rift with her twin, can Elizabeth discover the truth before friendships are torn apart?
July 6, 2024
Every small town has that one house that is rumored to be haunted, the one all the kids cross the street from when they pass it....and Sweet valley is no exception. The Mercandy house has had stories passed down about how it's haunted for years. So when a sixth grade girl moves into the house the school is in an uproar. The Unicorn club, the mean kids spread the rumor that the girl is a witch and everyone treats her terribly. The kids tease and prank her incessantly. Except Elizabeth who befriends Nora Mercandy. This makes her twin sister Jessica so mad....she believes Elizabth's friendship with "the witch" is ruining her reputation. The two sisters fight about it but Elizabeth is adamant that Nora is nice and doesn't deserve the treatment she's receiving. Elizabeth wants to make the entire school get to know Nora and give her a chance.
June 29, 2024
This is the fourth book in the graphic novel adaptation of the Sweet Valley Twins series from the 80s & 90s. I really enjoyed that series as a kid and I’m enjoying this graphic novel series as an adult. I love that these books are being reimagined for a younger generation. It’s been fun following along on twins, Jessica and Elizabeth’s journey. The books are full of great illustrations. Knack Whittle is a very talented artist. I enjoyed the “haunted house” in this book, but it was hard to see the bullying Nora had to go through because of her house. I think young readers will find this series relatable. I definitely recommend checking it out!
July 1, 2024
Really enjoyed the way this was done, where the reader knows Nora’s tragic backstory but Jessica and all the bullies don’t. It really shows how cruel people can be when they don’t even know how big a deal it is. I think it gives kids lots to think about in the ol’ empathy column. Great job. I was at first sad that the bullies never found out just how horrible they were being because they never found out that Nora’s parents had died, but I’ve come to appreciate that decision. As a reader it makes it harder for me to forgive them than it seems to be for Nora because I was waiting for them to feel as badly as I did watching it all go down. But I never got the satisfaction. Life is like that!
May 27, 2024
It is more a 3.5/5 stars for me. I don't know why but the art work looked different then the other graphic novels and it threw me off. The story had an alright ending but I guess it is just gets to me how one of the twins gets awa with such mean things and never gets into trouble and this time the bully was overboard. I guess I was lucky that i didn't see that type of bulling in my school(not going to say it didn't happen but I never saw it and I was not popular.)
I would just like to see some action taken , even though I know in real life it doesn't always work out or nothing is done.
I would just like to see some action taken , even though I know in real life it doesn't always work out or nothing is done.
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July 16, 2024This has always been one of the most frustrating Sweet Valley Twins books, due to the horrible bullying of Nora and her family, and the graphic novel version translates that perfectly. They continue to be really solid adaptations of the originals, with just the right amount of modernisation for a new audience.
The artist changed for this one, and I think that it would've been fun for them to use their own style rather than emulating that of the original artist. I guess they were going for as much continuity as possible, though. I'm used to Marvel comics constantly switching it up!
The artist changed for this one, and I think that it would've been fun for them to use their own style rather than emulating that of the original artist. I guess they were going for as much continuity as possible, though. I'm used to Marvel comics constantly switching it up!
July 21, 2024
I read Sweet Valley books growing up and loved Elizabeth and Jessica. I rarely read graphic novels but I found this one to be fun and enjoyed it. This will be perfect for spooky season. I was happy to find the coming of age themes to be present still, and this book explores the “don’t judge a book by its cover” and “don’t believe everything you hear.” A new student has moved into what is considered the creepy house in town, and rumors abound she’s a witch. She endures some bullying, but the twins step in to help her. The illustrations are cute, and I think kids will like it.
February 2, 2025
Every time I read the next in the series, it becomes my favourite! I loooooved this one.
The theme is bullies, but actually, it was quite refreshing to see that not only is it difficult for someone who is being bullied, but peer pressure is hard as well. It happens in schools, kids follow the wrong people so they don't get bullied themselves. It was quite hard to see what effect bullying had on poor... (crap I've forgotten her name already 😂)
Anyway, beautiful graphics as always, very excited for the next one which is new at the library in 2 days!!
The theme is bullies, but actually, it was quite refreshing to see that not only is it difficult for someone who is being bullied, but peer pressure is hard as well. It happens in schools, kids follow the wrong people so they don't get bullied themselves. It was quite hard to see what effect bullying had on poor... (crap I've forgotten her name already 😂)
Anyway, beautiful graphics as always, very excited for the next one which is new at the library in 2 days!!
May 16, 2024
Detracted one star because there was a lot of diversion from SVT canon (as far as names of characters [teachers]go; other changes I was fine with. I like how these newer graphic novels are really finding a moral story to highlight besides just the fun nostalgic stories I remember reading as a kid.
i.e. Elizabeth pointing out to Jessica that her behavior isn't "her"; it's Jessica trying to be this person she(Jess) wants Lila to see and like.
i.e. Elizabeth pointing out to Jessica that her behavior isn't "her"; it's Jessica trying to be this person she(Jess) wants Lila to see and like.
May 18, 2024
This is the fourth graphic novel based on the Sweet Valley Twins series. In this novel, the twins seem to differ on how to treat a new girl in school. With Halloween as a backdrop, Elizabeth befriends new girl Nora Mercandy while Jessica and her friends lean into a rumor that Nora and her family are witches. The novel effectively portrays the bullying of the new girl until things go too far and classmates begin to rethink their actions.
June 8, 2024
Another addition to the series. Well done, but boy there is not a lot to redeem Jessica in this one. Even when she makes amends, I don't feel like she really does. I get that the two girls have always been presented as polar opposites when it comes to learning lessons, but it can definitely get extreme.
The book can stand alone but I definitely find it better to read them all together. Maybe not in order but at least read the first one to get a feel for the girls.
The book can stand alone but I definitely find it better to read them all together. Maybe not in order but at least read the first one to get a feel for the girls.
June 10, 2024
So nostalgic to read these classic SVT stories again and also see new imaginings of what the characters look like.
It's awful to witness the bullying Nora endures visually, somehow. I guess because you can see her face and posture as her classmates raucously belittle her as if she weren't there.
I just don't remember Jessica and the Unicorns being so awful when I was a kid, reading these books...
It's awful to witness the bullying Nora endures visually, somehow. I guess because you can see her face and posture as her classmates raucously belittle her as if she weren't there.
I just don't remember Jessica and the Unicorns being so awful when I was a kid, reading these books...
October 2, 2024
This adaptation fixed a few of the problems I had with the source material, but there is only so much one could do to make it better. This just isn’t a strong story, and Jessica is honestly way too mean to be a protagonist. I feel like some kids might read this and learn how to be effective bullies rather than learn why bullying is wrong. Still, this graphic novel was better than the original book, and the ending was more satisfying, but not by much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews