Creator of the book series “Sweet Valley High”, Francine Pascal has passed away at the age of 92.
In a report made by The New York Times, Pascal’s daughter Laurie Wenk-Pascal confirmed she died of lymphoma at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan last July 28.
Born Francine Paula Rubin, was born on May 13, 1932, in Manhattan. Pascal first studied journalism at New York University before becoming a freelance writer for gossip outlets such as True Confessions and Modern Screen. She then eventually wrote for magazines like Cosmopolitan and Ladies’ Home Journal.
She then married her second husband, journalist John Pascal, and worked on a soap opera together back in the 1960s entitled “The Young Marrieds”. This kickstarted the author’s writing career.
Aside from writing for the small screen, Pascal wrote other books for adults such as “The Strange Case of Patty Hearst” in 1974, “Save Johanna!” in 1981, and “If Wishes Were Horses” in 1994.
She then set forth in the young-adult novel world with “Hangin’ Out With Cici” in 1977 and had a sequel developed into an afternoon TV special “My Mother Was Never a Kid”.
After the success of “Hangin’ Out With Cici” and her published novel “The Hand-Me-Down Kid, Pascal pitched an idea for a TV series that circles around high school teenagers but the networks were not keen to the idea.
With the said rejection of her pitch, the author then created “Sweet Valley High” in 1983 which comprises 181 books, and wrote the first 12 books of the series. The story revolves around the life of identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield who live in the suburbs of Sweet Valley, Los Angeles.
The book series then went on and sold 200 million copies which is a huge achievement and has become part of people’s childhood.
Fans took to social media to express their sadness upon the death of the author.
rest in paradise, francine pascal. you helped make me who i am and that sounds dramatic but it’s true 🫶🏼 library girls forever https://t.co/TgSqMjKXQC
— megan (@megandurazo) July 30, 2024
Sweet Valley High and Sweet Valley Twins were part of my childhood. Jessica was my favorite of the twins. ☺️
Thank you, Francine Pascal. RIP 🕊️ https://t.co/I5jBSsYg3J— smolglovs (@smolglovs) July 30, 2024
Sweet Valley High books were a huge part of my childhood.
Rest in peace Francine Pascal 💜#SweetValleyHigh https://t.co/aGaCO6QeWm pic.twitter.com/SQ7nxTusgp
— Shrada (@shrada_g) July 30, 2024
My love of reading started because of you @francinepascal_. You taught me so much. I learned a lot about American culture and improved my vocab because of you. RIP, Queen! #sweetvalleygirly
— Kenna 🥥🌴 (@kenna) July 30, 2024
RIP, Francine Pascal. Thank you for making me and a lot of other young girls fall in love with reading books through Sweet Valley. 🥰 That is your greatest legacy. https://t.co/el1iUXiEbe
— Mel 🍉 (@peanutbuttercup) July 30, 2024
https://twitter.com/arehzed/status/1818171703538614766
Francine Pascal books were the stories of my youth. She the author most responsible for my love of reading. In the last 40 years, I've lived in the world of Sweet Valley: High/Twins/Kids/Mysteries/Thrillers/Sagas.
Sweet Valley is a little less sweet without her. 😢💔 https://t.co/twJLTXE3iS
— Jenn Shoemaker (@jennishoe) July 30, 2024
This said series ended back in 2003 after its debut 20 years ago. In 2011, the series made its resurgence with “Sweet Valley Confidential” that is set 10 years after “Sweet Valley High”.
The Sweet Valley author is survived by her two daughters, five great-grandchildren, and six grandchildren.
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