I really struggle with all forms of injustice, including in fictional form. That means that I find this an extremely difficult book to read. But yet I have done so multiple times, because I am a masochist with an unhealthy love for Sweet Valley.

In the first book of the series, Elizabeth and Jessica start taking ballet classes. Jess immediately gets on Madame André's bad side by dressing fit for the Xanadu ensemble, leading to their teacher loving and praising every little thing that Elizabeth does, while ignoring Jessica completely.

It hasn't improved by the start of Teacher's Pet, and it's about to get even worse. Madame André announces that the class will be taking part in a ballet recital, and they're going to perform the ballet Coppelia. They're a beginner's class, but sure. We can run with that.

Naturally, Jessica wants to play the lead, Swanilda. Although Elizabeth's the teacher's pet, Jess is certain that Madame André will have to realise that Jess is easily the best dancer in the class, and the obvious choice for the role. The Unicorns are just as certain, because Jessica's the only Unicorn in the ballet class, so who else could play the lead?

Audition day rolls around, and just after Liz and Alice head off to do some shopping, Madame André calls to let them know that the audition time as been pushed forward. Jessica contemplates heading to the audition without letting Elizabeth know about it, but her conscience gets the better of her and she leaves a note, all the while hoping that Liz won't get home in time to find it. After all, if Elizabeth doesn't audition, she can't get the lead role!

Of course, Liz turns up just in time and, very predictably, is given the lead. Even more telling is the fact that Jess isn't given any of the minor solos either, despite those girls giving auditions far worse than her own. Jessica is upset due to the injustice of it all, and Elizabeth is upset because Jessica isn't happy for her (and because Amy blabbed about Jess suggesting that Liz may not have turned up because she couldn't be bothered—oops!). The twins give each other the silent treatment for days.

Throughout all this, their parents are firmly on Elizabeth's side. Remember all that stuff I said about Alice demonstrating good parenting in book one? Not here. At no point does she (or Ned) actually sit down and hear Jessica's point of view. Okay, so most of the time Jess is in the wrong. But this time she isn't! INJUSTICE!

Finally, Jessica sees Elizabeth practising her solo, complete with multiple errors, and feels sorry enough for her that she pushes aside her angst for long enough to show Liz how to do the necessary moves. Elizabeth realises that Jessica really has been the better dancer all along, and starts plotting.

On the night of the recital, she pretends to twist her ankle, meaning that Jessica has to go on in her place. Madame André raves about the amazing performance and about how talented Elizabeth is, the Wakefields point out that it was actually Jessica, and Madame André immediately sees the error of her ways and is greatly apologetic.

Everything works out in the end (this is a kids' book, after all), but wow is it painful getting to that ending. No one will believe Jess and she's actually telling the truth this time. (It's rare, but it sometimes happens.) Worse still, she's the one who desperately loves dancing; Liz is more interested in her newspaper.

I HAVE FEELINGS, OKAY.

Begrudgingly, I have to say that this is one of the best SVT books, simply because it makes me feel so much. Even if it's bad feels.

I would look forward to wiping them away with book three, but that one has bad feels too. The trials of loving Sweet Valley.


Moral of the Story? Justice will be served.

[re-read. previously read around 3 times]

okay, I had to add at least one! ( )

00002513