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Francine Pascal, the writer best known for creating hit teen book series “Sweet Valley High,” has died. She was 92.
Pascal died on Sunday in Latest York, the Latest York Times reports. The explanation for death was lymphoma Pascal’s daughter, Laurie Wenk-Pascal, told the newspaper.
“Sweet Valley High” debuted in 1983 after a friend remarked to Pascal there was no teen version of Eighties soap “Dallas.” Pascal was reportedly inspired to create the series, about blonde Californian twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, immediately. The books went on to spawn lots of of sequels and spin-offs detailing the twins at different ages, starting from middle school to varsity. There have been also some wackier books which saw the twins mixed up in murders and even supernatural events.
Only the primary 12 books were written by Pascal although she wrote many of the outlines for the others. A TV adaptation of the books ran for 4 seasons starring twins Brittany and Cynthia Daniel. Diablo Cody was said to be penning a feature film adaptation of the books in 2009 for Universal, although the movie never materialized.
In addition to having sold over 200 million copies, “Sweet Valley High” arguably inspired the trendy teen drama genre as we understand it, with shows including “Degrassi” and “Beverly Hills, 90210” debuting in late Eighties and early Nineties following the novels’ initial success in addition to “Clueless,” “Dawson’s Creek” and “The OC” in the next years.
In 2011 a brand new adult novel series, “Sweet Valley Confidential” was released, revisiting the Wakefield twins of their 30s. The unique book series led to 2003.
Pascal was born in Latest York in 1932. She studied journalism at Latest York University before occurring to work for a wide range of publications including True Confessions and Cosmopolitan. Her first young adult novel, “Hangin’ Out With Cici,” was published in 1977 and quickly adapted right into a TV special. She also wrote other novels in addition to writing for soap opera “The Young Marrieds” alongside her husband John Pascal, who died in 1981.
Pascal is survived by two of her three daughters, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
