Author Interview & Giveaway: SWEET VALLEY TWINS #1: BEST FRIENDS by Nicole Andelfinger, with art by Claudia Aguirre

We’ve seen The Babysitter’s Club adapted to both graphic novels and on the screen and now another childhood favorite is getting a refresh! As a young reader, I balanced my time between horror stories (like Goosebumps) and contemporary stories (such as Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High!). It’s so fun to see the current generation read these classic stories, with modern updates and new modalities. Sweet Valley Twins has a new graphic novel adaptation, the first of which is out next Tuesday. We are also giving away a copy! Check out some of the interior pages, enter the giveaway, and pick up Best Friends, out Tuesday!

Sweet Valley Twins: Best Friends (The Graphic Novel)

by Francine Pascal, Claudia Aguirre, Nicole Andelfinger
Published by: Random House Graphic
on November 1, 2022
Genres: Graphic Novel
Goodreads

Jessica and Elizabeth are ready to take on middle school . . . but are they ready to take on each other? The New York Times bestselling world of Sweet Valley returns in these all-new graphic novel adaptations!
Jessica and Elizabeth have always been inseparable twins, but starting middle school means a chance for new beginnings! Elizabeth is excited to organize a school newspaper, but Jessica is more interested in joining the exclusive Unicorn Club. What will happen when the twins realize they might not be as alike as they thought?
Middle school is hard enough, but with these twins each dealing with becoming their own person--will they be able to stay friends at the same time?
Francine Pascal's beloved Sweet Valley Twins comes to life in a brand-new graphic novel that will have old and new fans delighted as they meet Jessica and Elizabeth in graphic novel form. With the lively artwork of Claudia Aguirre, Sweet Valley Twins: Best Friends is a contemporary middle-grade graphic novel filled with heart, laughter, and lots of twins.

Interview with Nicole Andelfinger

As a child of the early 80s, I grew up reading various Sweet Valley books. I remember scouting garage sales and the library to read them all. What is your first memory of the series? 

I don’t remember when exactly I started reading Sweet Valley Twins, but I do remember tearing through them to the point I’m shocked my reading light I used to sneak to bed with me didn’t run out of batteries more often! As someone with two sisters, however, I absolutely gravitated toward a series that centered sisters like Sweet Valley does. There was just something special about seeing Jessica learn her lesson, or Elizabeth finally standing up for herself that kept me coming back.

What was your creative process like with artist Claudia Aguirre? 

Honestly, I couldn’t ask for a better partner. Claudia has such an eye for detail and emotion, she constantly nails exactly what I was going for and then goes that extra mile. Every cute little detail on the outfits and the background characters, you can usually thank Claudia for it!

Though this is an adaptation, were there parts of your middle school years you drew on to write the story? 

Middle school is tough for everyone, which is why this book was both so fun and such a challenge to write! I absolutely drew from my own middle school years, particularly when it came to writing Elizabeth. I also had a small group of friends who tended toward more ‘niche’ interests, and we’d often spend summer afternoons at someone’s pool gossiping about who had a crush on who. Ridiculous? Totally, but it’s those moments I think about when writing Jessica and Elizabeth’s interactions with their classmates.

Giveaway

Win a copy of Best Friends. US only!

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