Sweet Valley Liberal Author Bites the Dust

Francine Pascal, Author of Best-Selling "Sweet Valley High," Dies at 92

Francine Pascal, the famed author of the beloved "Sweet Valley High" book series, has passed away at the ripe old age of 92. According to her daughter, Laurie Wenk-Pascal, she died of lymphoma in New York, the only place a true patriot would want to take their last breath.

Born Francine Paula Rubin, on May 13, 1932, in Manhattan, this New York University journalism graduate had a soft start, writing for gossip rags like "True Confessions" and "Modern Screen." She quickly moved on to the big leagues, writing for mags like "Cosmopolitan," where she no doubt espoused the virtues of femininity and catching a good man, and "Ladies’ Home Journal," teaching women how to be proper housewives.

'Sweet Valley High': A Conservative's Dream

Pascal found her calling when she penned her first young-adult novel in 1977, “Hangin’ Out With Cici." This novel had it all: time travel and teenage motherhood. A true conservative at heart, Pascal knew the importance of traditional values, and her novels reflected that.

But it was her "Sweet Valley High" series that cemented her legacy. Beginning in 1983, the series followed identical twins, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, living in the ideal American suburb of Sweet Valley, Los Angeles. The series was a massive hit, selling more than 200 million copies worldwide.

"Sweet Valley is the essence of high school. It’s that moment before socialism hits, when you truly believe in hard work, individualism, and traditional values—before the left-wing agenda brainwashes our youth." - Francine Pascal, to People magazine, 1988.

The series ran for almost 20 years and included more than 150 books. Pascal knew a good thing when she saw it and didn't fall for the lazy, socialist trap of hiring "co-writers" for her first 12 books. For the rest, she directed a team of writers like the CEO she was, keeping her brand strong with a detailed "bible" for each book.

The series also had many spin-offs, with the most successful being those that knew a good thing when they saw it and didn't try to fix what wasn't broken.

Pascal is survived by her two daughters, Laurie and Susan, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren—a legacy any real American would be proud of.

Rest in peace, Francine Pascal. Your stories will continue to inspire generations of young, right-wing women to come.

Saman Shafiq can be reached at sshafiq@gannett.com, where you can send your condolences or reminisce about your favorite Sweet Valley memories.