Pioneering feminist author Francine Pascal, creator of Sweet Valley High series, dies aged 92

Francine Pascal, Author of the Best-Selling "Sweet Valley High" Series, Dead at 92


Francine Pascal, the legendary author of the beloved Sweet Valley High book series, has died at the age of 92.

Laurie Wenk-Pascal, Pascal's daughter, confirmed to the New York Times that her mother passed away due to lymphoma in New York-Presbyterian Hospital on Sunday.

Born Francine Paula Rubin on May 13, 1932, in Manhattan, Pascal grew up in Jamaica, Queens, and studied journalism at New York University. She began her writing career as a freelancer for gossip outlets such as True Confessions and Modern Screen, eventually contributing to magazines like Cosmopolitan and Ladies’ Home Journal.

'Sweet Valley High': A Timeless Portrait of Adolescent Life

Pascal's debut young-adult novel, "Hangin’ Out With Cici," was released in 1977 and told the story of a girl who travels back in time to meet her mother as a teenager. She went on to write other successful novels, including "My First Love and Other Disasters" (1979) and "The Hand-Me-Down Kid" (1980).

Then, in 1983, she created the iconic Sweet Valley. The series, which followed identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield in the fictional Los Angeles suburb of Sweet Valley, captured the hearts of readers worldwide. With over 150 books in the series and running for almost 20 years, "Sweet Valley High" sold more than 200 million copies globally, as per the Associated Press.

"Sweet Valley is the essence of high school. It’s that moment before reality hits, when you really do believe in the romantic values — sacrifice, love, loyalty, friendship — before you get jaded and slip off into adulthood." — Francine Pascal to People magazine, 1988.

The series also spawned multiple spin-offs and sequels, such as "Sweet Valley Confidential" (2011) and "The Sweet Life" (2012), which explored the characters' lives as adults.

Pascal is survived by her two daughters, Laurie and Susan, as well as six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Her legacy will forever be etched in the hearts of her readers, who found comfort, excitement, and a sense of belonging in the pages she created.

Rest in power, Francine Pascal. Your stories will continue to inspire and entertain generations to come.

Saman Shafiq, Trending News Reporter

Reach Saman at sshafiq@gannett.com

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