New York NY (April 27, 2022)—Francine Pascal’s bestselling series SWEET VALLEY TWINS will be published in graphic novel format by Random House Graphic, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books (RHCB), it was announced today by Barbara Marcus, RHCB President and Publisher. Senior Editor Whitney Leopard will edit the series and acquired world rights from Amy Berkower, President, Writers House, and Kate McKean, VP, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. SWEET VALLEY TWINS #1: BEST FRIENDS is scheduled to release on November 1, 2022.

Writer Nicole Andelfinger and acclaimed artist Claudia Aguirre (Lost on Planet Earth) will launch the graphic novel line with an adaptation of SWEET VALLEY TWINS #1: BEST FRIENDS, the first novel in the series, which was originally published in 1986. Fans of ’80s and ’90s pop culture will fondly remember twins Elizabeth and Jessica from Sweet Valley, California, and their navigation of friendship, school, crushes, and more.

The graphic novels will be available simultaneously in hardcover and trade paperback formats. The second book in the series, Teacher’s Pet, will be published in 2023.

Francine Pascal said: “I have such great love for Sweet Valley and all the amazing adventures I’ve been able to take Jessica and Elizabeth on. And now graphic novels are our newest adventure,” said Sweet Valley Twins creator Francine Pascal. “It is so much fun seeing my characters practically alive! Nicole and Claudia have done an amazing job, and I’m very excited to work with them.”

In SWEET VALLEY TWINS #1: BEST FRIENDS, Jessica and Elizabeth are ready to take on middle school . . . but are they ready to take on each other? Jessica and Elizabeth have always been inseparable, 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. Middle school is hard enough, but with these twins each dealing with becoming their own person, will they be able to stay friends?

“The Sweet Valley series from Francine Pascal has resonated with readers across generations, and we are thrilled to bring the Wakefield twins to life in an all-new format with the SWEET VALLEY TWINS graphic novels,” said Whitney Leopard. “Francine and our adaptors, Nicole Andelfinger and Claudia Aguirre, are a dream team, visualizing these laugh-out-loud and heartfelt stories for the modern audience. These graphic novels are going to resonate with new and returning readers alike, and we can’t wait to see them out in the world.”

“I remember absolutely devouring Sweet Valley Twins as a preteen and felt like I couldn’t get enough of the drama, the shenanigans, and of course the sisters ultimately having each other’s backs,” said writer Nicole Andelfinger. “Being able to take the twins into the modern age has been an absolute joy. I can’t wait for a new generation of preteens to fall in love with Jessica, Elizabeth, and their friends!”

With new takes on She-Ra, Carmen Sandiego, Goosebumps, and The Babysitters Club, the ’80s and ’90s are on our screens and bookshelves. The Sweet Valley Twins adaptations promise to introduce these classic characters to a new generation of readers in the ever-growing middle-grade graphic novel category.

“Sweet Valley Twins is a series that has meant a lot to so many people,” said GLAAD Media Award nominee and Eisner Award nominee Claudia Aguirre. “I loved bringing Jessica and Elizabeth to life in these graphic novels for new and old fans alike, and I hope everyone loves them as much as I do!”

Francine Pascal is the creator of the Sweet Valley universe, which includes Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley High, and Sweet Valley Unicorn Club. Over their lifetime, Sweet Valley books have sold millions of copies, been adapted into a TV series (in the eighties), and inspired board games, puzzles, and dolls. It is one of the most popular kids’ book series of all time. Francine lives in New York and the South of France.

Claudia Aguirre is a Mexican lesbian comic-book artist and writer. She is a cofounder of Boudika Comics, where she self-publishes comics, and is a GLAAD Media Award nominee and Eisner Award nominee. Her comic works include Lost on Planet Earth with ComiXology Originals, Hotel Dare with Boom! Studios, Firebrand with Legendary Comics, Morning in America with Oni Press, and Kim & Kim with Black Mask Studios.

Nicole Andelfinger was crafting stories back when jelly shoes were cool. When not changing her hair color or writing comics for some of her favorite franchises—such as Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Regular Show, Rugrats, Steven Universe, and more—she works a day job best described as “emails.” She lives with her absolutely, most decidedly perfect cat in Los Angeles.

Random House Children’s Books (rhcbooks.com) is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, and nonfiction, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

SWEET VALLEY TWINS: BEST FRIENDS

By Francine Pascal, Illustrated by Claudia Aguirre, Adapted by Nicole Andelfinger

Random House Graphic | On sale November 1, 2022 | 224 pages | Ages 8–12

HC: 978-0-593-37647-8 | $20.99/$27.99 Can.

TP: 978-0-593-37646-1 | $13.99/$18.99 Can.

Ebook: 978-0-593-37649-2 | $8.99/$10.99 Can.