Elizabeth Betrayed

Book 89 in the Sweet Valley High series puts Elizabeth Wakefield in the editor's chair at The Oracle, only to have her ousted on a plagiarism charge engineered by the very person who helped her — Rod Sullivan, who had also been making unwanted advances she wanted no part of. The vindication arc is satisfying, and Jessica's role as unlikely hero gives this installment a fun twist on the usual character dynamics. The moral about academic integrity is clear and handled well for the target audience of twelve-to-sixteen-year-old girls. The content involving Rod's advances is age-appropriate for the series, though treated somewhat lightly given the topic. Formulaic by design, but the formula works, and loyal series readers will enjoy the payoff.