Francine Pascal

Francine Pascal was an American author best known for creating the Sweet Valley High series of young adult novels. The series, which chronicled the lives of identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, was a massive commercial success, selling over 200 million copies worldwide and spawning a television series. Pascal began her writing career in journalism and as a soap opera scriptwriter before turning to young adult fiction. She wrote the first 12 books in the Sweet Valley High series herself and then oversaw a team of ghostwriters to maintain the rapid publication schedule. Pascal also wrote other novels and was involved in musical theater. She passed away in July 2024 at the age of 92.