Time elapsed in this book: 1 week
Length of their junior year: 2 years, 6 months, 1 week
Jessica’s love interest: Nicholas Morrow, for a hot second. (And I do mean hot, because Nicholas is hot and Jess knows it!)
Entertainment rating: 1/10
This has to be one of the worst books in the Sweet Valley High series. Not because it’s a bad take on a sensitive issues (like, say, Wrong Kind of Girl) but because I just don’t care. This is supposed to be a redemptive story about Molly Hecht, the girl who threw the party where Regina did cocaine and died. Its message is that we’re all responsible for our own choices and that we shouldn’t blame someone else for Regina’s own decision to do cocaine (even though Molly threw the party and invited the drug dealer and pressured Regina to try it and told her it was safe…). But ultimately, who cares about Molly? Who cares what happens to her? Who cares if she feels guilty? (She should feel guilty!) I don’t care about her. I didn’t care as a kid either. I think I read this once when I was younger and then never revisited it.
The cover features Molly looking sad while unnamed people gossip behind her. Everyone on this cover looks at least 40-45 years old and like they have kids old enough to be in high school. In fact, I’m pretty sure my mom had this exact haircut when I was in high school. The cover doesn’t sell me on reading this book any more than the description of the book sold me on it. Thumbs down all around. Anyway, let’s get this over with.
This opens where the last book left off, at Regina’s memorial service in the Sweet Valley High auditorium. Liz tells Amy and Bruce that she got a letter from Regina that absolved them of any blame. When she gets home, Mr. and Mrs. Wakefield tell the twins that no one’s to blame except Regina herself and that anyone who tried drugs could have died! In case the messaging wasn’t clear: just say no.
Molly is miserable. Everyone is avoiding her because they blame her for Regina’s death. Justin Belson, her ex-boyfriend who brought Regina to the party, doesn’t even want to talk to her. At home, she’s grounded; her parents are furious she threw a party and that she hung out with druggies. Molly’s brother, who threw the party with her, is completely absent from this book so I have no idea if he’s being punished too. Molly wants to transfer to another school but her parents say she needs to stay at SVH and take what’s coming to her.
Jessica holds a PBA meeting and suggests raising money for a scholarship in Regina’s name, which could be offered to a graduating senior who overcomes a handicap or a hardship. The other PBA members love the idea and decide to start raising money for it.
Molly tries to talk to Liz at school, hoping she can convince Liz that she shouldn’t be blamed, but Liz doesn’t want to talk. Molly goes to the cemetery to talk to Regina’s grave and runs into Nicholas there. He yells at Molly that she’s done enough. Buzz, the drug dealer she invited to the party who provided the cocaine, calls her that night and tells her he’s the only one who cares about her and that she should meet him at Kelly’s later. Molly is happy someone seems to still like her and agrees to sneak out. Buzz is on the run from the police and hopes that Molly can provide him with cash to get out of town.
The Wakefields eat Chinese takeout for dinner. Even Mr. Wakefield eats it, despite previously claiming to be “allergic to Chinese food”. He offers to handle the finances for Regina’s scholarship, since he handles trust funds in his law practice. Truly, what type of legal practice does he not handle?
Molly meets Buzz at Kelly’s. They get beers and share a joint. Once Molly’s high, he tells her that he’s the only one who understands her. He suggests that she clear out her college savings account and run away with him. They plan to meet the next night.
Nicholas drops by the Wakefield house. Jess tells him about her scholarship idea and he takes her hand, saying he loves it. She thinks about how attractive he is. Then Nicholas leaves to talk to Liz. Jess is disappointed. Liz and Nicholas admit to each other that Molly has reached out, and they both feel guilty about being rude to her. Liz decides she should tell Justin to be friendly with Molly again. This is 100% none of Liz’s business, but that’s her favorite type of business to get involved in.
Liz finds Justin at school and tells him that Molly isn’t to blame and that he shouldn’t push her away. Justin asks why Liz cares. I echo his thoughts and also want to add that as a reader, I don’t care. If they wanted me to care, they should have made Molly a character that I’m invested in.
Jess asks her friends if they think there’s any hope for her and Nicholas. Lila says no.
Liz tracks Molly down at the local bank, where she’s withdrawing almost everything in her college savings account (she withdraws $2,300 out of $2,314.83). Liz says she wants to talk, but Molly is rude and says she doesn’t want to hear Liz blame her for Regina’s death anymore. It’s really hard to root for Molly as a character in here.
Jess and Liz go to the Oracle office to write up a blurb about the scholarship. Mr. Collins says that while doing cocaine was Regina’s choice, he thinks Molly has some responsibility too. Finally someone echoing my own thoughts! Zero commentary from him about anyone else who was at the party. I guess Jan Brown and co (Molly’s other druggie friends from the last book) have just disappeared?
Liz calls Justin and tells him about Molly withdrawing money. Justin realizes she’s going to run away. The two of them drive to Molly’s house just in time to see Molly take off in her mom’s car. They follow her to Kelly’s, where she picks up Buzz. Liz runs inside to call the cops and let them know where Buzz is while Justin follows Molly and Buzz in his car. Molly and Buzz catch sight of Justin following them and a chase ensues! Eventually, Justin runs Buzz off the road. Justin tells Molly not to ruin her life by going with Buzz. Buzz tells Molly not to listen to him and pulls out a knife! Justin and Buzz fight. Justin thinks that Buzz is high on cocaine. Finally, Justin punches Buzz in the jaw! Buzz goes limp and hits the ground, passed out. Justin has clearly been taking anger management lessons from Todd “Punch” Wilkins! This is for sure a Todd-worthy punch!
Molly finds Liz at school the next day and says she’s sorry for how she acted. She tells Liz that she’s turning over a new leaf and not doing any more drugs. She also says that Mr. Collins is going to talk to her parents so they’ll go easier on her and that he told her about a counseling group that might help. I don’t think it’s any of Mr. Collins’ business to tell her parents how to punish her, but I do agree counseling would be helpful. Molly also says that Mr. Collins is going to nominate her for Regina’s scholarship next year if she succeeds in turning her life around. Liz is happy and says she’s sure the Morrows will be happy too. Liz bets Molly will be the first recipient of that scholarship.
And that’s the end of this. Whew! I don’t think we ever hear about Molly Hecht or Justin Belson again, and we certainly never hear about her other friends. The message is: don’t do drugs. If you do do drugs, you might die and it’ll be your own fault. But also, if you throw a party and invite a drug dealer and someone dies, you can still turn your life around and be deserving of sympathy.
Up next: Sandy Bacon is dating Manuel Lopez and doesn’t want her racist parents to find out!