Fowlers of Sweet Valley (Sweet Valley High) [Mass Market Paperback]

Kate William (Author), Francine Pascal (Collaborator)

Book Description

Series: Sweet Valley High | Publication Date: November 1, 1996

Discover the sweeping, romantic history of the men and women who made Lila Fowler who she is today!



Beautiful sixteen-year-old Lili de Beautemps is rescued from guillotine during the French Revolution by a dashing young man--but he disappears before she can even thank him. Will Lili ever see him again?



While working as a maid in the Marquis de Bocage's chateau, Celeste Chardin unexpectedly wins the love of the Marquis's son, Marc. Will Marc give up his family riches to be with her?



Wild and reckless Rose de Bocage grew up with Pierre Oiseleur in the turbulent 1890s. But when Pierre declares his everlasting love for Rose, she tells him she'll never settle down. Will she regret that decision forever?



Isabelle Eastman thought her true love, Jacques Oiseleur, had been killed in World War I. But he miraculously survived. Jacques returns to Isabelle--only to learn she has married his best friend.



In 1968, George Fowler falls in love with Grace Doret, the daughter of his parents' archenemies. Against all odds, he must transform into the man of her dreams. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Discover the sweeping, romantic history of the men and women who made Lila Fowler who she is today!

Beautiful sixteen-year-old Lili de Beautemps is rescued from guillotine during the French Revolution by a dashing young man--but he disappears before she can even thank him. Will Lili ever see him again?

While working as a maid in the Marquis de Bocage's chateau, Celeste Chardin unexpectedly wins the love of the Marquis's son, Marc. Will Marc give up his family riches to be with her?

Wild and reckless Rose de Bocage grew up with Pierre Oiseleur in the turbulent 1890s. But when Pierre declares his everlasting love for Rose, she tells him she'll never settle down. Will she regret that decision forever?

Isabelle Eastman thought her true love, Jacques Oiseleur, had been killed in World War I. But he miraculously survived. Jacques returns to Isabelle--only to learn she has married his best friend.

In 1968, George Fowler falls in love with Grace Doret, the daughter of his parents' archenemies. Against all odds, he must transform into the man of her dreams. . . .

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Lili put her foot on the first step leading up to  the platform. "Look at her, in silk,"  someone spat. Someone else said, "Soon that  silk will be drenched with blood."  

She froze, unable to move. Rough arms grabbed her  around the waist and hurled her up onto the  platform. She fell to her hands and knees and the mob  crowed with jeering laughter. All at once Lili's  heart burned white hot with anger. Recovering her  dignity, she rose to her feet, holding her chin  high. She would not cower. They might murder her  as they had her father and brothers, but they  would never crush her spirit. No matter what these  people say, Lili thought, no matter what they  believe me to be guilty of, I know they are wrong and  I am innocent. As Lili walked slowly across the  platform toward the guillotine, the laughter died  away and the crowd fell silent. One of the men who  had been restraining her now pulled her hands  behind her back and looped a rope loosely around her  wrists. Mercifully the three corpses had been  removed, but Lili felt a wave of nausea and terror  as she stared at the bloodstained blade. The  executioner, his face masked by a piece of black  cloth, motioned Lili to kneel before the wooden block.  She paused for a moment, her lips moving in  prayer. Suddenly her fear drained away and a strange  calm filled her soul. My last moment on this green  earth, she thought with unbearable sadness. My  last breath of air.

"But she is just a  girl," a voice called out. The rest of the  crowd grumbled impatiently. "She is one of  them," someone else snarled.

"To  your knees, woman. Do not think we will pity and  pardon you!"

Lili summoned all her  courage. The executioner grasped her arm and began  to force her to kneel at the block. Then a new  sound permeated Lili's consciousness, thundering  above the voices of the mob. The pounding of  hooves.She looked up just as a horseman burst from the  forest, riding at full gallop straight toward  her. People dove out of the way, screaming. The  rider, his features hidden by a hood, did not rein in  until he was abreast of the platform. Then he  jumped from the horse's back. Before anyone could  stop him, he'd scooped Lili up in his arms and  leaped back onto his horse, flinging her like a rag  doll across the saddle in front of him.  

"Go," he roared, kicking his horse hard in  the ribs. Whinnying frantically, the horse lunged  forward, breaking free of the hands that sought to  restrain it. Galloping hard, they reached the  edge of the field within seconds and disappeared  into the black woods.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Books (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 055357003X
• ISBN-13: 978-0553570038
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story!!!, June 16, 2005

By 

R. Beharry (Brooklyn, NY 11215) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fowlers of Sweet Valley (Sweet Valley High) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was really attracted to the Fowlers of Sweet Valley because I was always curious about Lila Fowler, such as where was her mother and why did she leave her and this book really helped me get an intimate look at Lila's identity. I could see Lila's personality in the characters-for example,her selfishness in Emily De Bocage, her strong willed independence in Rose de Bocage, her stubborn pride in Charles Doret, her inner strength in Lili de Beautemps, and her gentle spirit in Celeste Chardin.
I found each story suspensful and heartwrenching. I really liked Celeste's story because she was kind and gentle and really loved Marc and everything worked out well for her in the end. I didn't really like the story about Rose and Pierre. It was kind of boring and dragged a little with no suspenseful plot, really, just a girl playing a game of hard to get until she finally lost. I do think Rose was kind of a fool to deny Pierre her love when she knew how she felt for him and it's her loss in the end. But the story about the Charles-Isabelle-Jacque/Jack love triangle was the most heartwrenching. But what are the odds of failing to track someone down in France, moving to America, and winding up in the very same town with that person? My very favorite is the Grace Doret/George Fowler love story because I always wanted to know how the met and how it ended and why Grace left her daughter. The book ties in very well with the SVH series, especially Don't Go Home With John, which tells more about Lila being reunited with her mother after being assaulted. Did anyone notice in Isabelle's story the name Evelyn Pearce? She is described as a red-haired gossip. And in Grace's story they mention a girl named Lydia with the same last name, whose one of Grace's friends. Perhaps they are the ancestors of SVH gossip Carolyn Pearce? Lila has such a small part in the saga, but you really see her vulnerable side as a little girl saying goodbye to her mom it's so sad. I was also hoping to get a glimpse of the Wakefield twins in the book, or one of their ancestors, since the series revolves around them and Lila is more of a secondary character but they are not mentioned. This is a really great read and definitely one of the best books in the series. They should come out with more SVH sagas about other characters such as Todd Wilkins, Enid Rollins and even Winston Eggbert would be interesting!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favourite Book By Far!, April 3, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Fowlers of Sweet Valley (Sweet Valley High) (Mass Market Paperback)

I love this book. My friend recommended it and i was hesitant at first because i'm not a huge fan of sweet valley high but i love historical fiction book. After reading this book I'd have to say it is my favourite book, all the stories of each generation are remarkable!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!!!!!!, April 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Fowlers of Sweet Valley (Sweet Valley High) (Mass Market Paperback)

I checked this book out from my local library not really thinking that I would have the time to read it. But as soon as I finished reading the first chapter I was hooked. I mean who would have known that Lila Fowler's ancestors' stories could be SO touching. Everything was so descriptive that I could imagine myself being the characters in the wonderful story about friendship, romance, tragedies and just plain fun. If you are interested in ANY of the Sweet Valley series you will definately enjoy this book.
When I was reading this book I was really hooked on the Sweet Valley Twins Series. This book made me broaden my horizon's and got my interested in Sweet Valley Jr. High books, Sweet Valley High books and many other great Sweet Valley miniseries.
Recently, I read the book, The Wakefields of Sweet Valley. This book was even better than The Fowler's of Sweet Valley if that is humanly possible.
The only thing that I didn't like about this book and The Wakefield's of Sweet Valley is that they are SO sad. I have never cried so much in a series. The only time I could put the book down was to get a tissue.
These books in the Sweet Valley Saga series teach you a lot. I hope that you will condsider reading them.(Tip is you read any of the Sweet Valley Saga books: Get lots of tissues.)
I hated how in this book Lili never got together with her true love. It was SO sad.