Dynamite Entertainment announced graphic novels based on Francine Pascal’s beloved YA novel series, Sweet Valley High. The graphic novel series is set to begin in 2017.
The YA novel series, which began in 1983 and ran for 20 years to the tune of hundreds of novels and spinoffs, including board games, dolls, and a TV show, follows the adventures of identical teenage twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield. According to the Chicago Tribune, Sweet Valley High dominated YA bestseller lists and became the first YA series to earn a spot on The New York Times paperback fiction bestseller list.
Dynamite CEO and publisher Nick Barrucci said, "We are always looking for ways to expand our offerings for teen readers, and are thrilled to be able to publish the first-ever graphic novel series set in Sweet Valley, California. Sweet Valley High has such an incredibly rich publishing history with fans of all ages, and we are honored to publish all-new adventures of the Wakefield twins and their friends!"Details on the creative team behind the Sweet Valley High series are forthcoming.
Other publishers have found success in mining source material from book series popular with teen audiences and the adult readers who grew up with them. Scholastic’s graphic novel versions of The Baby-Sitters Club, adapted and drawn by Raina Telgemeier, have dominated ICv2’s "Kids/Tweens GN Franchises" sales lists (see “Top 10 Kids/Tweens GN Franchises--Spring 2016”).