Sam

13 May 1938 – 2024

**Francine Pascal**, a native New Yorker, is an author best known for creating the Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High was the backbone of the collection, and was made into a popular television series. There were also several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club, Sweet Valley University, and Sweet Valley Sorority.<p></p> Francine Rubin graduated from New York University in 1958. It was there that she first met author and journalist [John Pascal][1] and, in 1965, they were married (the second marriage for each). Francine often credited John as her writing mentor, and they collaborated on several projects, including writing scripts for the ABC soap opera *The Young…