Starring Winston Egbert (Sweet Valley Kids, #13)

The Basics

Title: Starring Winston Egbert
Series: Sweet Valley Kids #13
Published: November 1990

The Plot

Every year, Sweet Valley Elementary School puts on a Thanksgiving play. This year, it’s the turn of the first, second and third grades, and Jessica, Elizabeth and their friends are excited that they’ll get to take part. At the park with the other second-graders, Winston declares that he’s going to be the star of the play. Jessica is horrified, because Winston is the class clown, and the play is a serious thing.

Auditions are held, and Jessica does a dance and recites a poem, while Winston does a humorous version of the head Pilgrim’s speech. Elizabeth opts to remain backstage, volunteering to paint the set. When the parts are announced, Jessica is horrified to learn that Winston will be playing the Indian Chief, while she will only be the leader of the Indian dance. (From what you can tell, it sounds like there weren’t any decent female parts anyway, unless you count Amy’s role as a turkey.)

In the lead-up to the play, Winston is unbearable, bossing everyone around and boasting about his starring role. Eventually Jessica snaps, mocking Winston by pretending to act like him in front of the other kids. Elizabeth disapproves, but it’s hard not to side with Jess on this one. Coming from her, pay-back could’ve been a lot worse.

The play goes on and Jessica performs her role perfectly. When it’s Winston’s turn to speak, however, he gets stage fright and freezes, forgetting all his lines. Jessica steps in and saves the day, feeding him lines and improvising where needed. The play is a success and everyone is friends again.

The Verdict

This was a gentle kind of drama after the bullying nastiness of Crybaby Lois. It wasn’t the most exciting book in the series, but it was nice to have Jessica save the day for a change, instead of Elizabeth.

Major Characters

• Winston Egbert
• Elizabeth Wakefield
• Jessica Wakefield

Minor Characters

• Lila Fowler
• Mr. Grasso
• Miss Johnson
• Mrs. Otis

Bit Parts

• Crystal Burton
• Charlie Cashman
• Jenny DeVito (mention only)
• Mr. DeVito (mention only)
• Mrs. DeVito (mention only)
• Ken Matthews
• Caroline Pearce
• Ellen Riteman
• Eva Simpson
• Amy Sutton
• Alice Wakefield
• Grandma Wakefield
• Grandpa Wakefield
• Ned Wakefield
• Steven Wakefield
• Todd Wilkins
• Mark ?

The Places

• Charles Freemont Park: Has swings, a seesaw and a jungle gym.

The Themes

• Thanksgiving, school play, pride comes before a fall

The Play Cast

• Crystal Burton: Indian dancer
• Winston Egbert: Indian Chief
• Lila Fowler: Indian dancer
• Ken Matthews: Pilgrim
• Eva Simpson: Pilgrim
• Amy Sutton: Turkey
• Jessica Wakefield: Leader of the Indian dance and audience welcomer
• Todd Wilkins: Pilgrim