Maria Slater first appeared as a Sweet Valley character in Sweet Valley Twins and Friends #50, Jessica and the Secret Star. She used to be a movie star, but her career was coming to an end so to speak because she was no longer at the super "cute" stage. Her family decided it was time for her to have a normal high school life, so the Slaters' moved to Sweet Valley. Maria lives with her parents, Jack and Frances Slater, and her older sister, Maria.
She became good friends with Elizabeth during SVT, and was even a member of the Unicorn Club in seventh grade, then became a member of the Angels. She disappeared after that, not showing up in the Sweet Valley series again until Sweet Valley High #123, Elizabeth's Rival.

Maria had been living in New York City before that summer, in which she then moved back to Sweet Valley and joined the Wakefields at SVH.
Senior Year has really given Maria a chance to shine, and the reader is able to understand her character more. We definitely learn more about her life then we did in SVH. In SY, Maria has dated Conner McDermott and Ken Matthews, and hopefully *cross your fingers* will be getting back together with him. Maria is the smartest student in her class, she will probably be Valedictorian. She recently won the Senate Scholarship and will probably be going to Harvard. She also is starring in a play right now. Maria is a great character, and I think, has taken a lot of flack from Liz. I mean their friendship is really strong, but I think sometimes Liz underestimates her. But all in all, I think we will be hearing a lot more from Maria in the future!

Maria's Books:
#8. Maria Who?
#21. The It Guy
#25. Straight Up
#29. Where We Belong