What do you think?
Rate this book
Sisterhood #1
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Carmen got the jeans at a thrift shop. They didn’t look all that great: they were worn, dirty, and speckled with bleach. On the night before she and her friends part for the summer, Carmen decides to toss them.
But Tibby says they’re great. She'd love to have them. Lena and Bridget also think they’re fabulous. Lena decides that they should all try them on. Whoever they fit best will get them.
Nobody knows why, but the pants fit everyone perfectly. Even Carmen (who never thinks she looks good in anything) thinks she looks good in the pants. Over a few bags of cheese puffs, they decide to form a sisterhood and take the vow of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants . . . the next morning, they say good-bye.
And then the journey of the pants — and the most memorable summer of their lives — begins.
But Tibby says they’re great. She'd love to have them. Lena and Bridget also think they’re fabulous. Lena decides that they should all try them on. Whoever they fit best will get them.
Nobody knows why, but the pants fit everyone perfectly. Even Carmen (who never thinks she looks good in anything) thinks she looks good in the pants. Over a few bags of cheese puffs, they decide to form a sisterhood and take the vow of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants . . . the next morning, they say good-bye.
And then the journey of the pants — and the most memorable summer of their lives — begins.
294 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2001
About the author
Ann Brashares
77 books4,764 followersAnn Brashares grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with three brothers and attended a Quaker school in the D.C. area called Sidwell Friends. She studied Philosophy at Barnard College, part of Columbia University in New York City. Expecting to continue studying philosophy in graduate school, Ann took a year off after college to work as an editor, hoping to save money for school. Loving her job, she never went to graduate school, and instead, remained in New York City and worked as an editor for many years. Ann made the transition from editor to full-time writer with her first novel, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Ann and her husband live with their three children in New York.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,211 reviews
February 19, 2012
A sparkling breath of fresh air, this book captures the spirit of friendship in the most charming and sauciest manner possible.
The book is a far cry from the regular breed of YA novels which seem to dwell on the fixed notions that young girls basically fall into two main groups: One, the hatefully pretty, perpetually scheming Prom Queens with their nastier than “week-ol’ milk” cliques! And at the other end of the rainbow, the brave under-dog...not much to look at, the general do-gooder, the faithful confidante and to nicely round it off, more often than not, armed with an IQ formidable enough to gain entry into MENSA.
Breaking the age-old mould with insouciance, Ann Brashares creates a world where it is possible for four friends, as different as chalk and cheese to form a deeply satisfying friendship. They care for each other, love each other, put aside fights and misunderstandings with a careless shrug and offer unstinted, non-judgmental support any time, everytime.
Lena, the reluctant beauty; feisty, big-tushied Carmen; the anti-everything, mad-at-the-world Tibby and the over-achieving, statuesque athlete Bridget are friends; literally since birth (their mums shared a preggers-aerobics class). Having grown up in each other’s pockets, along comes a summer when the four are parted for the first time. Lena is off to Greece to meet her grandparents; Carmen to spend some quality time with her divorced dad in South Carolina; Bridget to Baja, California for summer camp and Tibby, the impotent rebel is stuck at home, cutting a minimum wage at Wallman’s.
A well-worn pair of soft jeans bought at a thrift-shop by Carmen but never-tried becomes an unexpected bond to hold the four pals together. Despite their vastly different body proportions, the seemingly-magical pair of jeans fits each of them like a dream……hugging the right curves, resting gracefully on the varying waistlines, making each teen feel sexy and infusing them with much-needed confidence.
They make a pact (complete with a set of serious-cum-nonsensical rules) to circulate the pants amongst themselves throughout their vacation, passing it on when the time is right. Thus begins the saga of the Sisterhood……
As the long, glorious summer unravels, the pants become a source and symbol of the generous support which the sisterhood provides to each of the four buddies as they face unwieldy situations. Sucker-punched by new emotions, the friends absorb confidence from their ever-reliable ‘magical pants’. For each, the pants seem to be infused with the strength and support of their fellow friends.
Brimming with energy and vitality, the book effortlessly hops between the four friends as they deal with life, love and all-things ‘teen-achy’. One of the best coming-of-age books in a long time, it’s a must read for everyone who is-a-teen, was-a-teen and will soon be-a-quakin’ in your boots-teen.
It’s a tough world out there, but when you got your SIST –AHS, life’s just a wee bit more bearable.
The book is a far cry from the regular breed of YA novels which seem to dwell on the fixed notions that young girls basically fall into two main groups: One, the hatefully pretty, perpetually scheming Prom Queens with their nastier than “week-ol’ milk” cliques! And at the other end of the rainbow, the brave under-dog...not much to look at, the general do-gooder, the faithful confidante and to nicely round it off, more often than not, armed with an IQ formidable enough to gain entry into MENSA.
Breaking the age-old mould with insouciance, Ann Brashares creates a world where it is possible for four friends, as different as chalk and cheese to form a deeply satisfying friendship. They care for each other, love each other, put aside fights and misunderstandings with a careless shrug and offer unstinted, non-judgmental support any time, everytime.
Lena, the reluctant beauty; feisty, big-tushied Carmen; the anti-everything, mad-at-the-world Tibby and the over-achieving, statuesque athlete Bridget are friends; literally since birth (their mums shared a preggers-aerobics class). Having grown up in each other’s pockets, along comes a summer when the four are parted for the first time. Lena is off to Greece to meet her grandparents; Carmen to spend some quality time with her divorced dad in South Carolina; Bridget to Baja, California for summer camp and Tibby, the impotent rebel is stuck at home, cutting a minimum wage at Wallman’s.
A well-worn pair of soft jeans bought at a thrift-shop by Carmen but never-tried becomes an unexpected bond to hold the four pals together. Despite their vastly different body proportions, the seemingly-magical pair of jeans fits each of them like a dream……hugging the right curves, resting gracefully on the varying waistlines, making each teen feel sexy and infusing them with much-needed confidence.
They make a pact (complete with a set of serious-cum-nonsensical rules) to circulate the pants amongst themselves throughout their vacation, passing it on when the time is right. Thus begins the saga of the Sisterhood……
As the long, glorious summer unravels, the pants become a source and symbol of the generous support which the sisterhood provides to each of the four buddies as they face unwieldy situations. Sucker-punched by new emotions, the friends absorb confidence from their ever-reliable ‘magical pants’. For each, the pants seem to be infused with the strength and support of their fellow friends.
Brimming with energy and vitality, the book effortlessly hops between the four friends as they deal with life, love and all-things ‘teen-achy’. One of the best coming-of-age books in a long time, it’s a must read for everyone who is-a-teen, was-a-teen and will soon be-a-quakin’ in your boots-teen.
It’s a tough world out there, but when you got your SIST –AHS, life’s just a wee bit more bearable.
September 10, 2007
This is beginning to feel a little too familiar, but here's yet another disapointment from my YA Lit class. First, I should state that I have never liked the whole "girl power" thing. I guess I always felt intelligent/empowered enough as a teenager to not have to rely on books like this to show me how fantastic it is to be female. Also, generally speaking, I find large groups of girls terrifying, especially at the high school age. So lots of pre-existing strikes against this book.
As for the story itself: blah.
Complaint the first: I dislike the fomulatic "four girls with four neat, distinctive personalities" thing. I mean come on - all my friends in high school were pretty much the exact same as me, but with different colors of hair and varying degrees of niceness.
Complaint the second: I was unconvinced by every single one of the characters. Lena I liked the best, but I still didn't buy the whole "I don't want people to like me 'cause I'm pretty" thing. Realistically, most pretty teenagers seem fairly psyched by their good fortune and run with it. Maybe if she was in her twenties (still a maybe), but at fifteen?
Similarly, the one who played soccer and her agressive hitting on the coach senario. Maybe it was realistic, but if it is, I didn't grow up with girls like that. It all seemed a little contrived to me. Even at fifteen we all had a pretty good handle on the word "skank", and the lack of it being thrown around by anyone made this seem less real-world. Girls aren't nice - if one person has the nerve to flirt with the camp idol (especially if she is sucessful), she isn't cheered on and adored for it. She is hated, whispered about, and called lots of fun names for it. Or, at least where I came from.
Complaint the third: the kid with cancer. Not to be cold (or, perhaps "colder" would be more accurate), but dying does not make you self-aware, wise, and interesting all by itself so far as I know. Yet somehow books/movies just can't resist the wise-beyond-her-years dying kid. It would make a lot more sense and be a lot more authentic if she were just mad, not a slightly rebellious Yoda.
Complaint the fourth: The stupid pants. I hated the completely idiotic premise of the book. Seriously. Magic pants that fit everyone? That's the best that could be thought up? Not good. Not good at all.
As for the story itself: blah.
Complaint the first: I dislike the fomulatic "four girls with four neat, distinctive personalities" thing. I mean come on - all my friends in high school were pretty much the exact same as me, but with different colors of hair and varying degrees of niceness.
Complaint the second: I was unconvinced by every single one of the characters. Lena I liked the best, but I still didn't buy the whole "I don't want people to like me 'cause I'm pretty" thing. Realistically, most pretty teenagers seem fairly psyched by their good fortune and run with it. Maybe if she was in her twenties (still a maybe), but at fifteen?
Similarly, the one who played soccer and her agressive hitting on the coach senario. Maybe it was realistic, but if it is, I didn't grow up with girls like that. It all seemed a little contrived to me. Even at fifteen we all had a pretty good handle on the word "skank", and the lack of it being thrown around by anyone made this seem less real-world. Girls aren't nice - if one person has the nerve to flirt with the camp idol (especially if she is sucessful), she isn't cheered on and adored for it. She is hated, whispered about, and called lots of fun names for it. Or, at least where I came from.
Complaint the third: the kid with cancer. Not to be cold (or, perhaps "colder" would be more accurate), but dying does not make you self-aware, wise, and interesting all by itself so far as I know. Yet somehow books/movies just can't resist the wise-beyond-her-years dying kid. It would make a lot more sense and be a lot more authentic if she were just mad, not a slightly rebellious Yoda.
Complaint the fourth: The stupid pants. I hated the completely idiotic premise of the book. Seriously. Magic pants that fit everyone? That's the best that could be thought up? Not good. Not good at all.
March 24, 2023
This is the quintessential YA summer read. If all female YA characters were written to be like these girls, YA would be a much better genre.
I love the way everything is handled in this book. The girls each have unique and complex personalities. They all discover that they are flawed and they all work to understand why they behave the way they do. They support each other, and they love each other, but they also confront each other (in the most beautiful, patient, loving manner).
The romance that occurs is much less about the guys, and much more about Bridget and Lena learning something about themselves. It's freaking brilliant and such a healthy way of depicting first love to teenagers. Also, the male characters are lovely!! But also not the be-all, end-all, or centre of the girls' worlds!
What I especially liked was the portrayal of Bailey's leukemia. Most books like The Fault in Our Stars or My Sister's Keeper make cancer out to be horribly grotesque and macabre, leaving you with a terribly bleak feeling in the pit of your stomach. I have long since wished the media would paint cancer in a different light, such as this book does. It's a part of life and it's something that has to be dealt with! The light-hearted, candid way that Bailey and Tibby address Bailey's illness and mortality is so refreshing.
Ultimately I think this is a must-read for any young teen that has started consuming YA novels. Nearly 20 years later and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants still holds its own.
November 2, 2021
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Sisterhood #1), Ann Brashares
Ann Brashares is an American young adult novelist. She is best known as the author of Sisterhood series, included (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, Girls in Pants, Forever in Blue, 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows, and Sisterhood Everlasting).
Four best friends just fit together. Once there was a pair of pants. Just an ordinary pair of jeans. But these pants, the Traveling Pants, went on to do great things. This is the story of the four friends (Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen) who made it possible.
Four best friends Lena, Tibby, Bridget and Carmen, all born within weeks of one another, are preparing to spend their first summer apart. When Carmen buys a pair of second-hand jeans, the girls discover that despite their different physiques, the jeans look great on all of them.
They promise to rotate the magical jeans, dubbed 'the travelling pants', amongst them and at the summer's end record their favorite adventure while wearing the pants.
The jeans travel the world with the girls, visiting grandparents in Greece, attending soccer camp in Mexico, spending summer with Dad in South Carolina and working at home.
They tie together the four distinct characters, each individual and courageous young woman, as they find their own strength in the face of new love, unexpected friendships, a father's remarriage and a reckless relationship. The result is a true sisterhood of support and acceptance.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز نخست ماه مارس سال2021میلادی
عنوان: خواهرانگی (خواهر ازلی)؛ نویسنده: آن براشرز؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده - 21م
چهار دوست نزدیک «لنا کالیگاریس»، «تیبی رولینز»، «بریجت وریلند» و «کارمن لاول» با هم هماهنگی دارند؛ یک جفت شلوار جین معمولی بود، اما آن شلوار، شلوار مسافرتی، کارهای بزرگی انجام داد؛ این چهار نوجوان از «بتسدا، مریلند» هستند، و در زندگی خود بهترین دوستان همدیگر بوده اند؛ دختران جدا از همدیگر در آستانه ی گذراندن نخستین تابستان خویش هستند: «لنا» به دیدار مادربزرگش به «سانتورینی، یونان» میرود؛ «بریجت» به اردوی فوتبال «مکزیکو» میرود، و «کارمن» در حال دیدار از پدرش در «کارولینای جنوبی» است؛ و «تیبی» در خانه میماند؛ دختران هنگام خرید با هم، یک جفت شلوار جین پیدا میکنند که ناباورانه کاملا مناسب همگی آنهاست؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 10/08/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Ann Brashares is an American young adult novelist. She is best known as the author of Sisterhood series, included (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, Girls in Pants, Forever in Blue, 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows, and Sisterhood Everlasting).
Four best friends just fit together. Once there was a pair of pants. Just an ordinary pair of jeans. But these pants, the Traveling Pants, went on to do great things. This is the story of the four friends (Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen) who made it possible.
Four best friends Lena, Tibby, Bridget and Carmen, all born within weeks of one another, are preparing to spend their first summer apart. When Carmen buys a pair of second-hand jeans, the girls discover that despite their different physiques, the jeans look great on all of them.
They promise to rotate the magical jeans, dubbed 'the travelling pants', amongst them and at the summer's end record their favorite adventure while wearing the pants.
The jeans travel the world with the girls, visiting grandparents in Greece, attending soccer camp in Mexico, spending summer with Dad in South Carolina and working at home.
They tie together the four distinct characters, each individual and courageous young woman, as they find their own strength in the face of new love, unexpected friendships, a father's remarriage and a reckless relationship. The result is a true sisterhood of support and acceptance.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز نخست ماه مارس سال2021میلادی
عنوان: خواهرانگی (خواهر ازلی)؛ نویسنده: آن براشرز؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده - 21م
چهار دوست نزدیک «لنا کالیگاریس»، «تیبی رولینز»، «بریجت وریلند» و «کارمن لاول» با هم هماهنگی دارند؛ یک جفت شلوار جین معمولی بود، اما آن شلوار، شلوار مسافرتی، کارهای بزرگی انجام داد؛ این چهار نوجوان از «بتسدا، مریلند» هستند، و در زندگی خود بهترین دوستان همدیگر بوده اند؛ دختران جدا از همدیگر در آستانه ی گذراندن نخستین تابستان خویش هستند: «لنا» به دیدار مادربزرگش به «سانتورینی، یونان» میرود؛ «بریجت» به اردوی فوتبال «مکزیکو» میرود، و «کارمن» در حال دیدار از پدرش در «کارولینای جنوبی» است؛ و «تیبی» در خانه میماند؛ دختران هنگام خرید با هم، یک جفت شلوار جین پیدا میکنند که ناباورانه کاملا مناسب همگی آنهاست؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 10/08/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
July 21, 2021
when you hear the words "modern classic," this book is what they're talking about.
if you overhear someone at a coffee shop having a pretentious conversation about Murakami, or whatever, and those words appear, ignore all other context and assume they are talking about the middle school-defining chef d'oeuvre from ann brashares.
this series is...everything to me.
the idea that someone can be hot just because they have really great blonde hair. the fact that what's her name starts with T (tabby? tibby?) got pregnant later in the series by the gamer boy whose teeth are earlier described as "mossy." america ferrera spying on her dad's new family. lena's greek fling. lena getting drawn / drawing naked.
A PAIR OF PANTS THAT FITS FOUR VERY DIFFERENT FRIENDS.
it rules. i don't have anything else to say. all of that lives in my memory after 11 years and if that doesn't constitute a modern classic, nothing does.
part of that project where i review books i read a long time ago and am either an asshole or want to reread them immediately
if you overhear someone at a coffee shop having a pretentious conversation about Murakami, or whatever, and those words appear, ignore all other context and assume they are talking about the middle school-defining chef d'oeuvre from ann brashares.
this series is...everything to me.
the idea that someone can be hot just because they have really great blonde hair. the fact that what's her name starts with T (tabby? tibby?) got pregnant later in the series by the gamer boy whose teeth are earlier described as "mossy." america ferrera spying on her dad's new family. lena's greek fling. lena getting drawn / drawing naked.
A PAIR OF PANTS THAT FITS FOUR VERY DIFFERENT FRIENDS.
it rules. i don't have anything else to say. all of that lives in my memory after 11 years and if that doesn't constitute a modern classic, nothing does.
part of that project where i review books i read a long time ago and am either an asshole or want to reread them immediately
June 25, 2019
Summer A Thon: Read book that has a road trip or traveling
I was nervous guys. I read this series years ago when I was a teenager and a loved them. I loved both films too. But I was worried that as an adult I wouldn't enjoy it as much. I worried that nearly 20 years later it wouldn't hold up as well.
I'm happy to say that for me it still holds up. As I read this book it didn't feel 18 years old. Maybe my nostalgia blinded me but it felt like a story that could be taking place at any period in time.
I plan to reread the whole series this summer and then rewatch the movies. We shall see if this series continues to be one of my favorite book series or if I've out grown them ( Spoiler Alert: It will always be in my top 5)
I was nervous guys. I read this series years ago when I was a teenager and a loved them. I loved both films too. But I was worried that as an adult I wouldn't enjoy it as much. I worried that nearly 20 years later it wouldn't hold up as well.
I'm happy to say that for me it still holds up. As I read this book it didn't feel 18 years old. Maybe my nostalgia blinded me but it felt like a story that could be taking place at any period in time.
I plan to reread the whole series this summer and then rewatch the movies. We shall see if this series continues to be one of my favorite book series or if I've out grown them ( Spoiler Alert: It will always be in my top 5)
July 14, 2016
I'm glad I finally read this! I'd seen the movie before so this story wasn't new but I still enjoyed it. Brashares did a great job of creating real teenage emotions. The turmoil and depression these girls all went through during this summer jumped of the pages and felt very true to how I remember myself feeling at that time in my life. Each of the girls is so different, but I can see a bit of myself in most of them so there were many different moments in each story line that I related to.
However, while the characters were the star of the show, I wasn't a big fan of the format or writing rhythm. There was no real rhyme or reason to when chapter breaks or POV changes occurred and I guess I've just been spoiled by how books like Pretty Little Liars have handled 4 character POVs. Additionally, I felt that most sentences were similar in length and very straightforward. Could have used a little more description or development of some of the themes. The character reactions were amazing, but I would have liked a little more time spent on WHY they were reacting the way they were. Things seemed to come on very suddenly and then be over.
That didn't take away from my overall enjoyment very much though! I recognize that I'm just nitpicking.
However, while the characters were the star of the show, I wasn't a big fan of the format or writing rhythm. There was no real rhyme or reason to when chapter breaks or POV changes occurred and I guess I've just been spoiled by how books like Pretty Little Liars have handled 4 character POVs. Additionally, I felt that most sentences were similar in length and very straightforward. Could have used a little more description or development of some of the themes. The character reactions were amazing, but I would have liked a little more time spent on WHY they were reacting the way they were. Things seemed to come on very suddenly and then be over.
That didn't take away from my overall enjoyment very much though! I recognize that I'm just nitpicking.
January 2, 2016
Such a beautiful portrayal of love and friendship sisterhood.
Seeing this image after reading the book just made me smile so much.
Review to come.
Seeing this image after reading the book just made me smile so much.
Review to come.
July 21, 2021
5 stars
Four best friends discover a magical pair of pants that inexplicably fits all of them perfectly. During their first summer apart, the girls share the pants while all experience new adventures and relationships.
I’m giving this book 5 stars because it’s been twenty years and it still makes me cry. I remember I read this book when it was released as a part of my middle school book club at the public library. I loved this series so much when I was a tween/teen! And I’m glad to say that twenty (yes, twenty!) years later this book still holds up! At least it does for this millennial.
I’m definitely going to have to do a reread binge of the entire series now. I’ve forgotten so much and rereading this book was like visiting old friends.
Four best friends discover a magical pair of pants that inexplicably fits all of them perfectly. During their first summer apart, the girls share the pants while all experience new adventures and relationships.
I’m giving this book 5 stars because it’s been twenty years and it still makes me cry. I remember I read this book when it was released as a part of my middle school book club at the public library. I loved this series so much when I was a tween/teen! And I’m glad to say that twenty (yes, twenty!) years later this book still holds up! At least it does for this millennial.
I’m definitely going to have to do a reread binge of the entire series now. I’ve forgotten so much and rereading this book was like visiting old friends.
July 4, 2007
We, the Sisterhood, hereby instate the following rules to govern the use of the Traveling Pants.
1.) You must never wash the Pants.
2.) You must never double-cuff the Pants. It's tacky. There will never be a time when this will not be tacky.
3.) You must never say the word "phat" while wearing the Pants. You must also never think "I am fat" while wearing the Pants...
So begins the first summer apart for four friends: Lena, who is going to visit her grandparents in Greece with her sister; Carmen, heading south to see her father; Bridget, going to a soccer camp in Mexico; and Tibbie, the only one of the four to be stuck at home with a summer job. In order to feel a bit closer despite the distance, the friends find a pair of pants they profess to be "magical" -- it fits all four of them perfectly -- and form a "Sisterhood" around the pants. They are mailed back and forth from girl to girl as needed; they are all wearing the pants during a significant moment of theirs from that summer.
Lena bonds with her grandparents and learns that not every guy who is attracted to her is shallow. Carmen finds out that her father is living with his fiancee and her two children, and must cope with the shock and find a way to fit in. Bridget crushes on a coach from the soccer camp, and finds the forbidden relationship yet another challenge. Tibbie meets a younger girl who, despite her young age, teaches Tibbie that there is more to a person than outward appearance.
Ann Brashares has written four Sisterhood books, this being the first in the series. It is definitely a must-read for teen girls.
1.) You must never wash the Pants.
2.) You must never double-cuff the Pants. It's tacky. There will never be a time when this will not be tacky.
3.) You must never say the word "phat" while wearing the Pants. You must also never think "I am fat" while wearing the Pants...
So begins the first summer apart for four friends: Lena, who is going to visit her grandparents in Greece with her sister; Carmen, heading south to see her father; Bridget, going to a soccer camp in Mexico; and Tibbie, the only one of the four to be stuck at home with a summer job. In order to feel a bit closer despite the distance, the friends find a pair of pants they profess to be "magical" -- it fits all four of them perfectly -- and form a "Sisterhood" around the pants. They are mailed back and forth from girl to girl as needed; they are all wearing the pants during a significant moment of theirs from that summer.
Lena bonds with her grandparents and learns that not every guy who is attracted to her is shallow. Carmen finds out that her father is living with his fiancee and her two children, and must cope with the shock and find a way to fit in. Bridget crushes on a coach from the soccer camp, and finds the forbidden relationship yet another challenge. Tibbie meets a younger girl who, despite her young age, teaches Tibbie that there is more to a person than outward appearance.
Ann Brashares has written four Sisterhood books, this being the first in the series. It is definitely a must-read for teen girls.
January 15, 2008
I saw the movie first and kind of liked it. So, of course I thought "Well the book is always better than the movie" so I decided to read it, even though its written for teens and I wasn't too sure I could relate. I guess I couldn't because this is one time I liked the movie a lot better than the book. I mean really, how many 15/16 year old girls do you know who's parents let them go trapezing all over the world (in Lena's case literally) and don't think twice about it. Come to think of it how many 15/16 year old girls have the money to it even if they're parents really are that totally oblivious. Not to mention Bailey, who is roaming around with Tibby all summer despite a major medical condition that would most certainly keep her slowed down, if not out completely.
The main characters in this book are flat and, frankly, boring and the situations they are in are really not very believable. The adults are almost completely absent, and when they are present they are made out to be selfish, stupid, unaware, or all of the above.
This is a perfect teen angst novel that I'm sure will appeal to teenagers everywhere who will find this a wonderful book about girls their own age who get to do what they want when they want and have really no real consequences. Not to mention the whole "My friends are my life" theme which will also appeal to a younger angrier audience. For those of us who have battled through those misunderstood years and know that life doesn't work quite that way, well...this novel will leave most ADULTS cold.
The main characters in this book are flat and, frankly, boring and the situations they are in are really not very believable. The adults are almost completely absent, and when they are present they are made out to be selfish, stupid, unaware, or all of the above.
This is a perfect teen angst novel that I'm sure will appeal to teenagers everywhere who will find this a wonderful book about girls their own age who get to do what they want when they want and have really no real consequences. Not to mention the whole "My friends are my life" theme which will also appeal to a younger angrier audience. For those of us who have battled through those misunderstood years and know that life doesn't work quite that way, well...this novel will leave most ADULTS cold.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2011
Wow! If you are a teen girl looking for some love stories between friends and their SUPER-HOT boyfriends, well look no further then the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series! This book is about the 4 best friends Bridget, Carmen, Tibby, and Lena when they split up for the summer. With the Pants binding them together wherever they go, their summers are no longer lonely. The Pants witness all break - ups and get togethers and are often shipped with hysterical letters that will make you laugh out loud! I think my favorite is the love - hate relationship between Eric and Bridget, but I can't tell you, so read to find out!
September 19, 2019
Re-read 2019
By now most of us know the tale. Four American girls(Carmen, Tibby, Lina, and Bree) of different backgrounds, shapes and friends since the womb magically fit the same pair of pants. Each book follows their travels and experiences during summer vacation. In book one, Bree heads to soccer camp and thinks she's found her true love. Carmen heads to spend a wonderful summer with her father, but discovers that he's got plenty of surprises namely a family that she doesn't feel she belongs in. Lina and her sister travel to Greece to visit their grandparents and find some time for romance too. Lastly, Tibby is left to keep the home fires burning with a lousy part time job, but she doesn't even imagine what is coming her way.
I read these books (1-4) while in university and I still hold a dear place for them in my heart. Thus explaining the reason I would even put them in my reading book box at school. Time has not dimmed them in my eyes.
As an aside , I enjoyed a conversation with one of my students about these books today. She confessed that as much as she enjoyed books 1 and 2, it was the decisions in book 3 that made her angry with the characters. She felt that I was much more forgiving than she was!
Goodreads review published 18/09/19
By now most of us know the tale. Four American girls(Carmen, Tibby, Lina, and Bree) of different backgrounds, shapes and friends since the womb magically fit the same pair of pants. Each book follows their travels and experiences during summer vacation. In book one, Bree heads to soccer camp and thinks she's found her true love. Carmen heads to spend a wonderful summer with her father, but discovers that he's got plenty of surprises namely a family that she doesn't feel she belongs in. Lina and her sister travel to Greece to visit their grandparents and find some time for romance too. Lastly, Tibby is left to keep the home fires burning with a lousy part time job, but she doesn't even imagine what is coming her way.
I read these books (1-4) while in university and I still hold a dear place for them in my heart. Thus explaining the reason I would even put them in my reading book box at school. Time has not dimmed them in my eyes.
As an aside , I enjoyed a conversation with one of my students about these books today. She confessed that as much as she enjoyed books 1 and 2, it was the decisions in book 3 that made her angry with the characters. She felt that I was much more forgiving than she was!
Goodreads review published 18/09/19
June 30, 2018
This book was supposed to be about friendship and female bonding. It was supposed to be a beautiful summer read that would give me friendship goals. But of course it is not. Of course it is about teenage girls doing teenage stuff. Of course it is about 15-yos swooning over older guys and thinking about sex. Of course it is about girls apparently falling in love with guys they’ve never talked to. Of course it is features 15 yo-s travelling from country to country like that costs nothing. And of course on the other hand, it features teenage girl fretting over not having money.
The only character I remotely loved was Bailey. And Of course . Not even the dirty pants could save this book for me.
Frankly, I expected to love this. I should’ve known. Who was I kidding?
The only character I remotely loved was Bailey. And Of course . Not even the dirty pants could save this book for me.
Frankly, I expected to love this. I should’ve known. Who was I kidding?
July 31, 2019
Oh man. This book brings me back to the days of high school, summer camp, and having little crushes. Seriously, this embodies adolescence through the eyes of four teenage girls that are best friends. I found that this book still stands up to everything I love about a book today. Please, if you have not read this book, give it a chance. It is witty, heartbreaking, and insightful.
June 7, 2021
Carmen, Tibby, Bridget and Lena are best friends and they have been best friends ever since they can remember. They are all different from each other but they love each other and care for each other deeply. They are all going through things in their lives but they take comfort in knowing that they are all there for each other.
When they find a pair of jeans that oddly fits each one of them, even though they all have different body shapes and sizes, they decide to share those jeans with each other throughout their vacation. Long before they know, each one of them looks forward to the ownership of those jeans. Something different always happens whenever the owner is wearing those magical jeans.
I loved this book. It is unlike any other YA, coming of age book I have read. It is about four friends and their deep-friendship. Even though they are all different and have different struggles, they have each other's backs. Each one of them is leading their own journey but at the same time helping others with their journeys too. It covers issues like mental health in teenagers and their struggles with change which was done rather well.
There is romance in this book too but that aspect was done with subtlety and once again the focus was on their growth rather than just focusing on girl meets boy and their HEA. I did love Carmen and Tibby more than Lena and Bridget but having said that I loved each one of their journeys equally. A must read for all young adults.
P.S. I did watch the movie based on this first and I love the movie as well as this book. One of those rare instances where each one is equally good.
4.5 stars
When they find a pair of jeans that oddly fits each one of them, even though they all have different body shapes and sizes, they decide to share those jeans with each other throughout their vacation. Long before they know, each one of them looks forward to the ownership of those jeans. Something different always happens whenever the owner is wearing those magical jeans.
I loved this book. It is unlike any other YA, coming of age book I have read. It is about four friends and their deep-friendship. Even though they are all different and have different struggles, they have each other's backs. Each one of them is leading their own journey but at the same time helping others with their journeys too. It covers issues like mental health in teenagers and their struggles with change which was done rather well.
There is romance in this book too but that aspect was done with subtlety and once again the focus was on their growth rather than just focusing on girl meets boy and their HEA. I did love Carmen and Tibby more than Lena and Bridget but having said that I loved each one of their journeys equally. A must read for all young adults.
P.S. I did watch the movie based on this first and I love the movie as well as this book. One of those rare instances where each one is equally good.
4.5 stars
August 18, 2011
A story about 4 teenaged friends who spend their first summer apart. They stay in touch about their experiences through letters and passing around a pair of "magical" pants (jeans.) A pretty easy and enjoyable beach read. There are 3 other books in the series and later on this year there is a fifth novel out about the girls 10 years on and what has become of their lives.....can't wait for that one!
March 17, 2023
This is really, really good.
I've been rereading a lot of teen classics from the early two thousands and wasn't expecting a ton from this, but I was so sucked in. I expected it to be much lighter than it ended up being. But it was so real. It felt like I was with each of the girls, even when I didn't like them, but they didn't feel so unlikeable that it was a slog to be with them. I understood where they were all coming from. They all felt so REAL, is the thing.
I think it's a little weird in terms of race, just because three of them are white and Carmen is not. But I'm shockingly not freaked out by the depiction of Carmen, which is wild! I think her not showing that she's angry at her father was really relatable and also reminded me a little too much of my relationship with my own dad.
But this was intense sometimes! The way that being a teen girl can be! And I love that the most important part is how much the girls love each other. It's a classic for a reason.
I've been rereading a lot of teen classics from the early two thousands and wasn't expecting a ton from this, but I was so sucked in. I expected it to be much lighter than it ended up being. But it was so real. It felt like I was with each of the girls, even when I didn't like them, but they didn't feel so unlikeable that it was a slog to be with them. I understood where they were all coming from. They all felt so REAL, is the thing.
I think it's a little weird in terms of race, just because three of them are white and Carmen is not. But I'm shockingly not freaked out by the depiction of Carmen, which is wild! I think her not showing that she's angry at her father was really relatable and also reminded me a little too much of my relationship with my own dad.
But this was intense sometimes! The way that being a teen girl can be! And I love that the most important part is how much the girls love each other. It's a classic for a reason.
June 2, 2015
I really love this series. I think these were the first multiple perspective books I ever read and I really adored being back in the world of Lena, Tibby, Bee & Carmen. I feel like everyone can cast themselves as one of the girls, or at least a mixture of them.
This is the story of the first summer the girls spend apart, each going on different adventures and stepping out into the world of grown-ups and real life. The first book takes place over the summer of their 15th (almost 16) year. We see each of the girls go through a multitude of growth and life experience and Ann's honestly is really refreshing.
I kind of wish more contemporary books where like this - less angsty and more awkward, full of mistakes and OOPS moments :)
I also listened to the audiobook for parts of the story and I really recommend it! I thought it was really well done.
When I was younger, I would have said I was a Bee/Carmen kind of girl, but now that I'm older and know myself a little better, I'm actually a Lena/Carmen kind of girl! What about you?
I definitely give this book 5 stars, though I admit my rating will never be unbiased, as I read these books as a teenager and have such an affinity for them in my heart!
This is the story of the first summer the girls spend apart, each going on different adventures and stepping out into the world of grown-ups and real life. The first book takes place over the summer of their 15th (almost 16) year. We see each of the girls go through a multitude of growth and life experience and Ann's honestly is really refreshing.
I kind of wish more contemporary books where like this - less angsty and more awkward, full of mistakes and OOPS moments :)
I also listened to the audiobook for parts of the story and I really recommend it! I thought it was really well done.
When I was younger, I would have said I was a Bee/Carmen kind of girl, but now that I'm older and know myself a little better, I'm actually a Lena/Carmen kind of girl! What about you?
I definitely give this book 5 stars, though I admit my rating will never be unbiased, as I read these books as a teenager and have such an affinity for them in my heart!
April 30, 2023
3,5 ⭐️ Reread po 15 latach od pierwszej lektury.
Mam wrażenie, że teraz już się takich powieści nie pisze. Nie tylko o prostych emocjach, ale też takich, gdzie sporo akcji dzieje się za kulisami a czytelnicy dostają tylko wycinek z najważniejszymi wydarzeniami, przez co książka ma mniej niż 300 stron i na luzie można ją przeczytać na jednym posiedzeniu. Reread mnie nie zawiódł i zdecydowanie jestem ciekawa kolejnych tomów.
Mam wrażenie, że teraz już się takich powieści nie pisze. Nie tylko o prostych emocjach, ale też takich, gdzie sporo akcji dzieje się za kulisami a czytelnicy dostają tylko wycinek z najważniejszymi wydarzeniami, przez co książka ma mniej niż 300 stron i na luzie można ją przeczytać na jednym posiedzeniu. Reread mnie nie zawiódł i zdecydowanie jestem ciekawa kolejnych tomów.
January 9, 2018
4/5 stars
More reviews on my website
“Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday.”
I went back and forth on how to rate this book. While I was reading it - it felt like a solid 4 star read. After I finished it - I was ready to give it 5 stars. But as the hours passed by I decided to drop it down to 3.5 because I didn't like how some of the things were handled. But in the end I did settled down on 4 stars.
Although if I am being completely honest with myself I think if I haven't watched the movie first (a few years back, and loved it so much) I wouldn't have been so into the book itself, as this is one of the very few cases where I think the movie was better than the book.
“Time is what keeps things from happening all at once.”
Inexplicable! I know, but the movie really was good - it made me cry rivers. There were also many things that were being better handled in the movie.The most prominent one being Lena's storyline. The movie made it believable, while in the book it literally was the instal-love of all Insta-loves. They had no proper contact before, they barely knew each other and somehow - bam, she loves him so much.
Zero development - which irked me a lot, because Lena was my favorite character.
“Lena was an introvert. She knew she had trouble connecting with people. She always felt like her looks were fake bait, seeming to offer a bridge to people, which she couldn't easily cross.”
I related to Lena a 100%. Super introverted - preferring solitude over pretty much anything, choosing paths that didn't have people walking on them, overthinking everything she wanted to say, mentally nudging herself to do things and get out of her comfort zone. But in the end always being there for her friends.
“So far, she’d been her usual lame self: solitary and routine-loving, carefully avoiding any path that might lead to spontaneous human interaction."
I enjoyed other storylines very much as well. They were all so different, but together they represented life in all of its forms. Carmen with family troubles, Libby - coming face to face with loss, and Bridget - who lost so much, but was readily giving more. I loved them all.
But once again I did like the movie's way of handling Carmen's storyline a bit better - I just liked that all of the girls were there, with her, as opposing the book having her to fly solo for an important part of her development.
On the contrary, Bridget's character was much better in the book - in the movie I didn't understand her motives and why she was the way she was. But the book cracked her insides very open and I loved that.
I know that it might be very silly to compare a book to its movie so much, but in my defense I've never read a book that had a movie almost identical to each other. Usually movies make a lot of changes, and most of the time they are for worse, and not for the better - but in this case it was totally the opposite.
All in all I'd definitely recommend this book, as it's one of the best "coming of age stories" out there, in my opinion. The book is also filled with very memorable quotes and thoughts - and I really enjoyed that. Will definitely read the next one.
My WEBSITE
My INSTAGRAM
My WORDPRESS BLOG
More reviews on my website
“Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday.”
I went back and forth on how to rate this book. While I was reading it - it felt like a solid 4 star read. After I finished it - I was ready to give it 5 stars. But as the hours passed by I decided to drop it down to 3.5 because I didn't like how some of the things were handled. But in the end I did settled down on 4 stars.
Although if I am being completely honest with myself I think if I haven't watched the movie first (a few years back, and loved it so much) I wouldn't have been so into the book itself, as this is one of the very few cases where I think the movie was better than the book.
“Time is what keeps things from happening all at once.”
Inexplicable! I know, but the movie really was good - it made me cry rivers. There were also many things that were being better handled in the movie.The most prominent one being Lena's storyline. The movie made it believable, while in the book it literally was the instal-love of all Insta-loves. They had no proper contact before, they barely knew each other and somehow - bam, she loves him so much.
Zero development - which irked me a lot, because Lena was my favorite character.
“Lena was an introvert. She knew she had trouble connecting with people. She always felt like her looks were fake bait, seeming to offer a bridge to people, which she couldn't easily cross.”
I related to Lena a 100%. Super introverted - preferring solitude over pretty much anything, choosing paths that didn't have people walking on them, overthinking everything she wanted to say, mentally nudging herself to do things and get out of her comfort zone. But in the end always being there for her friends.
“So far, she’d been her usual lame self: solitary and routine-loving, carefully avoiding any path that might lead to spontaneous human interaction."
I enjoyed other storylines very much as well. They were all so different, but together they represented life in all of its forms. Carmen with family troubles, Libby - coming face to face with loss, and Bridget - who lost so much, but was readily giving more. I loved them all.
But once again I did like the movie's way of handling Carmen's storyline a bit better - I just liked that all of the girls were there, with her, as opposing the book having her to fly solo for an important part of her development.
On the contrary, Bridget's character was much better in the book - in the movie I didn't understand her motives and why she was the way she was. But the book cracked her insides very open and I loved that.
I know that it might be very silly to compare a book to its movie so much, but in my defense I've never read a book that had a movie almost identical to each other. Usually movies make a lot of changes, and most of the time they are for worse, and not for the better - but in this case it was totally the opposite.
All in all I'd definitely recommend this book, as it's one of the best "coming of age stories" out there, in my opinion. The book is also filled with very memorable quotes and thoughts - and I really enjoyed that. Will definitely read the next one.
My WEBSITE
My INSTAGRAM
My WORDPRESS BLOG
December 30, 2019
This is a touching and sweet story of four best friends during their first summer apart. Through a pair of seemingly magical pants, the friends manage to stay connected even while their lives take them in different directions. Brashares uses straightforward and honest prose to tell four wonderful stories about four lovable characters. I've seen the movie many times, but this is my first time actually reading the book. I am glad to see how true to the characters the movie really was. While there were several plot changes, the book and film have the same essence. We need more YA books like this one!
July 26, 2021
Very mixed reviews of this one. It has a lot of fatphobic language and a few throw-away racist lines that really caught me off guard in such a classic favorite YA novel. I did really like the portrayal of long distance friendship though, a topic that's fairly hard to find in media (at least, if you are looking for a long distance relationship that never turns romantic.) Unsurprisingly, I was most invested in Tibby's storyline, though I thought the book did a pretty good job balancing the action amongst the four protagonists. I really liked the short letters they each sent each other, but I'm unlikely to recommend this book in the future.
February 6, 2018
I read this book long long time ago. But the impression is still fresh in my mind. I adore this girls. they represent everything about becoming a woman in modern era. Even the story is cheesy on the romantic side, but the moral message is there. The author writes it in a way that the wording resonance with teenagers.
every one of us will find some sort of connection with all those girls. Again, this is a beautiful book.
every one of us will find some sort of connection with all those girls. Again, this is a beautiful book.
March 27, 2016
As posted on Zezee with Books.
Why did it take me so long to finally read these books? I’ve been missing out on a fun but touching story about female friendships and family.
Quick summary on both books:
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series is a contemporary young-adult series about the friendship of four teenage girls growing up in Bethesda, MD. All born within weeks of each other, the girls formed the Sisterhood when they discover a magical pair of pants that not only fits them all despite their varying body types, but also seems to bring about major changes in their lives whenever they wear it. They only wear the pants during the summer. The pants seems like any ordinary pair but when on, it accentuates the wearer’s features in an attractive way.
In The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, we follow the girls as they go their separate ways for the first time in the summer. Bridget, who is tall, blonde, and athletic, is off to soccer camp in Mexico and Carmen, a curvy Latina, travels south to visit her father in South Carolina. Tibby, an aspiring film maker, stays home and finds a summer job while working on a documentary and beautiful Lena visits her grandparents in Greece. The girls decide to stay in contact by mailing the pants to each other along with a letter over the summer.
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood picks up the following summer. The girls have grown some due to the previous summer’s experiences and things escalate in this installment. Curious about her background, Bridget visits her grandmother in Alabama and Tibby attends a film summer course at a college. Carmen and Lena remain home for the summer but still learn more about themselves and their family.
My thoughts:
I don’t have much to say about the books because they are just cute, fun reads though they hint at deeper topics. I enjoyed reading them and it’s possible that Ann Brashares might become a new favorite author of mine because I love how easily her story flows and how relatable these characters are. It’s a moderately paced story and I was never bored. Actually, I became so engrossed that I practically completed the first book in a day. I couldn’t stop reading it.
That reaction was a pleasant surprise because though I enjoyed the movies, I didn’t love them; and I’ve toyed with idea of reading the book since the first time I heard of it but always forget to. I didn’t realize it was a series either. Once I was done with the first book, I had to hop to the next. They’re like Pringles. Once you pop, you can’t stop. You get hooked on the characters and their stories, though they are annoying sometimes.
Speaking of the characters, Bridget and Lena are my favorites. Bridget because she’s so vivacious and spirited and fun. She jumps into life and enjoys it. But she also has her low moments, which I can somewhat relate to. By the end of the first book, I thought she might be bipolar but isn’t getting the help she needs. I like that the girls’ bond is so strong that they can easily tell when a friend is in need and are willing do whatever they can to help that friend.
I also like Lena because her personality is a little like mine. She’s shy, observant, and introverted. She’s also very creative and loves to paint. I enjoyed reading her parts in the first book but was annoyed with her in the second one because she was so indecisive. Then I got pissed at the boy. Smh.
Tibby is cool, but I felt sorry for her in the second book as she puzzles out her feelings toward her mother and I flip-flopped wit Carmen. I was rooting for her in the first book though I didn’t like her too much because she’s very judgmental, but she pushed the limit in the second book. She’s scathing and I felt sorry for her mother the whole time. I understand why Carmen is the way she is but I don’t like her, unfortunately.
And speaking of mothers, why are the mother-daughter relationships in this story so strenuous? Not one of them have a good mother-daughter relationship and the fathers are hardly mentioned, except for Carmen’s in the first book. In the second book, Tibby should have been just as unkind toward her father as she is toward her mother, but the story focuses only on Tibby’s feelings toward her mom. Again, I understand why Carmen is scathing toward everyone close to her but I expected — hoped — that Lena would at least have a somewhat good relationship with her mom. But that didn’t seem to be the case. I admire the bond between the girls but I wish the bond with their mothers was stronger…maybe it is. Maybe that’s why they’re so harsh toward their mothers, because they know that their moms will love them no matter what. But still…
Another thing I liked is the setting. I didn’t know that the story was set around the DC area. That’s so cool! I love it when I can identify places in books and experiences there because I’ve been to the places and experienced similar things there. That was just a great topping to my reading experience. Bridget’s time with her grandmother in the second book was also great and touching and one of my favorite parts. I almost cried. Actually, I almost cried several times while reading. Tears of joy, anger, and sadness threatened to fall.
Overall:
The Sisterhood ★★★★★
The Second Summer ★★★★☆1/2
I guess I did have a lot to say about them. I enjoyed both books. They are fast reads, but the second took longer for me to complete because I read it while reading another book. The first book gets full 5 stars because it’s great but the second gets 4.5 because the characters really upset me. Yes, I drop stars because of that.
I borrowed e-books of both from my library because I recently discovered Overdrive. Though easy to read, the e-books, which were supplied through Kindle, were sometimes a little confusing when jumping to a different section within a chapter. The story is told from all four girls’ perspectives (should have mentioned that earlier but oh well) but there wasn’t a large enough gap between sections to indicate a switch in perspective, so I’d keep reading thinking it’s the same character as before and not realize the switch until later.
These are quick, fun reads and I highly recommend them. They are perfect for the beach and I wish I had read them during the summer. I love the characters, the settings, the narration, and also that the girls learn something new by the story’s end. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Really, I didn’t expect this reflection to be so long.
Why did it take me so long to finally read these books? I’ve been missing out on a fun but touching story about female friendships and family.
Quick summary on both books:
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series is a contemporary young-adult series about the friendship of four teenage girls growing up in Bethesda, MD. All born within weeks of each other, the girls formed the Sisterhood when they discover a magical pair of pants that not only fits them all despite their varying body types, but also seems to bring about major changes in their lives whenever they wear it. They only wear the pants during the summer. The pants seems like any ordinary pair but when on, it accentuates the wearer’s features in an attractive way.
In The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, we follow the girls as they go their separate ways for the first time in the summer. Bridget, who is tall, blonde, and athletic, is off to soccer camp in Mexico and Carmen, a curvy Latina, travels south to visit her father in South Carolina. Tibby, an aspiring film maker, stays home and finds a summer job while working on a documentary and beautiful Lena visits her grandparents in Greece. The girls decide to stay in contact by mailing the pants to each other along with a letter over the summer.
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood picks up the following summer. The girls have grown some due to the previous summer’s experiences and things escalate in this installment. Curious about her background, Bridget visits her grandmother in Alabama and Tibby attends a film summer course at a college. Carmen and Lena remain home for the summer but still learn more about themselves and their family.
My thoughts:
I don’t have much to say about the books because they are just cute, fun reads though they hint at deeper topics. I enjoyed reading them and it’s possible that Ann Brashares might become a new favorite author of mine because I love how easily her story flows and how relatable these characters are. It’s a moderately paced story and I was never bored. Actually, I became so engrossed that I practically completed the first book in a day. I couldn’t stop reading it.
That reaction was a pleasant surprise because though I enjoyed the movies, I didn’t love them; and I’ve toyed with idea of reading the book since the first time I heard of it but always forget to. I didn’t realize it was a series either. Once I was done with the first book, I had to hop to the next. They’re like Pringles. Once you pop, you can’t stop. You get hooked on the characters and their stories, though they are annoying sometimes.
Speaking of the characters, Bridget and Lena are my favorites. Bridget because she’s so vivacious and spirited and fun. She jumps into life and enjoys it. But she also has her low moments, which I can somewhat relate to. By the end of the first book, I thought she might be bipolar but isn’t getting the help she needs. I like that the girls’ bond is so strong that they can easily tell when a friend is in need and are willing do whatever they can to help that friend.
I also like Lena because her personality is a little like mine. She’s shy, observant, and introverted. She’s also very creative and loves to paint. I enjoyed reading her parts in the first book but was annoyed with her in the second one because she was so indecisive. Then I got pissed at the boy. Smh.
Tibby is cool, but I felt sorry for her in the second book as she puzzles out her feelings toward her mother and I flip-flopped wit Carmen. I was rooting for her in the first book though I didn’t like her too much because she’s very judgmental, but she pushed the limit in the second book. She’s scathing and I felt sorry for her mother the whole time. I understand why Carmen is the way she is but I don’t like her, unfortunately.
And speaking of mothers, why are the mother-daughter relationships in this story so strenuous? Not one of them have a good mother-daughter relationship and the fathers are hardly mentioned, except for Carmen’s in the first book. In the second book, Tibby should have been just as unkind toward her father as she is toward her mother, but the story focuses only on Tibby’s feelings toward her mom. Again, I understand why Carmen is scathing toward everyone close to her but I expected — hoped — that Lena would at least have a somewhat good relationship with her mom. But that didn’t seem to be the case. I admire the bond between the girls but I wish the bond with their mothers was stronger…maybe it is. Maybe that’s why they’re so harsh toward their mothers, because they know that their moms will love them no matter what. But still…
Another thing I liked is the setting. I didn’t know that the story was set around the DC area. That’s so cool! I love it when I can identify places in books and experiences there because I’ve been to the places and experienced similar things there. That was just a great topping to my reading experience. Bridget’s time with her grandmother in the second book was also great and touching and one of my favorite parts. I almost cried. Actually, I almost cried several times while reading. Tears of joy, anger, and sadness threatened to fall.
Overall:
The Sisterhood ★★★★★
The Second Summer ★★★★☆1/2
I guess I did have a lot to say about them. I enjoyed both books. They are fast reads, but the second took longer for me to complete because I read it while reading another book. The first book gets full 5 stars because it’s great but the second gets 4.5 because the characters really upset me. Yes, I drop stars because of that.
I borrowed e-books of both from my library because I recently discovered Overdrive. Though easy to read, the e-books, which were supplied through Kindle, were sometimes a little confusing when jumping to a different section within a chapter. The story is told from all four girls’ perspectives (should have mentioned that earlier but oh well) but there wasn’t a large enough gap between sections to indicate a switch in perspective, so I’d keep reading thinking it’s the same character as before and not realize the switch until later.
These are quick, fun reads and I highly recommend them. They are perfect for the beach and I wish I had read them during the summer. I love the characters, the settings, the narration, and also that the girls learn something new by the story’s end. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Really, I didn’t expect this reflection to be so long.
January 7, 2009
Must quote from the back of the book, as I love it :)
We, the Sisterhood, hereby instate the following rules to govern the use of the Traveling Pants:
2. You must never double-cuff the Pants. It's tacky. There will never be a time when this will not be tacky.
4. You must never let a boy take off the Pants (although you may take them off yourself in his presence).
5. You must not pick your nose while wearing the Pants. You may, however, scratch casually at your nostril while really kind of picking.
I have to say it. I loved this book! I've been putting off my book review because frankly, it's like writing a book report on a great movie or dream.
I love the idea of The Septembers, a bunch of girls all born at the same time. Maybe it's special to me because *I'm* a September.
These girls are friends their entire lives (well to age 15, at least), and that too is something that touches me. My dad was in the Air Force and we moved a lot. I don't have any friends who have known me since birth, and I've always been jealous of people who do.
For a book written for teens, there are some beautifully written passages, and some very insightful sections. This author doesn't "talk down" to the reader at all. I love the description of Lena's sunset in Greece: "The sunset was too beautiful. It almost made Lena feel panicked because she couldn't save it. . . . She perched on her windowsill, gazing at the lurid sun soaking into the Caldera, trying to appreciate it even though she couldn't have it. Why did she always feel she had to do something in the face of beauty?" I had two thoughts when I read this -- 1. that I often feel the same way in the face of beauty, and 2. this makes me think of people who take pictures (for the future), but don't enjoy the moment they are actually taking the pictures of.
Another passage that said exactly something I have felt many times: "Her eyes were full. They dripped. From sadness, or strangeness, or love. They were the kind of tears that came when she was just too full. She needed to make a little room." Do you know this feeling? Wow, I do. What a wonderful way to write it.
SPOILER ALERT:
When Tibby's pet dies and Tibby is in denial, it requires some processing to realize Mimi is gone. "Tibby held her up high, in one hand. Mimi hated that. She usually scrambled her sharp little nails against Tibby's wrist. Dawning on her both slowly and panic-fast was the knowledge that this wasn't Mimi anymore. This was left-over Mimi." OH, how I know what this means! I wanted to see my dad's body after he died, but when I saw him, it was somehow unfulfilling. It was left-over dad, I think.
When her friend Bailey dies too, Brashares writes the most beautiful tribute for the living: "She was alive, and they were dead. She had to try to make her life big. As big as she could. She promised Bailey she would keep playing." This is a fabulous challenge for those of us who have lost someone. What a charge! We must go on living. And live big :)
This is a great book! I laughed, I cried.
We, the Sisterhood, hereby instate the following rules to govern the use of the Traveling Pants:
2. You must never double-cuff the Pants. It's tacky. There will never be a time when this will not be tacky.
4. You must never let a boy take off the Pants (although you may take them off yourself in his presence).
5. You must not pick your nose while wearing the Pants. You may, however, scratch casually at your nostril while really kind of picking.
I have to say it. I loved this book! I've been putting off my book review because frankly, it's like writing a book report on a great movie or dream.
I love the idea of The Septembers, a bunch of girls all born at the same time. Maybe it's special to me because *I'm* a September.
These girls are friends their entire lives (well to age 15, at least), and that too is something that touches me. My dad was in the Air Force and we moved a lot. I don't have any friends who have known me since birth, and I've always been jealous of people who do.
For a book written for teens, there are some beautifully written passages, and some very insightful sections. This author doesn't "talk down" to the reader at all. I love the description of Lena's sunset in Greece: "The sunset was too beautiful. It almost made Lena feel panicked because she couldn't save it. . . . She perched on her windowsill, gazing at the lurid sun soaking into the Caldera, trying to appreciate it even though she couldn't have it. Why did she always feel she had to do something in the face of beauty?" I had two thoughts when I read this -- 1. that I often feel the same way in the face of beauty, and 2. this makes me think of people who take pictures (for the future), but don't enjoy the moment they are actually taking the pictures of.
Another passage that said exactly something I have felt many times: "Her eyes were full. They dripped. From sadness, or strangeness, or love. They were the kind of tears that came when she was just too full. She needed to make a little room." Do you know this feeling? Wow, I do. What a wonderful way to write it.
SPOILER ALERT:
When Tibby's pet dies and Tibby is in denial, it requires some processing to realize Mimi is gone. "Tibby held her up high, in one hand. Mimi hated that. She usually scrambled her sharp little nails against Tibby's wrist. Dawning on her both slowly and panic-fast was the knowledge that this wasn't Mimi anymore. This was left-over Mimi." OH, how I know what this means! I wanted to see my dad's body after he died, but when I saw him, it was somehow unfulfilling. It was left-over dad, I think.
When her friend Bailey dies too, Brashares writes the most beautiful tribute for the living: "She was alive, and they were dead. She had to try to make her life big. As big as she could. She promised Bailey she would keep playing." This is a fabulous challenge for those of us who have lost someone. What a charge! We must go on living. And live big :)
This is a great book! I laughed, I cried.
May 28, 2018
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a novel I really should have read back in high school!
I found this book surprisingly fulfilling for me being an adult now reading about pre-teens. These stories are sweet and made me want to know more about these characters. I watched the movie years back, but this makes me want to watch it again for all the silly, girly feels (and I miss those ladies who starred in it <3).
The pants being a symbol in this story was a really honest yet fun take on passing the themes around in a book. I truly think it's a smart way to make the symbol so obvious yet... not? I feel like as a pre-teen I wouldn't have noticed the theme, but now as an adult it just warms me up!
Ann makes you love and feel for these girls in this book. It wasn't the fastest moving story, but it still had me hooked at every word. I want to fall into these girls's worlds and be best friends with them (or mentor them, at this point in my life).
I think this would be a great book for adults to read to their middle grade children, or introduce to their teens. It's sweet and heartfelt - and it doesn't bring you down. It lifts your spirits up, which is something we really need in this world.
If there are any cons about this book, it's that it isn't made for adults - if you are looking for an adult themed book, this isn't it. It's all about teenagers and their problems, in the minds of teenagers. It's not an adult look at teens, in my opinion.
Overall, I'm in love with this series! I hope I'm able to find the rest of this series so I can fall into their lives once again.
Four out of five stars!
I found this book surprisingly fulfilling for me being an adult now reading about pre-teens. These stories are sweet and made me want to know more about these characters. I watched the movie years back, but this makes me want to watch it again for all the silly, girly feels (and I miss those ladies who starred in it <3).
The pants being a symbol in this story was a really honest yet fun take on passing the themes around in a book. I truly think it's a smart way to make the symbol so obvious yet... not? I feel like as a pre-teen I wouldn't have noticed the theme, but now as an adult it just warms me up!
Ann makes you love and feel for these girls in this book. It wasn't the fastest moving story, but it still had me hooked at every word. I want to fall into these girls's worlds and be best friends with them (or mentor them, at this point in my life).
I think this would be a great book for adults to read to their middle grade children, or introduce to their teens. It's sweet and heartfelt - and it doesn't bring you down. It lifts your spirits up, which is something we really need in this world.
If there are any cons about this book, it's that it isn't made for adults - if you are looking for an adult themed book, this isn't it. It's all about teenagers and their problems, in the minds of teenagers. It's not an adult look at teens, in my opinion.
Overall, I'm in love with this series! I hope I'm able to find the rest of this series so I can fall into their lives once again.
Four out of five stars!
August 7, 2016
3.5 stars.
I went into this expecting it to be a super fluffy teen-girl-friendship-group story, kind of like the movie Now and Then?? And it totally seemed like that's what it was going to be at the beginning of the book. And yet somewhere along the way, it took a turn and detoured down STAB YOU IN THE FEELS Lane. Which I was totally not expecting and still don't quite know how to process.
It's a little dated now, and some of the parental actions are a little bit "WTF WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT" as an adult. (Actually, a lot of the teen actions fall into that camp too, but that's pretty standard for YA books...) And the included letters between the girls kind of drove me nuts because half of them could have fitted on a post-it, and why the hell would you spend a ton of money posting a letter that's three lines long?! I mean, my friends and I used to send each other letters during the school holidays when we were in high school. But they were always at least 4 A4 pages long. So...the letters grated.
But on the whole, this was a lot more than I expected. I took off a quarter of a star because it took me at least half of the book to actually get into the story. So. Yeah.
I went into this expecting it to be a super fluffy teen-girl-friendship-group story, kind of like the movie Now and Then?? And it totally seemed like that's what it was going to be at the beginning of the book. And yet somewhere along the way, it took a turn and detoured down STAB YOU IN THE FEELS Lane. Which I was totally not expecting and still don't quite know how to process.
It's a little dated now, and some of the parental actions are a little bit "WTF WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT" as an adult. (Actually, a lot of the teen actions fall into that camp too, but that's pretty standard for YA books...) And the included letters between the girls kind of drove me nuts because half of them could have fitted on a post-it, and why the hell would you spend a ton of money posting a letter that's three lines long?! I mean, my friends and I used to send each other letters during the school holidays when we were in high school. But they were always at least 4 A4 pages long. So...the letters grated.
But on the whole, this was a lot more than I expected. I took off a quarter of a star because it took me at least half of the book to actually get into the story. So. Yeah.
June 16, 2021
Lekker luchtig leesvoer voor een zonnige dag in de tuin op mijn vrije dag ☀️ Tussen mijn veertiende en mijn zestiende heb ik dit boek minstens vijf keer gelezen, dus 4 vriendinnen 1 spijkerbroek had voor mij geen verrassingen in petto. Ik wist op voorhand precies bij welke stukjes ik zou moeten huilen en ik moest mezelf na het lezen gelijk geven.
Ontspannen is soms ook een boek lezen dat je al keer op keer opnieuw las en desondanks er oprecht van genieten. Ik voelde me vandaag weer eventjes vijftien. De grote vraag is nu: begin ik meteen in boek twee of kijk ik eerst de film?
Ontspannen is soms ook een boek lezen dat je al keer op keer opnieuw las en desondanks er oprecht van genieten. Ik voelde me vandaag weer eventjes vijftien. De grote vraag is nu: begin ik meteen in boek twee of kijk ik eerst de film?
August 12, 2016
Third Read: August 2016
Second Read: 2009
Original Read: 2002
3.5 STARS
I *still* have not read Sisterhood Everlasting so I'm going to reread the first four books (yet again) so I can finally finish off this series. I'm going the audio route this time around and the thing that I keep noticing is how different the movie was from the book. It's been so long since I read the books that I forgot how much they condensed into the first movie and how many changes they made.
This is still an enjoyable read after all these years and it's fun to revisit the four friends.
Second Read: 2009
Original Read: 2002
3.5 STARS
I *still* have not read Sisterhood Everlasting so I'm going to reread the first four books (yet again) so I can finally finish off this series. I'm going the audio route this time around and the thing that I keep noticing is how different the movie was from the book. It's been so long since I read the books that I forgot how much they condensed into the first movie and how many changes they made.
This is still an enjoyable read after all these years and it's fun to revisit the four friends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,211 reviews