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The Second Summer of the Sisterhood (by Ann Brashares)

common sense media says

Second book in friendship series is a good fit for teens.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this sequel continues to focus on the relationships of four close friends. The girls demonstrate a great love for each other, and teens can learn a lot from how they support each other. There's some mature material -- one teen faces her mother's suicide of years ago, while another single mother has an affair. Plus, the girls make out with boys (more than in the first book) and make some poor decisions from time to time. But it's the strong friendships as well as the girls' individual coming-of-age stories that make this series sing.

 

Educational value: This book will get kids thinking about 
Positive messages: The value of friendship is front and center here. The girls continue to grow up -- this time working through their complicated relationships with their mothers. 
Positive role models: These are great kids -- they love each other, they understand loyalty and friendship. You'd have them over for dinner in a heartbeat.
Violence: One storyline follows a character dealing with her mother's suicide.
Sex: Much making out, more graphic than the previous book. Kostos has sex with a girlfriend (the act isn't described), who gets pregnant.
Language: A few strong expletives.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about friendship. How are girl friendships in particular typically portrayed in the media? Does this book offer a counterpoint to many of those representations? How?
  • How do publishers decide which books will be stand alone and which ones deserve sequels?
  • This book was much longer than the first -- is it as good? Do you expect each installment to be equally well done?

What's the story?

What's the story?
The girls embark on another dramatic summer in THE SECOND SUMMER OF THE SISTERHOOD. Tibby goes off to a film school's summer program, where she'll confront her relationships with her mother, her sort-of-boyfriend Brian, and her late friend Bailey. Bridget goes to Alabama under an alias to reestablish contact with her maternal grandmother and delve into her own and her late mother's past. Lena discovers things in her mother's past that she'd rather not know; she also returns to Greece for her grandfather's death and to find out why Kostos has broken off their relationship. And Carmen, having ripped apart and resewn her relationship with her father in the previous book, now does the same with her mother, who has fallen in love.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Author Ann Brashares is a strong writer, and the scenes and events flash easily by, imbued with good and important lessons that aren't too didactic. Fans of the first book -- and there are lots of them -- will certainly want to follow the girls' melodrama into its second summer and will be enthralled as their favorite characters plow through their trials and tribulations.

There's more of everything here: more pages (it's almost 100 pages longer than the first book), more peripheral characters (so many that it's sometimes hard to keep track), more tears, more dark and selfish behavior, and more graphic make-out scenes. Even the Pants travel around more, though they're less central to the plot. Even though the characters are less sympathetic and less dependent on each other in this book than they were in the first novel, . The Second Summer will resonate with fans of the first book, as much of what happens to the girls this summer builds on events from before.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Ann Brashares
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: April 22, 2003
Number of pages: 370
Hardcover price: $15.95
Paperback price: $6.99
This review was written by Matt Berman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

MillyMolly
teen, 15 years old
12
 
One of my fave books. In a way you get to know the girls as one of your friends. You relate to them through hard times and good times. You learn from this book. Also even the moms in this book learn their story, which is setting a good rolemodel for their girls. Amazing charecter, I cant wait to read the 3rd one!
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26031
teen, 16 years old
14
 
love it
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earthgurl
teen, 15 years old
13
 
Great!
Great like the first book. A little more sad and dramatic, though. Worth-reading.
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joc13
adult
 
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Hannah K.
teen, 18 years old
 
Watch out Parents
I admit this book was good better than the first. But the love parts come on a little too strong. Lena and Kostos are involved together in a nudity scene. Where the top parts of their body are bare(parents if you know what I mean) It is a good book though but it could have done without some passionate love scenes. Kostos and Lena also roll around in the grass for a few hours making out.
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CSM Screen ...
teen, 17 years old
 
The best book ever!
When I finnished reading this book, these girls were ny best friends. I cired for Lena, I was proud of Tibby, I laughed at Carmen, and I was happy for Brigdet. The only thing that would of made this book better is Bailey (R.I.P) but obviously she can't come back. The hummor in this book is wonderful! Yes it swares but doesn't everyone? So we have alredy herd others say these swares. The message was wonderful! Peole should read it who are 11 and up because thats when the story will appeal to them and need to be exposed to these topics. They have sex (Kostos gf gets pregent and Lena goes pretty far with Kostos) but they don't describe it. they just talk about Lena's overwhelmingliny saddness. It's a wonderful book with mother daughter relationships, boyfriends, young love, friendship, and much more! I am 12 and I read it. Fabulos book! Read this book if: *Your mom is staring to date again *Boyfriend broke up with you *Made a mistake *Had someone die in your family/friends *Or just need a good book Trust me, you will LOVE it! Laugh. Cry. Love. Share The Pants!
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bookworm112
teen, 16 years old
 
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aikoshrimp
teen, 16 years old
 
okay...a little dramatic
This was a pretty good book but i liked the first one better. Can't wait to read the last one!
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whatsupsasha
teen, 16 years old
 
Great Book =)
I read The First Now i Am reading This One Great Book!
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seashel80089
adult
 
Great Book
I thought that this book was better than the first. I agree that some parts of the book was not right for the book. Overall I thiught that the book was great.
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Katrinaestela
teen, 17 years old
 
A great book for teens...
It's a very good book. I would not recommend for young teens...
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LissaNicky
teen, 15 years old
13
 
Great book
Just like the first, this book is great filled wsith friendship, hard times, family problems and more. Could have done without the sex.
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ringette_chick
adult
 
LoVe It!!!!
OMG I just love these books....I don't know what to say...I know there may be some saxual content, but its a book, and if you perfer not to read things like that then don't...I just don't know what else to say besides that I've never read such a good book series
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HoTiEinPINK03
adult
 
BETTER THAN THE FIRST!!!
This was a great book! I think that hirls under the age of 12 definetly CANNOT read this though! There was a lot of sexual content in some parts but it was still a wom=nderful book for ages 12+. I think that you should read the first one before this one though...otherwise...it won't make sense and some of it eil seem pointless. All four girls are back and are trying to find out how to fix thier problems, this time they are different then the first. This sequal is the BEST that I have ever read!!! READ IT!!!
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amber66
teen, 17 years old
 
you know how some people say the first book was better or i liked the first book better well they wont be saying that in this case because this book is totaly awsome i havent even got all they way through this book yet and i am already sucked in to it
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