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The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
- By Ann Brashares
- Genre: Friendship
Common Sense Media says
Popular series debut demonstrates good girl friendships.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book's emphasis on strong, supportive girl friendships may inspire readers -- and provides some nice counter-programming to clique lit's "frenemies." The characters do make some bad decisions, but they grow from them. There's some sexual content, language, and some pretty intense emotional stuff. Teens living out their own coming-of-age stories will likely get the most out of this book.
What's the story?
Lena, Bridget, Tibby, and Carmen have been best friends since birth. Now, just before they're about to spend their first summer apart, they discover a pair of jeans that miraculously fits all of them, despite their differing physiques. And not just fit -- the Pants make each girl look and feel beautiful and confident. They don't know it yet, but they'll need that confidence during a summer that will test them, each in different ways. In a solemn midnight ceremony that will resonate with teen readers, the girls make up a compact about the Pants, part of which is that they'll send them back and forth among themselves throughout the summer.
Is it any good?
THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS' main characters experience their share of drama: Tibby befriends a 12-year-old with leukemia, Carmen's father has a new family, Lena falls in love in Greece, and Bridget has her first sexual experience, which devastates her. But author Ann Brashares is a great storyteller, and she builds a reservoir of affection for each character that makes the climax of each of their stories effective.
The friendship that the four girls share is the kind every teen longs for: rock solid and dependable, with no rivalries or pettiness to mar it, filled only with kindness, love, and understanding. If this friendship -- along with the girls' openness to the world and their capacity for honest self-appraisal and growth -- gives teen readers something to which to aspire, then this book will deserve its popularity.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about friendship. How is it often portrayed in the media? What sort of impact do those portrayals have on real life girl friendships? Why do you think this book -- and its subsequent sequels -- struck such a chord with readers?
This book has many sequels. Why are series so popular right now -- from Harry Potter to The Hunger Games? Why do you think publishers are interested in printing them?
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AGE
Great book great for all girls 12 and up
I think that this book is great and refreshing considering what books are out there for children these days I highly recommend this book to any 12 year old girl or uP:)
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AGE
You'll love this book!
This book was great! I love how all four characters: Carmen, Lena, Bridget, and Tibby can be completely different people and are bound together with their friendship and by the traveling pants. Carmen appears to be a bold, outgoing girl and we do realize that she is both of those things but the book also explains how in the inside, she is the one who cares most about the importance of friendship and keeping an everlasting bond. Lena is insecure, and shy but the book shows how she really is looking for love and keeping relationships. Bridget is my favorite. She is made out to be the perfect girl with the best hair and she is outgoing and fun. However, we see that nobody is perfect and she has her own difficulties within the family and her love life. Lastly is Tibby. Tibby is loyal. She seems like a hard punk at first but all she really needs in her life is her friends. She enjoys love, but when it comes down to it all she wants are her caring friends. I definitely recomend this book to anyone who is looking for someone to relate to because between these four girls there will definitely be a match for you.
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AGE
No one is prefect,this book shows that no matter what you have done, your friends will be there to pick you up. It isnt a walt disney "happy ending book" it gives events that might happen to your daughter and what teen girls struggle with today. its amazing book, and it will keep your daughter wanting more.
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AGE
Good for teens but not for anyone younger
This is a nice book for teenagers, but not really for anyone else. This is the first of a four-book series, and this one is the best of the four. It has a lot of positivities regarding friendship. However, I was younger when I read it and was greatly affected by some of the sexual content. Plus, being that it is a book about teens, the language is not the greatest and one of the girls is a big rebel. Then again, the other three girls are nice role models, although one is a flirt. Lena is my favorite and I think she makes the best role model. It's more of a pleasure novel than something educational.
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AGE
perfect for anyone 11/12 or older
i love all four books it shows how strong friendship is and tough decions that girls face. if your a girl and dont like to read read this book and it will change your mind. parents dont like to admit it but girls face these issues and most likely wont want to talk to their moms but to their best friends and if you trust them to make the right descion they will.
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AGE
THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS
The book TSOTTP is very boring to my perspective. Obviously being geared to a female audience the book is about sex, makeup, first love, clothes ohh and a magic pair of pants. If you are confused so was I. I would get it at the library or borrow it from someone like I did since it isn't completely boring.
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AGE
I hate Carmen. She's annoying.
I like this book, and I don't think Bridget is a bad role model, like most people do. It has a good storyline, and the ending to the series is SUPER HAPPY!( I will make Dr. smiley face now) : )
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AGE
nice
This book is good for mature teens and over. I read this at the age 13 and I really did enjoy it. I thought it was boring in the beginning then i really got intersted in it! Very nice book. Shows that you can still have a friendship even though being far apart from your friends
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AGE
I think that that was a great book! A bit hard to get into at first, but once you have it's really good!! I think that all of the girls are good role models except for Bridget. Bridget isn't a very good role model. She does anything just to get what she wants, like with Eric, after he repeatedly told her she was too young. She also goes out to a nightclub, and tries to win over Eric there. I don't think that's good at all, especially since she's only fifteen, and she's trying to get Eric, who's nineteen. I think that Lena is a good role model, because she realises she made a mistake, and goes to fix it. Though, overall, it's a great book! (Oh, by the way, none of the characters go over kissing, that's it)
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| Author: | Ann Brashares |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Friendship |
| Publisher: | Delacorte Press |
| Publication date: | September 11, 2001 |
| Number of pages: | 294 |
| Hardcover price: | $14.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 17 |
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