Rating: 
Summary: From an English major/student teacher perspective
Review: This is the story of four girls who have been bonded together since their mothers were in a pregnancy aerobics class sixteen years before. The book tells of the first summer when all the girls are going to be separated. For several years before Carmen, Tibby, Lena, and Bee were always together. This summer was going to be different. Lena went to Greece to visit her grandparents. Carmen was going to South Carolina to be with her father. Bee was headed for a sports camp in Baja. Tibby was left at home to work a minimum wage job at her local Wallman's drug store. The story begins with all of them preparing to leave for the summer. Everyone can tell that Tibby is upset especially because she will be the only one at home. So Tibby grabs a pair of jeans out of Carmen's closet and decides that they will make her feel better. Everyone ends up trying on the pants and a miraculous thing happens. The Pants fit all of them even with their varying shapes and sizes. To top that off they don't just fit they fit everyone so well that it makes them look sexy. They decide then and there that they will all share the pants for the summer. It will be the thing that connects them all. They make a list of rules about the pants. (Which are extremely hilarious). Then they go off on their own separate journeys. This book deals with several appropriate teenage topics like love, death, and non-traditional families. I think it is very appropriate for ages twelve and up. I would not teach this book to the whole class but I do think that I would keep it on a shelf in the room for free reading time. The problems I had with this book were the gaps in time. I wish it were set up more like short stories for each character rather than just randomly starting another paragraph about the other person. I loved the quotes throughout the book although at some times they seem incredibly random. I especially enjoyed the stories about Tibby and Bailey. Death is something that teenagers deal with everyday. I just wish that this plot could have been flushed out a little more. I also really enjoyed Bridget's story although you never really know what happened between her and the counselor. I needed more information. Overall I really enjoyed the book although it was a bit fluffy at times.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the Greatest books I've Ever Read!!
Review: This book is truly excellent. I first discvered the book from my friend who was reading it first. I asked to read it next. So what she decided to do was to letall of our friends pass it around and read it, and sign a page which was important to us. I read it in one day....twice!! I didn't do any homework, I just read the book. I read it twice. It was one of the best stories ever. 4 girls, all the same age as me-Carmen, Bridget, Lena and Tibby. All of there stories touched me, and I felt exalted when done reading it. The fact that I passed it on to my friend and she read it in a day too, says a lot about it. She never reads books in one day. This book was truly excellent, but I wouldn't recommend it for kids under 13. This book deals with true teenage problems, and doesn't depict teenagers as stupid or dumb, but does paint them as naive, but not in a condescending way. It also deals with them learning a lesson that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Rating:
Summary: A really good book
Review: If you are looking for a book that is both funny and touching this is the perfect match. This book is one of the best that I've read! It is so good.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for young teens!!
Review: The paths that are taken by each of the four girls are great realities of life; love, death and divorce/remarriage. These are things that every teen has to deal with and the book gives a really good look into each one. Occassionally the timelines get crossed, and you have to figure out which girl the story is on, but I found myself (not an avid reader) drawn to finish reading the book. I read it every night for about a week. I then gave the book to a friend of mine who works with young teens and preteens. She is reading it now.
Rating:
Summary: So like us!
Review: Wow, I was so surprised how much this book was like the regular teenage life right now. Lots of stuff I could relate to, for instance - they watch the same shows as me and have the same kind of math homework as me. Even though the title might sound baby-ish it's not. It has some funny and relieving parts and it also has some sad and serious parts. It's just life... A great book for teenage dreamers!!!
Rating:
Summary: Sweet but overrated
Review: Reading the editorial review will give you a slightly hyped-up version of the real book- much of the plotlines do not go beyond how they are summarized- the book ends rather abruptly- too soon for anything to really finish, and time does not move in any consistent pattern. The book was fun to read but should not be taken as anything serious. For all that it deals with some "tough issues" I must judge this book to be little more than teenage fluff.
Rating:
Summary: A Surprising and Beautiful Read
Review: When I bought this book, I wasn't looking for great literature. As a sixteen-year-old bookaholic, this looked like just the thing to brighten up a dismal school week: fun and fluffy. Well, fun it was, but this was anything but fluff. The stories of each of the girls are moving and well-written. I found myself engrossed in Brashare's simple prose and really caring what happened to each of the characters. The first couple of chapters didn't really reflect the whole book, so if you start it and dont' like it, don't give up. This book moved me profoundly and brought tears to my eyes at several points. All of the emotions before me on the page were ones that I could relate to. If you're a teenage to HAVE to read this. If you're not, I would still recommend because it is an amazing novel that rivals the best of literary fiction.
Rating:
Summary: A fresh, funny accomplishment!
Review: If you haven't picked up THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS by Ann Brashares yet, I highly encourage you to do so. Four best friends are separated for the first summer of their lives--Carmen is going to stay with her dad in South Carolina, Lena is going to visit grandparents in Greece, Bridget is going to an elite soccer camp in Baja, and Tibby is staying home to work at the local "Wallmans" drug store. They are bonded not only by their years of friendship (a friendship that began when their mothers were pregnant with them and in the same pregnancy exercise class), but by a pair of seemingly magical jeans that Carmen bought at a thrift store. Despite the differences in their bodies, the pants fit--and flatter--each of the girls perfectly. They agree to share the pants over the summer, sending them back and forth along with their letters about their adventures. There were times when the characters seem a little bit too similar and lacking in personality, but as their stories grew, their individuality came through and the stories developed and came to satisfying conclusions--four stories in one, not a bad accomplishment.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!!!
Review: Very wonderful tale of four best friends and their summer apart. The book starts with the concept of "magic pants," but slowly you realize that the pants are just a symbol for the special bond of friendship between these girls. A lot of hard facts are faced, inner strengths are called upon, and a few tears are shed. This is a gloriously written book extolling the virtues of friendship.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful for all ages
Review: This book took me back to my teenage years. Although, I can still relate to a great fitting pair of jeans (and how difficult they are to find), I was transported to issues that touched me as a high schooler. The story of Tibby, really made me look at the way I see life as an adult and wonder if I am seeing it as clearly as I can. All the women learn wonderful lessons and I am so glad that I snatched this book off the shelf.
| 
