The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

Rating:
Summary: A very satisfying summer
Review: As a self-confessed unenlightened male, I'm a little late coming to the party that is The Sisterhood of the Pants, the acclaimed novel for young adults by Ann Brasheres. Truth is, I've only read Brashares' sequel, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood. But I highly recommend the sequel--for young adults on up--as a beautifully written, often entertaining, never less than touching look at girls growing up.

The premise of both novels is that a quartet of young females, whose mothers were close friends and who were born within a few days of each other, happen upon a single cheap pair of jeans that miraculously fits all of them, despite their differing body sizes. The girls thus regard the Jeans as magical and decide that they will share the Jeans amongst themselves each summer--wearing them for a while, passing them on to the next girl, and then recapping, at the end of the summer, the events that happened while they wore the Jeans.

That probably sounds pretty silly to the uninitiated. But the Jeans are merely a taking-off point for four close friends to share their growing experiences (and often pains) and to continually renew their bond of friendship. Even as the girls grow up and apart, they continually return to this bond as unique, special, and not something to be taken lightly.

In the summer depicted in Second Summer, Tibby begins college by attending a film class in which she must create a documentary about a close relative. She makes an ironic movie about her flighty mother that ends up having devastating effects, both on the mother and on Tibby's view of life. Bridget spends the summer bonding with a grandmother from whom she had been cut off by her bitter father. Lena bemoans that she had broken off a relationship with the love of her life, only to have the boy unexpectedly return. And Carmen, the daughter of a divorced mother, resents when her mother begins a rewarding relationship with a new man and seemingly leaves her out of the picture.

In synopsis, this sounds like a bad soap opera. But it is all written in delicate, soaring prose that lovingly depicts each girl as a believable, heartfelt individual. In their efforts to keep from being hurt by life, the girls do a lot of irritating things, to themselves and those around them. But while their actions often alienate their loved ones, they never alienate the reader. Instead, the book offers some rare insight into what it means to grow up female in an often scary world.

It must be noted that the book often deals with what movie ratings euphemistically refer to as "adult language and situations." Is that a bit startling for a book that is being promoted for its young female friendships? Perhaps. Are said situations out of the realm of possibility for young females these days? Sadly, I think not.

As such, the book will probably be a comfort to girls who want to know that they are not alone in negotiating the landmines of a male-dominated society. Any other readers can simply appreciate a book that depicts young girls in full-bodied, intelligent prose. I can't recommend the book enough.

Rating:
Summary: The Second Summer of the sisterhood of the traveling pants
Review: The Second Summer of the Sisterhood of the traveling pants is a sequel that will take you into another world. Lena, Bridget, Tibby and Carmen are best friends who found pants that fit each of them and made them each look gorgeous although they are all different fits. They then formed the sisterhood of the traveling pants. This book makes you feel as if you are part of the sisterhood and keeps you wanting to read on. The dramas of all four of the sisters make you look back into your youth and reminisce about your teenage years.
When Bridget find out her Grandma has been writing to her for about five years she decides that she needs to take a trip to visit her dead mothers mom. But when she gets there she finds she needs the help of the pants and her friends to stay strong while finding out about her mothers latter years.
Carmen has a typical divorced mother but when her mother starts dating and she is left to be the parent, she gets a feel of what its like to constantly worry about your baby being off with some boy late at night. But when Carmen consoles her sisters she find what she has to do.
Tibby is off to a film making course at college. But when she makes movies just to fit in she realizes that she should do things for herself rather than to please others.
Lena is worried that the one and only guy she loves is in Greece with a new girlfriend. Lena gets torn up inside stressing over Kostos her love. But when she returns to Greece for her Grandfathers funeral she is in for the shock of a lifetime. But with friends like Carmen Tibby and Bridget and the traveling pants she gets her life together again.
The second summer of the Sisterhood of the traveling pants is a perfect teen novel that will lift your spirits up and keep you aching for more of the sisters.

Rating:
Summary: Very good book
Review: I found this book to be very interesting and worthwhile.

This book grabbed you and did not let go of you until the very end, and I was very upset because I couldn't put it down so I finished it very fast, I was happy though because I had the second one to read which is just as good.

Basically the book switches from one place to another as four best friends go their own ways during their summer vacation, some experience happiness some experience sadness, all situations that are important in someone's life and very realistic.

I definately suggest this book and the second one too.

Rating:
Summary: tHe sPLeNdiD, sUspEncFuL, sEcOnD sUmMeR oF tHe SiStErHoOd
Review: Here is a famous quote: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Well,the four members of the sisterhood of their magical, traveling pants can proudly change that whole saying around. After living the amazing tale of the Second Summer of the Sisterhood, they can proudly bend that quote into something like this: when life gives you lemons, make lemon merangue pie. Hey, even add whipped cream on the top if you feel like jazzing it up. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood contains many of those sour lemons adolecents have in life, but with a sweet and exciting twist of sugar and spice.

If you're in for a journey you'll never forget, than I strongly encourage you to read The Second Summer of the Sisterhood. Crafty and wise Ann Brashares created four fascinating and easy-to love characters that seem almost REAL. I swear, after reading this book, I was almost upset because I could'nt just call up cool and funny Tibby to see how she is doing, or chat online with Bridget to see how her family issues are working out. Basically, I was upset to know that these four amazing people weren't really people at all, just complex characters formed in the creative mind of Ann Brashares.

I just find it amazing that one mind can make up four realistic people and such a terrific story that relates so much to the lives of many average people. Simply put, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood takes the cake! Oh wait, I mean lemon merangue pie! I hope you enjoy this awesome book as much as I did. Happy reading!!!! <3

Rating:
Summary: a summer of fun
Review: the best word to describe this book is fun. Its an easy reading and filled with fun. For a moment as you read this you feel like you're in carman, tibby, lena, and bridget's lives. their stories are all connected, despite the distance between these close friends, with a pair of pants that they mail to each other along with a letter. Some find love, family, friends, and ways to deal with what life brings. If you're in for fun you gotta read this book. Theres only good things that will follow. And the quotes in between each chapter will make you smile and wonder.

Rating:
Summary: A Look at The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
Review: The girls are back again! Lena, Bee,Carmen and Tibby are enjoying their summer with the traveling pants at hand. With even more thrills, chills and twists than the first summer you won't be able to put this book down.

This time, we start out with Bridget, who finds an old letter which reignites her hunger for knowlendge about her mothers death. In turn Bee runs off to her grandmother in Atlantic City to discover her mothers past and who she really is. Tibby goes off to a film school meeting new friends and foes; learning things about herself she will value forever. Carmen tries to cope with her mother's new boyfriend and her love life as well. And we have Lena who's love with Kostos makes a comeback. All of these events combine for a most interesting summer.

As the girls go through their own trials and tribulations we learn valuable life lessons with them. Brashares has masterfully entwined these lessons into her story. For example when Tibby is at film school she learns numerous things. When she had to create a short film she reached for the easiest footage she had. It turns Tibby had caught her mother on film; carring her son,with a lollipop stuck to her head scurrying around the house. Then at the showcase (where her film debuted), Tibby was delighted to see how well the audience was receiving her piece. Delighted she was, until she caught a glimpse of her mother standing in the shadows of the theater weeping. As Tibby learned not to sacrifice her mother's feelings for laughs and an easy "A" we are right there with her. Tibby comes to her realizaton and we remember the time we did something equally in-sensitive. Our morals are restored as the girls lessons are learned for the first time.

The second summer of the sisterhood was even more exciting than the first. This book will have crying with tears of joy and happiness. If you like a fast thrilling read be sure to grab The Second Summer of the Sisterhood.

Rating:
Summary: Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants
Review: I loved the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants! It brought together four totally different people with two common threads: a pair of jeans and "The Septembers"(they were all due in September). Lena the natural beauty learns not to make assumptions and learns how to open her heart up to others. The once enclosed and secretive girl finally gives Kostos(a boy madly in love with her) a chance, and it turns out that she loves him too. Carmen gives up her selfishness and her old idea of her father, a hip thirty-year old living in an awesome bachelor pad with his buddies. She finally gets used to the idea of his new family, and even attends the wedding. Bridget stops pushing to get what she wants(her soccer coach), and lets others get a chance to be the best. Tibby learns to love a stranger. She gives up her summer to help a girl dying of cancer, even though she was annoyed with her in the beginning. Overall this book shows that true friendship never ends, and that people can always change for the better.

Rating:
Summary: Return of the Fantastic Foursome!
Review: I loved the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, so I was delighted to find the sequel. If you liked the first book, you'll love the second! Tibby finds how much her relationship with Brian is very important to her while attending a summer film school; Bridget flies to Alabama, and meets someone special from her past; Carmen and Lena stay home, and both see the ghosts of last summer emereging. Full of tears, laughs, heartbreak and joy, the Second Summer will delight teenage readers for decades!

Rating:
Summary: The Second Summer of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Review: After reading Ann Brashares first novel The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, I pounced to the library to check out its sequel The second summer of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. This novel is an enchanting story of four best friends Tibby , Lena ,Bee and Carmen and each chapter seizes the passionate sentiment of each girls stressful situation. From the start their mothers went to a pregnancy aerobics class together and became great friends, and all four girls were born a few weeks apart. So, naturally they became very close. These girls marked there lives by there summers, and one summer Carmen found the Traveling Pants. You may wonder, what's so special about an unembellished pair of pants? Well these pants, all though they were cheap, and plain did something that no other garment has been able to do. Perfectly fit on all the girls, this is amazing considering the fact that they are all different shapes and sizes. And from the day they tried the pants on, they decided that these were magical pants and symbolized there friendship. Not only did these pants look amazing on them, they also gave the girls a sense of support, an extra prick of confidence because the girl wearing them knew that she had a sisterhood behind her that will always be there through thick or thin. Unfortunately the girls could not be together all the time so they took turns keeping the pants and recapping their memories at the end of the summer.

What intrigued me the most though, was how much I could relate to the novel. The girls problems were real things teens stress about, such as family problems, boy mix-ups, and most importantly the scary transformation from a child to a young adult. In the Second Summer Bee whose mother died when she was young goes off the find, and bond with her long lost Grandmother hoping to discover some of the mysteries of her past. Tibby, decides to start of college with a sleep away film class, where she is required to make a video about a loved one, she makes a humorous video about her mom which instead of a comic masterpiece turns out to be a total disaster, she learns how important her mom is to her and not to juggle with people's feelings. Now as for Lena, she is spit into a romantic whirlwind with her dreamy boyfriend Kostos, which she met at Greece last summer. This summer Lena, sees that love can be dangerous and growing up is much more of a burden than she expected. Carmen doesn't really have as much of a romantic summer, in fact instead of going on dates she is trying to murder her Mom's dates with her new boyfriend. It hurts her to see her very responsible mom making a fool out of her self for this man.

But even as the girls get older and move on they still have a feeling of unity and love, thanks to the sisterhood formed by the pants. The theme of this novel is friendship, a very sacred thing that each of these girls cherish. If the world is harsh, school is cruel, or anything else that hurts them, they always have each other to turn to.
This novel is brilliantly written and tells a story that I assure you will never forget. It is a page turner, and each word is delicately woven together in this touching story.

Rating:
Summary: Great as a book...but a sequel?
Review: This whole book is so different from the first, it's sad. It is semmingly like one of those depressing teen books but with my characters. The characters completely change personalities. Bridget goes from being a rebellious slut to being a really lovable, wholesome character. That should sound like a good thing but it's not. It's not the real Bridget. Lena becomes really unlovable and mean. Carmen and Tibby stay pretty much the same but I don't love them either. Not anymore. This book isn't sunny like the first one. It's long, depressing, and drags along until the not-that-happy ending.