The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

by Ann Brashares

What can I say? I’m a sucker for stories about girl friends. They remind me of the wonderful friendships I have formed over the years, and long to have my “girls” closer.

Carmen, Tibby, Bridget, and Lena have been friends practically since before they were born. Their mothers had met in an exercise class for pregnant women — they were the Septembers, those due in September. While the Septembers grew apart through the years, the girls have not. Now, for the first time in their 15 years, the girls will be spending the summer apart — Carmen will be with her Dad out of state, Lena will be in Greece with her grandparents, Bridget will be in Mexico at soccer camp, and Tibby will be staying home, working at a discount department store.

Shortly before their good-byes, the girls discover that a pair of jeans Carmen bought on a whim at a thrift shop (without even trying them on) are magic. Not only do the pants fit all of the girls with their different figures, but the pants make them all look great.

The girls make a pact to share the pants over the summer — they will spend 1-2 weeks with each girl and then be sent on. At the end of the summer they will get together and record their experiences in the pants.

This book is sort of a Ya-Ya Sisterhood for a younger crowd. It’s touching and funny. I’m looking forward to reading the second book, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood (though I will wait for paperback).