Synopses & Reviews
Can't wait for the next installment of the Pants? Check out the SPECIAL EDITION of
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, in stores now!
Inside you'll find an exclusive "Who's Your Soul Mate Quiz" and a sneak peak at the third book, Girls in Pants.
With a bit of last summer's sand in the pockets, the Traveling Pants and the Sisterhood that wears them embark on their 16th summer.
Bridget: Impulsively sets off for Alabama, wanting to both confront her demons about her family and avoid them all at once.
Lena: Spends a blissful week with Kostos, making the unexplainable silence that follows his visit even more painful.
Carmen: Is concerned that her mother is making a fool of herself over a man. When she discovers that her mother borrowed the Pants to wear on a date, she's certain of it.
Tibby: Not about to spend another summer working at Wallman's, she takes a film course only to find it's what happens off-camera that teaches her the most.
From the Hardcover edition.
Review
"[E]qually authentic and engaging....[Small] quibbles are easily overlooked in light of the full-bodied characters and their loving, often humorous interactions." Publishers Weekly
Review
"[T]he author's sure ear for dialogue and her empathy for her protagonists' complicated emotions creates a story as comfortable as an old pair of jeans. A big, complex, satisfying sequel, sure to add to the author's legions of fans." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Brashares has done an outstanding job of showing the four teens growing up and giving readers a happy, ultimately hopeful book....Readers will want at least one more summer of the sisterhood of the traveling pants." Frances Bradburn, Booklist
Review
"[A] big-hearted, complex tale of living, learning, and caring. Brashares's novel can be enjoyed by readers who have not yet discovered the previous book. It is certain to delight those readers who have." School Library Journal
Synopsis
Light and romantic,"raved The New York Timesof thesecond novel in the bestsellingSisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares, author of The Here and Now.
With a bit of last summer s sand in the pockets, the Traveling Pants and the sisterhood who wears them Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen embark on their second summer together.
Fits like a favorite pair of pants. USA Today
A great summer read. The Sacramento Bee
As comfortable as an old pair of jeans. Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"
Synopsis
The second novel in the wildly popular #1 New York Times bestselling Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, from the author of The Whole Thing Together and The Here and Now. With a bit of last summer's sand in the pockets, the Traveling Pants and the sisterhood who wears them--Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen--embark on their second summer together.
Pants = love. Love your pals. Love yourself.
"Light and romantic." --The New York Times
"Fits like a favorite pair of pants." --USA Today
"A great summer read." --The Sacramento Bee
"As comfortable as an old pair of jeans." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred
Synopsis
With a bit of last summer's sand in the pockets, the Traveling Pants and the sisterhood that wears them embark on their 16th summer.
Bridget: Impulsively sets off for Alabama, wanting to both confront her demons about her family and avoid them all at once.
Lena: Spends a blissful week with Kostos, making the unexplainable silence that follows his visit even more painful.
Carmen: Is concerned that her mother is making a fool of herself over a man. When she discovers that her mother borrowed the Pants to wear on a date, she's certain of it.
Tibby: Not about to spend another summer working at Wallman's, she takes a film course only to find it's what happens off-camera that teaches her the most.
Synopsis
4 girls, 3 summers, and 1 pair of pants!
For the first time ever, all three novels in the #1 New York Times bestselling series are available in this terrific boxed set, which includes an exclusive magnet frame and magnets of the Pants.
Synopsis
LENA, CARMEN, BRIDGET, and Tibby have been through a lot together. But even after traveling across the world to keep these four very different friends connected, the pants remain strong, uncuffed—and remarkably flattering. Relive the magic of the pants with these four novels of strength, heartbreak, love, family, and friendship.
Synopsis
Lena, Carmen, Bridget, and Tibby have been through a lot together. But even after traveling across the world to keep these four very different friends connected, the pants remain strong, uncuffed-and remarkably flattering. Relive the girls first two summers apart in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, two novels of strength, heartbreak, first love, mothers, and the amazing friends that make all of it bearable. The boxed set will also include an exclusive added value poster.
Synopsis
“Light and romantic," raved
The New York Times of the second novel in the bestselling Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares, author of
The Here and Now.
With a bit of last summer’s sand in the pockets, the Traveling Pants and the sisterhood who wears them—Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen—embark on their second summer together.
“Fits like a favorite pair of pants.” —USA Today
“A great summer read.” —The Sacramento Bee
“As comfortable as an old pair of jeans.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred
About the Author
Ann Brashares is the #1
New York Times bestselling author of
The Here and Now, the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series,
3 Willows, The Last Summer (of You & Me), and
My Name Is Memory. She lives in New York City with her husband and their four children.
Reading Group Guide
1. The novel opens with a first-person narrative by Lena. Why do you think the author selected this character to frame the story? If you could change it, would you select another character, and if so, what would he or she say?
2. Self-destructive and hurting, Bridget impulsively decides to journey to Alabama and conceal her identity from her estranged grandmother. “She didnt look like Bee Vreeland. Who said she had to be her?” (p. 21). Have you ever wished you could be someone else? How does posing as Gilda help Bridget learn to be comfortable in her own skin?
3. Each of the girls is embarrassed by her mother (or mother figure)-Carmen by Christinas new romance, Lena by Aris Greekness, Tibby by Alices Mozart-playing cell phone and diaper-wipe-trailing shoes, and Bridget by Gretas life, “so small, and so simple, and so completely unremarkable” (p. 280). In turn, each girl does something to embarrass her mother, with behavior that is often cruel. How could the girls have handled their situations differently? By humiliating their mothers, what do the girls of the Sisterhood learn about themselves?
4. Tibby gets caught up in trying to appear cool and sophisticated in front of Alex and Maura. “She wondered. Had she not brought Brian because she was worried about how he would seem to Alex and Maura? Or was it because she worried about how she, Tibby, would seem to Brian?” (p. 105). Do people judge you by the company you keep? Sometimes people rebuff the ones they love . . . why do you think Tibby pushes Brian away? If you were Brian, would you give up on Tibby? Why or why not?
5. In The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Tibbys friend Bailey is the only one outside the Sisterhood who wears the Pants. In The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, Christina has that role. Carmen notes (p. 156), “The sick thing was, Christina looked beautiful in the Pants, slender and young. They fit Christina. They loved her and believed in her just as theyd loved Carmen last summer, when Carmen had been worthy of them. This summer they eluded Carmen. Instead, they chose her mother.” And on Bridgets fifth day in Alabama, the Traveling Pants arrive-and they dont fit her anymore. What is the emotional impact of these incidents on Carmen and Bridget? Is there a larger issue at play?
6. Epigraphs (short quotations) from a variety of sources-song lyrics, remarks by real-life personalities, fictitious sayings by the novels characters-are used to separate sections of the book. Which one is your favorite, and why?
7. Lena loves being in Carmens kitchen. “It felt safe and contained” (p. 81), and the food is comforting as well. Do you have a favorite place that makes you feel protected and secure? How do people make a place special?
8. Does Bridget find what shes looking for in Alabama? How does spending time with Greta teach her about Marly? How is Bridget changed by this experience?
9. Ari tells Lena intimate details of her love affair. Do you think Lena is prepared for such information? Is it better for parents to shield their children from some of their own experiences-or do you think sharing them can help prevent heartache? On page 345, the narrator writes, “Lena was starting to need to go back to being the daughter again.” Have you ever been the recipient of knowledge that you didnt feel equipped to handle?
10. Which of the girls would you most like to be? Which girl would make the best friend for you? Which mother-Christina, Ari, Alice, or Greta-would you most like to have?
11. Is Kostos a man of honor or a coward? How do you view his behavior? Lena broke up with Kostos-is she justified in thinking, “But that didnt mean you were allowed to stop loving me” (p. 193)?
12. Carmen and Lena remain at home for most of the novel. Do you think the girls friendship would be stronger if all four girls were together? Or do you believe Lena, who tells us in the prologue (p. 4), “We didnt realize that we are bigger and stronger and longer than the time we spend together”?
13. At the end of the novel, the remaining original Septembers-Alice, Ari, and Christina-are reunited. What does this teach the girls of the Sisterhood? Think about the women in your own life-mothers, grandmothers, aunts. Can you imagine their having a life before you?