Books for Summer Reading: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Anne Brashears

Need more books for summer reading? No worries, we’ve got you covered! Perfect summer books, with summer settings, make excellent reads for the beach, by the pool, or while traveling for summer holidays. With writing that will make you feel the sand between your toes and the hot spark of summer romance, this series will look at young adult titles that fit the bill perfectly.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: Summary

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is the story of four girls, friends since birth, spending their first summer apart. Lena is headed to Greece to stay with family she’s never met. Carmen is spending the summer with her dad in South Carolina. Bridget is off to soccer camp in California. And poor Tibby is stuck at home, alone, working at Wal-Mart. Before the girls go their separate ways, they find a pair of jeans that magically fit all them. They decide to ship the magical traveling pants between them throughout the summer to as they share letters and support in their new adventures. Each girl experiences the ups and downs of live in her experiences, from love to heartbreak, boredom to anger, and sadness to confidence. The pants tie them together in the bonds of sisterhood despite the distance.

Review

Okay, it’s cheesy. Absolutely cheesy. The cheese starts with the idea that this one pair of pants fits all four girls (including curvy Carmen) and that sharing an unwashed pair of pants is even worth it. Brashears has also gone with the YA-novel cliche of crafting four teenage best friends who are all wildly different, but dedicated BFFs for life. Of course, this is supposed to help readers identify with at least one of the character: Carmen the Latina, Bridget the hot soccer star, Lena the quiet beauty, and Tibby the angsty alternative girl. It’s the kind of stuff that breeds conversations like, “Are you a Tibby or a Lena?!”

However, if one only focuses on the initial cheesy factor, the book isn’t given a fair chance. There’s something magical about those summers in high school, filled with possibilities and new experiences. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants speaks to that, while also celebrating women and female friendships. There’s romance, but there’s also a healthy dose of self-awareness, self-discovery, and inner strength formed in each character.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a fast read with substance, set in the glorious summer days of youth. I highly recommend setting preconceived notions aside and putting it in the beach bag!

More Books for Summer Reading!

Looking for more heartwarming summer reads? Check out our book list YA Summer Reads for the Young and Young at Heart!