Review: Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this book is the third in a hugely
popular series for teens. It explores the relationship of four
close girlfriends in the summer before college. Themes include
romantic experiences, familial changes, anxiety about college,
and facing challenges from the past before moving ahead. A
magical pair of pants purchased in a thrift shop in the first
novel,
Sisterhood
of the Traveling Pants
makes its rounds among the four girls while they tell
their very different coming-of-age stories. There are some
references to "getting stoned," detailed descriptions of
kissing-type experiences with boys, and mentions of sleeping
with and skinny-dipping with a boy, making this potentially
iffy for young teens. But the romance is mostly in the
background of these girls' stories.
Families who read this book can talk about the girls' friendship. They're different in many ways -- family make-up, ethnicity, interests, and personalities -- yet they're bonded like sisters. What makes their friendship strong? Is this friendship realistic or fantasy? Parents could also talk about the individual challenges each girl faced and how they were handled successfully -- or what they could have done differently. Finally, what helps the girls overcome their obstacles and learn about themselves -- a pair of old jeans or their own maturation?
Common Sense Media Review
The pants are back -- and with them, adventure and
self-discovery for four college-bound friends.
Ann
Brashares' third novel in the
Sisterhood
of the Traveling Pants
series continues the odyssey that's struck a nerve with
teens across the globe.
A pair of "magical" jeans purchased in the first book is still a symbol of friendship and support as each girl navigates through her tumultuous teens. Humor and adventure are intermixed as four likeable girls gain maturity and positive self-esteem during the summer after high school graduation.
As the girls grow during this summer, the pants become less of a prominent symbol in the story, distinguishing this book from its two predecessors. Brashares does a great job making the novel flow as the reader jumps around the girls' four different adventures, sometimes within the same chapter.
Teen readers have fallen for these girls and their seemingly unbreakable bond, but many parts of this story are unrealistic. Besides the fact that their communal pair of jeans fit all four of their very different frames to a T, they're never petty with one another, and all are accepted at top-notch colleges.
What brings the story back to earth are the real-life challenges the girls face and Brashares' good writing. That makes this tale a good match for mature teens who enjoy the coming-of-age genre.
GIRLS IN PANTS is best read as part of the series, as this book includes plenty of references to the girls' history together.
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