The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: Part 1

Friday Spines Book Review Number 31: 

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares

This book is one of those books that emanate summer from the first line ("One upon a time there was a pair of pants." Not the best, but combined with the creative and easy-to-relate-to paragraph that follows, it will definitely keep you reading). While the story is slightly cheesy and slightly far-fetched (if you're the type of person who notices these things), it combines with the quotes to envelope you in the friendship of wild Bridget; shy careful Lena; mutinous spunky Tibby; and loyal, unadventurous, hot-tempered Carmen.

The Pants are found by Carmen in a thrift store, abandoned on her dresser, and rediscovered by Tibby. Tibby, who's wallowing at the prospect of working at a drugstore all summer, demands the pants as compensation for a lonely few months without her traveling friends. Lena, who's visiting her grandparents in Greece, Carmen, who'll be staying with her dad in South Carolina, and Bridget, who's attending soccer camp in Mexico, agree: But upon closer examination, the pants fit skinny Lena and plump Carmen as well as more average Tibby and Bridget. The four girls declare the pants magic, hold a quick ceremony, and agree on a set of rules, including

1. You must never wash the Pants

3. You  must never say the word [fat] while wearing the pants. You must also never think to yourself, "I am fat" while wearing the Pants.

9. You must not wear the Pants with a tucked-in shirt and belt. (It's tacky. There will never be a time when this will not be tacky.)

10. Remember: Pants=love. Love your pals. Love yourself. 

And so the Traveling Pants go from Lena to Tibby, to Carmen, to Bridget, and then in reverse, as hearts and rules are broken, questions answered (or not), limits stretched, and summer enjoyed to the fullest. 

While the writing in this book is more mainstream than sophisticated, it fits with the easy warmth of the story. The content is a little toward the more mature side (Bridgett gets involved with a camp counselor, and Lena with a boy she meets in Greece) but it's written in a very gentle way: I recommend the Pants series for ages 12 and up. 

Other things I like about this book:

• The story of Bailey, a younger girl who befriends Tibby during her summer of solitary moping.
• Summery, friendship, inspirational quotes adorn the beginning of each chapter, keeping with the spirit of easygoing happiness.
• Letters are interspersed with third-person narratives from the four girls.
• The love stories range from rather cliche to totally unexpected.

Other books you may enjoy: Peaches, by Jodi Lynn Anderson; The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen; and Girl at Sea, by Maureen Johnson.

(Psst-next Friday I'll be reviewing the new Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book, Sisterhood Everlasting!)

See everyone on Monday!

Happy reading!

M. Gabrielle

Book Review: Bella at Midnight

Friday Spines Book Review Number 30:

Bella at Midnight, by Diane Stanley

First, let me reiterate the lack of vampires in this book. No vampires. (Although I'm going to do a special feature on the Twilight Saga sometime in the next few months. Not so much a review-most readers know the basic story even if they haven't read it-but a discussion type of post...What do you think?)


Like I said, no vampires. This is a medieval retelling of Cinderella, reminiscent of Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, but slightly more sophisticated.


At the beginning of the book we witness Bella's birth, to a mother who is the daughter of a wealthy glassmaker, and a noble but coldhearted father. Her mother dies soon after Bella is born, and her father sends her to live with her poor aunt. Bella is raised in her aunt Maud's family, as their daughter. Julian, the prince of the kingdom Moranmoor, spends much time with Maud (who was his wet nurse when he was younger) and Bella, and the two become best friends. 


When Moranmoor and their rival kingdom Brutanna decide to end a hundred-year-long war, however, Julian is called away from his country home to be part of a prisoner exchange. Bella is also forced to leave the only home she's ever known when her father remarries, and sends her to live with her stepmother and sisters. They are cruel and jealous towards her, but she befriends the cook and spends much of her time in the kitchen.


One day her stepsister Marianne, who is a lady-in-waiting for Moranmoor's queen, brings the news that the king of Moranmoor is planning to break the treaty and attack neighboring Brutanna secretly, with no regard for the Prince Julian. Bella, who is deeply unhappy in her home and still cherishes the memory of sunny days with her friend, leaves her stepfamily and stages a dramatic and stereotype-breaking rescue that will fulfill the dreams of many girls. 


Ages 8 to 13 will enjoy this book the most, depending on their reading level and interests. The content is fairly innocuous-war, drinking, and childhood abandonment are included but not focused on. Readers of all ages will love the ending; happy, mostly realistic, and thrilling. 


Other things I liked about this book:

• The shifting perspectives. Bella's story is told by characters including Maud, her aunt, Julian, a prince who is her childhood friend, her stepfamily, and Bella herself. This fills out the plot, giving the reader a more comprehensive story without monotonous or confusing details. 
• The book is divided into three main parts: The Thimble, the Ring, and the Slippers, each of which play an important part of the story. I loved how the classic "glass slippers" or the original Cinderella were adeptly woven into the story, instead of awkwardly added to make the book seem more complete.
• The language, while deliberately old-fashioned, isn't too hard to understand, and reads naturally.
• The format of the book, while unillustrated, includes many decorative swirls and elegant fonts that add to the romantic feeling of the story. 

Similar books you may enjoy: Ella Enchanted, and other books by Gail Carson Levine; The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale; and Rowan Hood, by Nancy Springer.