the sisterhood of the traveling pants

Brashares, A. (2002). The sisterhood of the traveling pants. London: Corgi.  
ISBN: 978-038573058 

Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen have been best friends since childhood. The summer after their sophomore year of high school is the first summer they've spent apart. This novel chronicles their adventures-- in Greece, Mexico, South Carolina, and boring Bethesda, Maryland-- and explores the connections between them as they grow, change, have excitements and disappointments, and reunite. Through it all, their friendship connects them, as does a pair of magical pants, which fits each of them perfectly.

As the four friends set off for their respective summer adventures, they promise to share the pants equally among themselves throughout the summer. Through letters that accompany the pants, we read each girl’s account of her experiences with them. First thought to be lucky, the pants seem to make already complicated situations worse. Lena almost drowns while wearing the pants; Carmen receives some surprising news about her father. Bridget, at soccer camp in Mexico with a crush on a coach, can’t seem to make things work the way she wants them to. Lena’s trip to visit family in Greece is foreign in more ways than one. Though the pants at first seem to confuse things, they also provide the girls with confidence and insight as the book progresses.

Touching on some YA themes (sex, etc.), this is a good selection for older tweens. This book is a funny, exciting, surprising, and ultimately quite touching testament to the power of friendship.This is the first in a series of four books about the girls and the pants; the first three books were also adapted into a movie.