The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

1. Lizzie Simon Block 4A The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Author: Ann Brashares Publisher: Delacorte Press Year of Publication: 2001

2. Introduction!  • The book opens with a prologue describing how a girl comes to own a pair of blue jeans from a thrift shop while shopping with her friend. She doesn’t think she will ever wear them; she just bought them to please her friend. • The setting is in Carmen’s room at the start of the summer, and we find out that is was she who was speaking in the prologue. Her friends are helping her pack for her trip to visit her dad, and everyone is sad that they won’t be spending the summer together. • Tibby, one of her friends, spots the pants lying on Carmen’s dresser and convinces everyone to try them on. No one thinks they will fit, because the girls are all different sizes: Carmen is curvy, Bridgett is athletic, Lena is tall, and Tibby is extremely skinny. Despite their doubts, the pants fit them all perfectly, and they decide that they should share them throughout the summer. • This is the start of the journey of the “Traveling Pants.”

3. Protagonist/Antagonist • The protagonists are Carmen, Bridgett, Tibby, and Lena. They are a group who are forever linked, because they take an oath on the Traveling Pants to always stay friends and rely on each other for their support. • Many of the minor characters are at one time or another antagonists, but they are not nearly as important as the antagonist called one’s inner self. The four girls find themselves in conflict with their inner selves much more often than any other person or object.

4. Carmen! Main Characters!  Tibby! • Carmen Lowell - The thoughtful friend, whose first-person narratives open and close the novel. Half Puerto Rican and half white, Carmen lives with her mother, Christina. • Tibby Tomko-Rollins - The rebellious, sarcastic friend. Tibby is the only friend who stays home in Bethesda, Maryland, for the summer. She spends her time working at Wallman’s and working on a documentary. • Bridget Vreeland - The athletic, daring friend who spends the summer at soccer camp in Baja California, Mexico. She is a gorgeous blonde, a great soccer player, and is impulsive, courageous, and a little reckless. • Lena Karigalis- The shy, beautiful friend who travels to Oia, Greece, to spend the summer with her grandparents. Lena is introverted and quiet, happiest when she can spend time alone and paint. She distrusts all boys, certain they like her only for her looks. Bridgett! Lena!

5. Conflict  • There are many conflicts throughout the novel, since each girl has her own story. • In Carmen’s story, the conflict is man vs. self. She undergoes an inner struggle trying to accept her father’s new family, but hating them at the same time for “stealing” her dad. • In Tibby’s story, the conflict is man vs. nature. Her new friend, Bailey, has leukemia, and she feels powerless against it as she tries to make Bailey’s life as happy as possible. • In Bridgett’s story, the conflict is man vs. self. She thinks she is in love with Eric, but when they become intimate, she regrets it, and spirals into depression. • In Lena’s story, the conflict is man vs. man. When Kostos sees her skinny-dipping, she freaks out, and throws on her clothes inside out. When she returns home, her grandfather thinks Kostos has raped her and gets in a fight with Kostos’s grandfather. She doesn’t explain herself until much later, because she fears everyone will be angry with her.

6. Albert! Minor Characters!  Lydia! • Christina - Carmen’s mother, who works as a legal secretary. Though Carmen fights with her a lot, Christina is always there for her. • Albert - Carmen’s father. Albert failed to tell Carmen he was engaged and that he’d moved to a new house, thinking it’d be best to tell her in person. However, his efforts to spare Carmen pain actually make things worse. • Lydia- Albert’s fiancé, and Carmen's soon to be step-mother. • Krista- Lydia’s daughter, and Carmen's soon to be step-sister. • Paul- Lydia's son, and Carmen’s soon to be step-brother. • Kelly (“Skeletor”) - Paul’s mean, ultra-skinny girlfriend. Krista! Christina! Paul! Kelly!

7. Effie! Characters!  (cont.) • Effie Karagolis- Lena’s fourteen-year-old sister. Effie is charming and talkative, often relieving the awkwardness that comes from Lena’s shyness. • Grandma Karagolis- Lena’s grandmother. A warm, loving woman and an excellent cook, Grandma wants nothing more than for Lena to fall in love with Kostos. • Grandpa Karagolis (Bapi) - Lena’s grandfather. A quiet man who doesn’t speak English, Grandpa is actually more like Lena than any other member of the family. Grandma and Grandpa Karagolis!

8. Eric! Characters!  (cont.) --Kostos! • Eric - A coach at Bridget’s soccer camp. Bridget develops an intense crush on Eric even though coach/camper relationships are forbidden. • Kostos- A Greek boy whom Lena’s grandmother selects as a perfect match for Lena. Kostos is handsome and kind, and in love with Lena. • Bailey Graffman - A twelve-year-old girl with leukemia. Feisty, persistent, and wise beyond her years. • Duncan Howe - Tibby’s boss at Wallman’s. Duncan is a stickler for the rules of the workplace. • Tucker Rowe - A teenager in Tibby’s hometown whom Tibby has a crush on. Tucker seems to be interested in Tibby, but Bailey shows Tibby that Tucker isn’t worth her time. Bailey!- Duncan! Tucker!

9. What Critics Said: Kidzworld! • http://www.kidzworld.com/article/2123-the-sisterhood-of-the-traveling-pants-book-review • Kidzworld.com says “This is a great story for teen girls. The author does a great job of expressing the emotions of the different characters and bringing the story to life. So if you want a great summer read, pick up a copy of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares.”

10. What Critics Said: Teenink! • http://www.teenink.com/reviews/book_reviews/article/1423/The-Sisterhood-of-the-Traveling-Pants/ • Teenink.com says “Ann Brashares provides a fun, emotional and enjoyable story about four teens in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. This book is full of personality and fun! It is great for girls dealing with similar issues.”

11. What I Say! • This was one of the very best books I have ever read! It was a roller-coaster ride of emotion, fun, friends, and summer! I would recommend it to anyone. For me, the storyline is very easy to relate to, and I’m sure it would be the same for anyone else who reads it.