As soon as you read about Carmen's dad remarrying, you become a fish. When you read about Tibby meeting Bailey, you have sighted the bait. Once you read about Lena and the problems she creates with Kostos, you are thinking about what a great snack you are going to have. Finally, Bridget and her obsession with Eric will have you hooked and reeled in. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is like a trap: it's so exciting you have to keep reading! This great story about four friends, from its setup to its characters, is definitely a book I recommend.

Carmen is a sweet girl, but she has some big problems. She sets off on her summer, expecting fun time with her dad. Instead, she finds out that her vacation will be spent getting to know her new family. In this book, Carmen struggles to adapt to her new life. She also learns to cope with her feelings, somewhat like Tibby. When Tibby, a shy, closed up girl, meets Bailey, an open-minded 12 year old, a personality clash happens. But time goes on, and Bailey becomes a good friend to Tibby. When something goes wrong, Tibby's heart is torn open and her feelings come pouring out. She has to learn to think positively, and learn how to move on.

Lena goes to Greece to see her grandparents, and she meets an interesting boy named Kostos. When she thinks she has caught him spying on her, she gives her grandparents a wrong impression of what happened. This causes a conflict, and Lena has to come out and say what really happened, no matter how much it hurts. Bridget also gets hurt in this book. As Lena says, ‘Bridget is like a toddler… She sprints around in a torment of activity, but once in a while something unexpected slams her hard.' A boy who says no slams Bridget hard. She becomes lost, feeling hurt and confused. The wandering Bridget needs to take control and find her way home.

One of my favorite things about this book is the author's style. She chooses a special style in which to write the book. She uses quotes, letters, and different perspectives to help convey the story. Ann Brashares really caught my attention with her craft. In every chapter, you hear what's going on in a character's summer. Then the author switches right over to another character to tell what they were up to. At the end of each chapter there is a letter from one friend to the other. Then the next chapter begins with a quote that gives you an idea what it will be about. The different viewpoints really helped me to understand the story. Also, the letters give you an idea about how close the friends are, and the quotes are fun to read. I love the craft of this book. I think it is very good and unique!

Overall, this was a great book. The story was exciting, the characters seemed real, and the style of writing was incredible. Reading this book really satisfied me. Sometimes I was biting my nails, other times I was fighting back tears. But when I finished this book I was smiling. I would recommend this book to any middle school girl. This great read will have you craving for the sequel.