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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I read this book in one day. All of my friends are like a part of my family and I hate being away from them now that we're out of school. I love how one pair of jeans comforts eachother knowing that each of their friends are thousands of mile away living their own summer adventures. This book made me laugh and cry. The relationships between the friends remind me of how my best friend and I are so different and yet we know eachother well enough that we can read eachother's minds when were together or apart. I cannot wait to read the others.
I feel like my opinion of the book will be biased because I saw the movie first. However, I do feel like the book and movie were pretty equal in writing and imagination, and I liked both. Not a bad read; did feel a bit "below" me though, as in, mostly a book for teenagers.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's hard for me to believe I have never written a review of this book. I used to read it regularly, but as I've grown up the story has become a little too juvenile for me to read all the time. But I do remember loving this series as a young teenager and waiting for the new books to come out. I felt like I grew up with Carmen, Tibby, Bee, and Lena.
The writing isn't particularly wonderful. The dialogue can be eye-rolling, but that is through the eyes of an adult. I assume as a teenager I just devoured it. It wouldn't have mattered if the dialogue was a little cheesy, or if time passed too quickly for me to really wrap my head around some of the things that happened. I would have loved the idea of friendship. The closeness they shared. I always seemed to be a part of a group of 4. I could relate to that.
Carmen, Lena, Bee, and Tibby (the Septembers) are going to spend their first summer apart. It's hard for all of them. Then they discover some "magical" pants that fit them all perfectly (a feat considering the variety of body shapes and sizes of the four friends) and decide to stay close by sharing the pants of the summer. Lena goes to Greece. She meets Kostos. She learns she's like her grandpa. There is a misunderstanding. Carmen goes to spend the summer with her dad, only to find that he has a new family and is getting married at the end of the summer. Carmen is invisible. She throws a rock. Bee is going, going, going. Soccer star. She wants a coach. She gets what she wants. It's too much and it breaks her. Tibby is stuck at home working at Wallmans. Bailey (a 12 year old) basically decides she wants to be friends. They film stuff for a movie together. Bailey is sick. It does not end well. The pants help them all through rough times, and are there for them when it's time to be strong.
As the books progress they get a little more adult (especially the last one) but it's nice to go back to something so sweet and simple. Something you enjoyed so much growing up. If you didn't read these when you were a child I don't think they'd have too much pull now. However, they'd be great to recommend to a daughter, grand-daughter, or niece.
The writing isn't particularly wonderful. The dialogue can be eye-rolling, but that is through the eyes of an adult. I assume as a teenager I just devoured it. It wouldn't have mattered if the dialogue was a little cheesy, or if time passed too quickly for me to really wrap my head around some of the things that happened. I would have loved the idea of friendship. The closeness they shared. I always seemed to be a part of a group of 4. I could relate to that.
Carmen, Lena, Bee, and Tibby (the Septembers) are going to spend their first summer apart. It's hard for all of them. Then they discover some "magical" pants that fit them all perfectly (a feat considering the variety of body shapes and sizes of the four friends) and decide to stay close by sharing the pants of the summer. Lena goes to Greece. She meets Kostos. She learns she's like her grandpa. There is a misunderstanding. Carmen goes to spend the summer with her dad, only to find that he has a new family and is getting married at the end of the summer. Carmen is invisible. She throws a rock. Bee is going, going, going. Soccer star. She wants a coach. She gets what she wants. It's too much and it breaks her. Tibby is stuck at home working at Wallmans. Bailey (a 12 year old) basically decides she wants to be friends. They film stuff for a movie together. Bailey is sick. It does not end well. The pants help them all through rough times, and are there for them when it's time to be strong.
As the books progress they get a little more adult (especially the last one) but it's nice to go back to something so sweet and simple. Something you enjoyed so much growing up. If you didn't read these when you were a child I don't think they'd have too much pull now. However, they'd be great to recommend to a daughter, grand-daughter, or niece.
This has always been my least favorite of the series. Maybe it's the fact that Bridget kisses a married man. Or that Lena does a complete about-face as a character. Or that Tibby becomes almost completely unlikable due to how she treats Brian. But mostly it's Carmen. Suddenly the firecracker is completely lost. Changes come in college but it's always been hard for me to even see the old Carmen in the one presented here. And what is this with everyone else meeting the love of their life?!? Carmen finally meets a cute guy in the third book and he's barely mentioned in the fourth. There's also the fact that the girls no longer treat the pants with reverence. It seems like just another summer. I do enjoy the end when they are forced to finally spend some quality time together...and finally realize that it's their work and effort (not the pants') that make their relationships work. #cheesybuttrue