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3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As a fan of the original Sisterhood series, I was a little surprised (but intrigued!) that there was a seemingly "forgotten" novel within the series. That being said, I don't believe this is a necessary read within the story, and didn't find it nearly as engaging or heartfelt as the original series.
One big difference between this new group of girls and their predecessors was their age: Polly, Jo and Ama were in the summer before their 9th grade year while Carmen, Tibby, Lena and Bridget were well into their teenage-hood at the start of the series. This difference in age made 3 Willows seem... juvenile. Another aspect of this novel that I wasn't expecting was the fact that we enter the story and Polly, Jo and Ama are not as close of friends as they once were in elementary school (this is supposed to be a book centered around friendship and sisterhood and I just... didn't get that? One could argue that it added a bit of dimension to the story but I really wish they were supporting each other through their ups and downs of their respective summers). As far as the girls themselves go, I felt that they were pretty one-dimensional and I wasn't invested in any of their stories. I did appreciate Ama's character the most though, and felt as though she showed the most development by the end of the novel (and by the end of her wildnerness camp. Butif I sent my kid off to a camp and they were LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS BY THEMSELVES I would literally lose my mind - the lack of action by her parents and the mediocre "apology"/justification by her counselor was appalling to me lol). I also wasn't expecting Lena's little sister Effie to be the villain in Jo's story, and felt as though this storyline was the most realistic (the young girl wanting to impress the popular high schoolers and boys). Polly's story of wanting to be a model but not "looking the part" didn't really do anything for me if I'm being honest, and was a lackluster attempt at the lesson of loving yourself (but the conflict with her mother definitely pulled at my heartstrings and gave her more depth as a character).
This isn't a terrible novel by any means, but if you are a big fan of the original series I wouldn't recommend going into this with high expectations. :/
One big difference between this new group of girls and their predecessors was their age: Polly, Jo and Ama were in the summer before their 9th grade year while Carmen, Tibby, Lena and Bridget were well into their teenage-hood at the start of the series. This difference in age made 3 Willows seem... juvenile. Another aspect of this novel that I wasn't expecting was the fact that we enter the story and Polly, Jo and Ama are not as close of friends as they once were in elementary school (this is supposed to be a book centered around friendship and sisterhood and I just... didn't get that? One could argue that it added a bit of dimension to the story but I really wish they were supporting each other through their ups and downs of their respective summers). As far as the girls themselves go, I felt that they were pretty one-dimensional and I wasn't invested in any of their stories. I did appreciate Ama's character the most though, and felt as though she showed the most development by the end of the novel (and by the end of her wildnerness camp. But
This isn't a terrible novel by any means, but if you are a big fan of the original series I wouldn't recommend going into this with high expectations. :/
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Eating disorder, Infidelity
Minor: Child death
It's irritating when people compare an author's newer book to something they've already written. And I won't do that. But it was delightful to have some of the four girls I grew up with make cameos in this one. But moving on to the book.
Though the girls were separated for the majority of the novel, their stories actually flowed together with ease, and it made sense in the way Brashares wrote their lives. They were very rarely together, but the book focused on their developing friendship over the years, and it always reflected back to the beginnings of their friendship, and how basic relationships start at the true core and essence of people rather than small things that are happening throughout their lives. No matter what, these girls could always return to one another and keep up their strong friendships.
Ama's story was my favorite. I felt out of the three girls, she truly accomplished something that was difficult. She was non-outdoorsy girl who was not happy to be at a wilderness camp, but struggled and figured it out anyway. She remained mostly level-headed and true to herself throughout her summer, which was something Polly and Jo did not do, which is partly why I didn't like their stories as much.
Polly decided she wanted to be a model, lost a bunch of weight, and had issues with her mom that weren't totally resolved for me by the end. Her whole transformation was very naive and on the surface, and she even went to visit Jo unexpectedly. Now, Jo should not have been so cold-hearted toward her, but, in her defense, if I had a job and stuff to do and someone randomly showed up, I wouldn't stop my life for them. They both just kind of annoyed me for being so superficial and focused on the immediate present.
But the book was written extremely well (was there any surprise it wouldn't be?) and I was taken with it anyway, even though a few things about it annoyed me. There were a few things Brashares could have talked about more (what happened with Dia by the end and what happened with Finn in the past?), but overall, a good start to my summer reads.
Though the girls were separated for the majority of the novel, their stories actually flowed together with ease, and it made sense in the way Brashares wrote their lives. They were very rarely together, but the book focused on their developing friendship over the years, and it always reflected back to the beginnings of their friendship, and how basic relationships start at the true core and essence of people rather than small things that are happening throughout their lives. No matter what, these girls could always return to one another and keep up their strong friendships.
Ama's story was my favorite. I felt out of the three girls, she truly accomplished something that was difficult. She was non-outdoorsy girl who was not happy to be at a wilderness camp, but struggled and figured it out anyway. She remained mostly level-headed and true to herself throughout her summer, which was something Polly and Jo did not do, which is partly why I didn't like their stories as much.
Polly decided she wanted to be a model, lost a bunch of weight, and had issues with her mom that weren't totally resolved for me by the end. Her whole transformation was very naive and on the surface, and she even went to visit Jo unexpectedly. Now, Jo should not have been so cold-hearted toward her, but, in her defense, if I had a job and stuff to do and someone randomly showed up, I wouldn't stop my life for them. They both just kind of annoyed me for being so superficial and focused on the immediate present.
But the book was written extremely well (was there any surprise it wouldn't be?) and I was taken with it anyway, even though a few things about it annoyed me. There were a few things Brashares could have talked about more (what happened with Dia by the end and what happened with Finn in the past?), but overall, a good start to my summer reads.
It was okay, but her first sisterhood was way better.
I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I loved the Sisterhood books, so I was hoping that I would love this as much. It is very easy to draw parallels in this book, and I'm just really in love with the way that it was written.
This young adult book was just a simple fun read. Nothing too deep. At times a little silly, but a nice read.
So... I'm confused.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was wildly popular, right? I seem to remember everyone but me having read it, anyway. And the author must have done something good to be so popular.
(Well. Maybe. On the other hand, look at Twilight.)
Which leaves me wondering why this book felt so half-hearted.
I read a digital version. Maybe the print version is better, but I was pretty much reeling in horror from the lack of proofreading/formatting the whole way through. I'd say that maybe it's just my computer (I couldn't for the life of me figure out where those hyphens were coming from), but... I've read clean ebooks with the same program. I think somebody was just lazy.
Anyway. Lousy proofreading isn't enough to merit a two-star review, although it makes me grind my teeth. It's just that the book was so...predictable. And flat. I am most definitely beyond the target audience here, but that doesn't mean that books for young teens have to be boring, you know?
Sigh.
Maybe the Sisterhood books are better?
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was wildly popular, right? I seem to remember everyone but me having read it, anyway. And the author must have done something good to be so popular.
(Well. Maybe. On the other hand, look at Twilight.)
Which leaves me wondering why this book felt so half-hearted.
I read a digital version. Maybe the print version is better, but I was pretty much reeling in horror from the lack of proofreading/formatting the whole way through. I'd say that maybe it's just my computer (I couldn't for the life of me figure out where those hyphens were coming from), but... I've read clean ebooks with the same program. I think somebody was just lazy.
Anyway. Lousy proofreading isn't enough to merit a two-star review, although it makes me grind my teeth. It's just that the book was so...predictable. And flat. I am most definitely beyond the target audience here, but that doesn't mean that books for young teens have to be boring, you know?
Sigh.
Maybe the Sisterhood books are better?
Ama, Jo, and Polly were best friends in elementary school. They did everything together, but in middle school they all grew apart and made different best friends. During the summer before the first year of high school all of them are doing things away from their friends and home. When things go wrong for all three of them they begin to realize that they want to talk to each other and not the friends they have now.
This book is a little bit slow and boring. I didn't really enjoy it, but I kept reading it because I wanted to read something sweet without much to follow. Although there was sometimes where I did enjoy it and eventually I got to love the characters. I probably wouldn't recommend this book to anyone because of how slow it is.
This book is a little bit slow and boring. I didn't really enjoy it, but I kept reading it because I wanted to read something sweet without much to follow. Although there was sometimes where I did enjoy it and eventually I got to love the characters. I probably wouldn't recommend this book to anyone because of how slow it is.
Not quite as good as the sisterhood but the friendship of the three girls in some ways reminds me of me with my two friends from high school.