Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares

Title: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Author: Ann Brashares
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Reading Level: Ages 14+
Type: Chapter Book
ISBN: 978-1740517799
About:

Four friends set off on a summer apart. After find a thrift store pain of jeans that fit each girl perfectly they decide to keep in contact by sharing these pants and writing to each other throughout the summer. Each girl encounters a new obstacle that challenges her to grow and learn. The pants help these girls overcome fears.

The author uses letters written between the girls to tie their stories together. The story switches settings often as it rotates between girls. Dialogue is a strong part of the novel. It is used in a realistic way with inventive spelling to suggest dialect and Greek words are used in the dialogue between Lena and her family.

This book is my favorite of the series and was one that I could not put down. I could relate to these girls even though I didn’t share any similar circumstances (thank goodness!). This would be a book that I would recommend as a leisure read for any high school girl. The content is too strong for girls any younger than high school.

Charlotte's Web - E.B. White

Title: Charlotte’s Web
Author: E.B. White
Illustrator: Garth Willaims
Publisher: Harper Collins
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Type: Chapter Book
ISBN: 978-0064410939
About:

A young girl, Fern, saves the runt piglet of the litter from being killed. She raises him and names him Wilber. When he gets too big he goes to live in a barn where he makes many friends. After Wilber learns he will be killed and eaten for dinner he turns to Charlotte, the spider, for help. She decides that if she makes him famous he will survive!

The book is written in third person narrative. This helps young readers receive an unbiased view of the story. It is set in the 1950’s on a farm in middle America. The major themes are the importance of friendship, death and growing up. The plot seemed to follow a typical rising action and falling action although one could also consider the beginning conflict of Fern saving Wilber as another high point in the plot.

The illustrations are done in a cartoon style. They are present every few pages or so. They are done in black and white pen sketches except for the cover that is in color. Line is very important to these illustrations and it is used to in shading to suggest three-dimensional figures.

This classic novel is one of the first I remember as a child. I fell in love with Charlotte's motherly demeanor and Wilber's childlike worry. This is a story that will not soon be forgotten. It lives in our hearts and just as I was lead to this book by my mother will I surely guide future children to it!