The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

Reader reviewed by Ellery

The girls are back for another summer with the pants that started it all.  The girls are known as the Septembers because they were all born in that month.  At the beginning of the summer, before they take off, the girls meet back at Gilda's Aerobics Studio, where their moms met.  Lena goes back to Greece for her bapi's funeral just after getting a job at Basia's.  Her yaya moves to the United States.  Carmen's mom starts dating.  Bridget goes to her grandma's home in Alabama to confront her demons and fears, and learns more about her mom.  Tibby goes to Williamston for a summer film camp. 

Reader reviewed by lookwaticando08

I read the first book because I had nothing better to do, and it was an enjoyable way to fill the time but was nothing too spectacular in my opinion. I've read quite a lot, and it was good, but not great in comparison with other young adult novels. Still having nothing to do, I decided to check out the second one. I didn't care very much about Tibby, Lena, or Carmen, but I wanted to know what happened to Bee. And so I began to read.

What happened was that I simply couldn't put it down and read it all in one sitting, stopping only to turn on the light at one point because it was getting dark out. Maybe it was because I was reading the hardcover edition, and the pages were whiter and the text bigger. Maybe it was because I heard the second book was the worst out of them all and I didn't come in with any high expectations. It really made me feel probably what all readers of the series have felt at one point or another. Resounding truths being spoken, admiration for the girls' courage, empathy at their failings, and the feeling of hope at the end that things always better without the use of a cliched everything-wrapped-up-in-a-neat-little-bow ending.

I highly recommend this, especially to young girls. Everything you've ever thought you were the only one to think is in here. And it never, ever seems like the author is dumbing anything down for her readers. Bad things happen, even with magic pants and they're not easy she manages to say without pontificating. But good things happen too, and one of the most interesting things about life (and the book) is how we manage to overcome the bad. Maybe not always at the end of a book, but hopefully by the end of a story when the readers and the characters have all become more mature.

If you read the first book and don't want to continue reading, I highly suggest you do. If you haven't read any of the books, then go ahead and try the first one out. Maybe you'll love it, or like it, or maybe not, but be sure to give the second one a chance when you're done.

Now the only thing I'm afraid of is setting myself up for a huge disappointment with the third book, but I'll take that chance.

Reader reviewed by Erin

I read The First Summer of the Sisterhood, and like I said the begining was quite boring backed up by a wonderful ending. However, The Second Summer isn't boring at all and without a doubt blows The First Summer away. This book will deffinatly have you crying as the characters (if I recall correctly) deal with a death. It's sad and heart breaking to read. Nonetheless, it is something way to real that most of us have experienced. That's what makes this series great it's real. Unlike books that are about flying horses and raibows The First and Second Summer of the Sisterhood deals with a group of friends, probably much like your own. They're not rich or poor, they're just middle class girls trying to sick together.