BOOK REPORT #1

Brashares, Ann, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the USA: Alloy Entertainment, 326pages, 2005.

2) RESPONDING TO THE PLOT:
(e) Which incidents in the novel did you find wonderful, surprising, comical, or even shocking?
First, Bailey’s death was shocking incident. She was so cheeky girl, but also she had sadness we can’t find at first sight. Tibby knew she was serious sick and she hoped she would get well. Tibby made Bailey who weakened day by day smiling as possible as she can. Tibby wore Pants and rushed hospital where Bailey was in at midnight. However Bailey was died. Tibby said in the book, “Mrs. Graffman, I know what happened. You don’t have to say.” Tibby must be sad and shocked at that time and I was shocked too.
Second, Carmen’s father’s remarriage was shocking incident. Carmen loved both her mother and father in spite of a divorce. She must feel the bond of family, but she was betrayed. I don’t know sadder than it.

3) ANALYZING 7 LITERARY TERMS:
Setting: Washington D.C., Baja California and Greece.

Point of View: This story is told from the omniscient.

Conflict: Lena and Bridget were in conflict with themselves. Lena was in conflict with her shyness and Bridget was in conflict with her despair and pride. Carmen and Tibby were in conflict with other person. Carmen was in conflict with her father and his new family and Tibby were in conflict with Bailey’s death.

Climax: Lena could open her mind that she loved Kostos by wearing Pants. Bridget knew despair and sadness that she was turned down by Eric and didn’t tell anyone reasons of her sadness and remember her mother’s death, but finally, she wore Pants and told Lena everything. Carmen fought with her feeling against her father who remarried other woman and had children arbitrarily and his loveless attitude. However Carmen told her father the whole story and was present at his wedding. Tibby knew love for other person like Bailey and cared for Bailey every day, but she died. Then four teens’ and Pants’ trips finished.

Symbol: “Pants” are the symbol of the bond of friends in this story. Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen give Pants in turn like handing their sash to the next runner, put on same Pants, and left massages with Pants, so they could feel their bond by Pants.

Irony: The irony of this book is that Pants have wondering power which gives people courage, but all things always don’t do well by only power of Pants. Tibby knew love and sadness for the first time after she met Bailey. However Bailey died after all.

Theme: The theme is this book is “if you take courage, you can change everything.” Lena, who was so shy, knew being in love and could tell “I love you” by taking courage. Carmen could tell her father her real mind honestly by taking courage, so they became reconciled. You can change and know yourself if you pluck up the courage to take a step.

4) REFLECTING ON THE STORY
(h) What is something you learned from the story?
The book taught me two important things. The first one is importance of friends. In this book, Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen, who have different character, always are considerate of each others. They always connect to each other by sending massages and bringing Pants. As a result, four girls were helped by not only Pants but also their friendship. I was moved the scene which Lena ran to help Bridget by airplane form distance. No matter how Pants is wonderful, friends are supporting the best.
The second one is importance of courage. It is so hard to take courage, but if I try to do even a little, I can make change such as Lena and Carmen. Knowing oneself and changing something must be scary at first, but it’s important to get over the difficulties and a fear and we need courage for it.