3 Willows

by Ann Brashares

I have read all four of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books. The writing never amazed me, but the stories were always intriguing. I loved the idea of four best friends united by a magical pair a pants. I was basically obsessed with these books. So when I saw that Ann Brashares had started a completely different "sisterhood", I knew I had to read it.

This book is about three girls; Polly, Ama, and Jo. The story line takes place during the summer before their freshman year of high school. Like many friends, these girls have started going their separate ways. Ama is focused on nothing else but getting good grades. Jo thinks of nothing except fitting in with the "right" people. And Polly isn't sure exactly where she fits in. Unlike the other books, the girls aren't united by a pair of pants, but by three willow trees. 

This book was cute and definitely kept me reading. But the writing didn't leap off the page. The writing was just mediocre. I kept looking for more within her writing, and I just couldn't find it. I also didn't like how often she changes perspectives. She goes along on one story line and then switches to another. I think this book is a better fit for girls who like a light story line without much depth. But if you have a hard time reading and find yourself getting bored, then this book is probably for you. The writing is very clear and easy to understand.