3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares [book]

3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares [book]

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009
Hardcover: 336 pages
Language: English
ISBN: 0385736762

Plot Summary:
3 girls are friends in a town that famous for another sisterhood. The girls are heading into high school and about to head off to their own journeys over the summer (they tried to have a bonding article of clothing as well) but with adventures that none of them quite expected. Ama is smart and determined in school, but in an odd chance of fate attends a scholarship program that takes her out of her academic comfort zone and instead has her hiking and learning life in the outdoors along with learning about the teens and life. She is originally from Ghana, following in her sister's footsteps, is a perfectionist and is very used to be good at what she does, so the summer proves to be very hard on her self esteem and in learning that she cannot be good at everything. Jo spends her summer on the beach working and trying to make new friends. She is not as concerned with her old friends in the light of flirting with an older boy and hanging out with cool older girls. Jo has other concerning problems with her parent's divorce and her brother's death, but places her time and effort into keeping the attentions of the older guy that she is into, which only leads to the loss of her job and the realization of what she did have. Polly feels that she is being left by her friends, and and decides that she wants to become something better- a model. She wants to fit in and be noticed, but she is doing it in the wrong ways in trying to change the way that she looks. She deals with an estranged father, and a mother that is not involved and has many problems of her own all while taking modelling coaching and classes. The reason that the book is called 3 willows is because when the girls were young they planted willow pieces of artwork in the woods, leaving a metaphor for growing but staying grounded in the same place and learning about the people that are there for you.

Critical Evaluation:
There are many comparisons between this book and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" because they were written by the same author, set in the same town, and their are glimpses of some of the characters from the book. I felt that this book was good, but that it was flat when compared with the travelling pants series because the girl's characters and friendship were not as developed or intertwined. If one goes into the book with expectations of more of the sisterhood type books they will be placated, but not if they go into it comparing it to the travelling pants because it is not as well maintained or entertaining. This book does bring up the issue of people leaving behind friendships that they thought might be strong, but it brings them back together in the end which makes for a happier ending.

Reader's Annotation:
A sisterhood of 3 girls in high school is formed before they part ways over the summer, dealing with all of life's tribulations will either bring them closer together or tear them apart.

Websites to look Into:
http://annbrashares.com/

The Author:
Brashares said that the topic for the book (The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants) started with a conversation that she had with her friend in which the friend told her of a summer that her and her friends shared a pair of pants that were eventually lost. She liked the idea that there was something solid (like the pants) in the midst of change.

Similar Books:
"Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" by Ann Brashares
"My Name is Memory" by Ann Brashares

Booktalking Ideas:
Comparing this sisterhood book with that of the "Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants"
Discussing female friendships and bonding

Genre:
Chic Lit, Drama, Fiction

Interest Age:
14+

Challenge Issues:
I could find no really large challenge issues of this book because it deals with girls problems, but none that are overly dramatic. Looking to give up your past to be cool is an issue but I do not think that it could be explained as a challenge issue for someone that is reading it.

Why this Book?
I wanted to add another title by Ann and I thought that this would be a good book that is another continuation to the Travelling Pants novels but that was different and could give another story line for a chic lit book genre.