Craft, Elizabeth & Fain, Sarah. Footfree and fancyloose.

CRAFT, Elizabeth & FAIN, Sarah. Footfree and fancyloose. Little, Brown. 427p. c2008. 978-0316-05795-0. $16.99. S *

Life magazine's review of the prequel to this book, Bass Ackwards and Belly Up, said, "For those who have outgrown the Traveling Pants series." Not sure what that might mean,

maybe more sex and more drinking. Maybe it means: finally out of high school. In the prequel, apparently these four best friends threw caution to the winds to pursue their dreams, even if that dream meant not going to college and disappointing their parents. The first book covers the first half of their would-be freshman year, and this book covers the second half (are six more of these tomes coming?). One girl wants to become an author; one wants to become a movie star; one wants to find out what she wants; and the other wants, well, to go to college and fall in love. They all manage to find love in the first novel, but apparently love is fleeting because three out of the four find new loves in the second. One goes to Hollywood, one goes to Africa to dig wells, one returns to her basement to finish her book, and one returns to college, loses and then finds her love again. The story is similar to the Traveling Pants series in that all the girls, while soul mates, have their adventures far apart from each other. They don't need magic jeans to stay in touch, just e-mail, and they learn similar lessons about life, love, and female power. The plot is engaging; the reader becomes invested in the lives of each of the girls. The technique of changing the scene at the high point of one drama to another drama is well played here. All four likable and interesting girls come out the better and closer to each other for their experiences. Myrna Marhr, Assoc. Prof. of English, BYU, Laie, HI