Friendship, family, acceptance, loyalty, and a pair of pants hold together the different summer experiences of four great high school friends. The girls demonstrate self-sacrifice, empathy, and understanding as they support each other through difficult experiences. Additional themes include communication and compassion.

A suicide that took place before the movie begins continues to affect the characters. Someone is conked in the head with a tennis ball. Someone throws a rock at a window in anger. A 12-year-old girl has leukemia. Tibby visits the girl in the hospital, who appears to be very sick.

Bridget dances seductively. Offscreen, Bridget has sex with a slightly older coach. Lena kisses her new Greek boyfriend.

"Screw the world," "pain in the ass," "oh, Jesus," "sucks," and "hell."

Not applicable

In a bar scene, people drink. A woman smokes.