Tibby Rollins
Encyclopedia
Tabitha Anastasia "Tibby" Tomko-Rollins is a member of the fictional The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
, along with her friends Lena Kaligaris, Bridget Vreeland and Carmen Lowell
. She was portrayed by Amber Tamblyn
in the movie adaption, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants
.
, and Bridget Vreeland. She has known them all since birth. She also befriends Bailey Graffman and has a guinea pig Mimi who both die at the end of the first novel.
while her three friends went to Greece, Mexico and South Carolina, she decides to make a "suckumentary" about people she considers to be "lame," among them her coworkers at Wallman's and Brian McBrian, a fellow high schooler who spends most of his time playing Dragon Master at the local 7-Eleven
. At Wallman's, Tibby meets twelve year old Bailey Graffman, who is dying of leukemia and is eager to help Tibby with her movie. Bailey, afraid of not having enough time to truly understand people and, in turn, be understood, looks beyond appearances and finds the true worth in each of Tibby's documentary subjects, allowing Tibby to do the same. Bailey dies at the end of the novel.
Eventually, though, she comes to terms with her problems. Tibby ends up helping deliver Carmen's half-brother, Ryan and becomes his godmother. After that, she finds Brian, and together, they strip off their clothes and jump into the city pool, marking their start as a couple.
Tibby begins to doubt her decision to break up and becomes terribly upset. Lena then goes to Tibby's house to comfort her. They talk about their relationships and both come to a revelation, that they only fall in love once. Tibby meets Brian at the site of their first kiss, the picnic table, and apologizes for letting her fear ruin their relationship. They enter a new stage in their romance. This results in Effie taking the pants and losing them.
It is revealed through the novel that Tibby was suffering from Huntington's Disease
and aware that she was going to die, even though her death by drowning was an accident. When she invited the girls to Greece she was going to reveal this and give them letters to help them move on. It is later revealed that she discovered she had the disease when she found she was pregnant with her daughter Bailey whom she had with Brian. Her final gift to Lena, Carmen, and Bridget is the will to help them move on and follow their hearts because life is too short to waste.
is still at NYU and still dating Brian. In 3 Willows
, Polly babysits Tibby's little brother and sister. Polly sees a picture of Bailey which Tibby keeps in her bedroom.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a best selling novel written in 2001 by Ann Brashares. The book follows the adventures of four best friends—Lena Kaligaris, Tibby Rollins, Bridget Vreeland, and Carmen Lowell, who will be spending their first summer apart. When a magical pair of jeans comes...
, along with her friends Lena Kaligaris, Bridget Vreeland and Carmen Lowell
Carmen Lowell
Carmen Lucille Lowell is a main character in the book and film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She is sometimes called Carma and Carmabelle or carmeena in the book, and is a sensitive and caring half-Puerto Rican with a bad temper. Her parents are divorced, and she lives with her mother,...
. She was portrayed by Amber Tamblyn
Amber Tamblyn
Amber Rose Tamblyn is an American actress and poet. She first came to national attention in her role on the soap opera General Hospital as Emily Quartermaine, followed by a starring role on the prime-time series Joan of Arcadia portraying the title character...
in the movie adaption, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (film)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a 2005 American film, based on the novel The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares released by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was directed by Ken Kwapis and written by Delia Ephron.The film's production budget was $25 million...
.
Family
Tibby's parents are described as former radicals and hippies. She was born when they were nineteen, and she apparently spent much of her early life swept up in their various adventures; her father was, at turns, a writer for a socialist newspaper, a public defender (following completion of law school), and an organic farmer, while her mother was a sculptor. After some time, her mother became a real estate agent and her father became a more corporate lawyer. They settled down in a suburban house with Tibby and her two younger siblings, Nicky and Katherine, who are thirteen and fourteen years younger than her, respectively. Tibby often feels like an outcast in her own family, viewing herself as a leftover part of her parents' former life. Because of this, she resents her younger siblings and tries to distance herself from them, although she tries to end this practice when Katherine injures herself falling out of a window in the third book.Friends
Tibby's best friends are Lena Kaligaris, Carmen LowellCarmen Lowell
Carmen Lucille Lowell is a main character in the book and film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She is sometimes called Carma and Carmabelle or carmeena in the book, and is a sensitive and caring half-Puerto Rican with a bad temper. Her parents are divorced, and she lives with her mother,...
, and Bridget Vreeland. She has known them all since birth. She also befriends Bailey Graffman and has a guinea pig Mimi who both die at the end of the first novel.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Stuck at home in Bethesda, MarylandBethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
while her three friends went to Greece, Mexico and South Carolina, she decides to make a "suckumentary" about people she considers to be "lame," among them her coworkers at Wallman's and Brian McBrian, a fellow high schooler who spends most of his time playing Dragon Master at the local 7-Eleven
7-Eleven
7-Eleven is part of an international chain of convenience stores, operating under Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd, which in turn is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co...
. At Wallman's, Tibby meets twelve year old Bailey Graffman, who is dying of leukemia and is eager to help Tibby with her movie. Bailey, afraid of not having enough time to truly understand people and, in turn, be understood, looks beyond appearances and finds the true worth in each of Tibby's documentary subjects, allowing Tibby to do the same. Bailey dies at the end of the novel.
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
Tibby takes a course in filmmaking at Williamston College. She tries desperately to impress Alex and Maura, two of her classmates. In the process, she ends up shunning Brian (who has become one of her closest friends since the end of the first novel) when he visits her and makes a video which upsets her mother. In the end, she realises that Brian is her true friend, and Alex and Maura are phony. She makes a touching video about Bailey, and Brian and her mother forgive her.Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
Brian asks Tibby to the senior dance at their high school, and she says yes. After the dance, at a picnic table, they exchange their first kiss, and Brian reveals his feelings for her. The next morning while thinking about Brian, Tibby forgets that her younger sister has been trying to get an apple from a tree outside her window. She opens the window, and her sister accidentally falls out. Tibby becomes depressed and blames herself, so she avoids Brian.Eventually, though, she comes to terms with her problems. Tibby ends up helping deliver Carmen's half-brother, Ryan and becomes his godmother. After that, she finds Brian, and together, they strip off their clothes and jump into the city pool, marking their start as a couple.
Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood
Brian, Tibby's now long-term boyfriend, visits her and announces that he's been admitted to NYU, where she studies. After, they get drunk and have sex. Later, she suspects that she is pregnant, although she later finds out that she is not, and breaks up with Brian. Lena's younger sister, Effie, then seeks her out and asks her permission to go out with Brian.Tibby begins to doubt her decision to break up and becomes terribly upset. Lena then goes to Tibby's house to comfort her. They talk about their relationships and both come to a revelation, that they only fall in love once. Tibby meets Brian at the site of their first kiss, the picnic table, and apologizes for letting her fear ruin their relationship. They enter a new stage in their romance. This results in Effie taking the pants and losing them.
Sisterhood Everlasting
Ten years following the last sisterhood book, Tibby has moved to Australia with Brian and now has almost no contact with the three other girls. Soon after moving to Australia, Tibby learns that she is not only pregnant but she is also diagnosed with a terminal disease. Soon after giving birth to her daughter, Bailey, she calls her "sisters" together for one last trip to Greece. Disaster strikes when she suddenly dies in a swimming accident on the shores in Greece leaving her sisters, Lena, Bridget, and Carmen, devastated and questioning everything that they believe in.It is revealed through the novel that Tibby was suffering from Huntington's Disease
Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease, chorea, or disorder , is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and dementia. It typically becomes noticeable in middle age. HD is the most common genetic cause of abnormal involuntary writhing movements called chorea...
and aware that she was going to die, even though her death by drowning was an accident. When she invited the girls to Greece she was going to reveal this and give them letters to help them move on. It is later revealed that she discovered she had the disease when she found she was pregnant with her daughter Bailey whom she had with Brian. Her final gift to Lena, Carmen, and Bridget is the will to help them move on and follow their hearts because life is too short to waste.
Other references
Tibby as of 3 Willows3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows
3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows is a young adult novel by Ann Brashares published on January 13, 2009. It is a spin-off to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series as main characters Polly, Jo and Ama are about to attend South Bethesda High School, the school the original sisterhood attended.-...
is still at NYU and still dating Brian. In 3 Willows
3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows
3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows is a young adult novel by Ann Brashares published on January 13, 2009. It is a spin-off to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series as main characters Polly, Jo and Ama are about to attend South Bethesda High School, the school the original sisterhood attended.-...
, Polly babysits Tibby's little brother and sister. Polly sees a picture of Bailey which Tibby keeps in her bedroom.