def ladder_length(begin_word, end_word, word_list):
    """
    Bidirectional BFS!!!
    :type begin_word: str
    :type end_word: str
    :type word_list: Set[str]
    :rtype: int
    """
    if len(begin_word) != len(end_word):
        return -1   # not possible

    if begin_word == end_word:
        return 0

    # when only differ by 1 character
    if sum(c1 != c2 for c1, c2 in zip(begin_word, end_word)) == 1:
        return 1

    begin_set = set()
    end_set = set()
    begin_set.add(begin_word)
    end_set.add(end_word)
    result = 2
    while begin_set and end_set:

        if len(begin_set) > len(end_set):
            begin_set, end_set = end_set, begin_set

        next_begin_set = set()
        for word in begin_set:
            for ladder_word in word_range(word):
                if ladder_word in end_set:
                    return result
                if ladder_word in word_list:
                    next_begin_set.add(ladder_word)
                    word_list.remove(ladder_word)
        begin_set = next_begin_set
        result += 1
        # print(begin_set)
        # print(result)
    return -1
Bidirectional BFS!!!
    :type begin_word: str
    :type end_word: str
    :type word_list: Set[str]
    :rtype: int