Review Detail

Bonnie Bryant's books speak to horse lovers and to teens. You don't have to belong to either group to enjoy the books, but if you do belong to one (or to both), you'll enjoy them even more.

The Pine Hollow series follows the adventures of three best friends: Stevie Lake, Lisa Atwood and Carole Hanson (past readers of another of Ms. Bryant's series -- The Saddle Club -- will immediately recognize these names).

All three of them have loved horses for as long as they can remember. Now that they are getting older, they still love them. But, they find that other things are starting to intrude.

When Stevie finally gets her driver's license, she has no idea how much it will change her life. Between driving and getting a job to pay for car insurance, much of her former horse time is eaten up.

Carole's job eats up much of her time. She works at the stable, but finds that she spends more time on her work than with her horse. Lisa is suffering in a long-distance relationship.

When an accident endangers the life of a new girl in town, each of the three must cope with the situation. They all feel they are to blame (and that the others are also to blame) and find their friendship tested.

Teens who love horses will especially love this book, as well as the others in the series. But, you don't have to be a horse lover to appreciate the other themes and situations in the book.