This YA tale is the sequel to Appaloosa Summer in the Island Trilogy by Tudor Robins. I read the first tale and loved it. How would WEDNESDAY RIDERS match up to the great start?

Meg Traherne is at that big stage in her life, when she completes high school, goes to a prom, finds a boyfriend, and a summer job. She's already got some of these under her belt, plus a lively mare to school. But just as at the start of the earlier book, Meg finds that she can't have everything, and some of what she thought she had isn't necessarily permanent. I did think her a bit of a drama queen, but she's faced some major life changes so far, excusing her reactions to a degree.

Meg has scholarships from colleges to look forward to, and her new mare Jessie shows promise, plus she has her younger friend Lacey to school in equitation. But she can't keep her mare with Jared anymore, the nice lad down the road on Ellicott Island where she spends summer, so she needs to find a new stable. She has to do a responsible job in the B&B and assure her mother that she's sane and safe. How hard can this be?

I like seeing Meg care for her new chestnut mare and fit in with the island population. I don't like that she seems to want to revel in being angry, or let down. At her age relationships are not always going to be for life, and bitter as a break-up can be, some teens take relationships less seriously than others. Meg decides that she is an independent person, and I breathe a sigh of relief. She takes on a musical ride coaching task for younger girls, signs up for sailing lessons, and I'm delighted. But will these make her happy?

There are plenty of other islanders for Meg to meet, in this busy summer packed with outdoor activity. Their school means spending year after year in the same classroom with the same teacher. Moving to the mainland for school is a big step, but it's progress.

When I was riding in competitions I could never get enough of books about horses and their hardworking riders. Tudor Robins gives the real deal for any rider who seriously wants to improve, as we become caught up in the trials and heartbreaks of these WEDNESDAY RIDERS. Hats off to this popular YA author.