In After Lucas, teenager Mavis gives an incredible impression of being a spoiled, rich girl who wins every ribbon on her push button horse. But under the surface, the riding, the ribbons, even coming first seem to bring little joy to her. So when Mavis’s dad loses his job and her prizewinning mare Ava must be sold, the teenager finds a sense of relief fills her.
She no longer has to go to the barn daily. She isn’t expected to put her beautiful, flawless horse through her paces over and again. She doesn’t have to pretend enthusiasm for the next countless red ribbon she acquires.
With the loss of his current position, Mavis’s father has to move away from the family for a new role he acquires. As the family dynamics change, the teenage girl finds she is called upon to taxi her brother to his basketball practices and games. Mavis does so grudgingly at first, but as she continues to drive her brother – and his friend Lucas – she develops a new routine and sense of belonging. Suddenly she is needed; included.
After Ava is sold, Mavis is needed at the barn to clear out the rest of her things. As she does so, a chance encounter with a chestnut gelding – also named Lucas – gains her attention. And so starts a journey with a horse that is everything her mare wasn’t: untrained, dirty, stocky and a former trail horse.
With the help of two different males named Lucas, Mavis goes on a journey to discover what she really wants in life, and how money has nothing to do with making her happy.
After Lucas is a delightful read of a young woman truly learning about horses, riding them and their care. As she learns to do more for herself – instead of expecting others to do it – her confidence grows and her amicable nature to other people improves. Mavis grows and develops into a delightful person, who at the start was far from appealing. The horse aspects of this novel are informative and entertaining and the relationships that develop throughout are also enjoyable. Highly recommended.
Author: Tudor Robins
Fiction – young adult
In My Library? As an eBook.
0
20
20
[…] third book in the Stonegate Series comes from a fresh angle. Whilst Em was the protagonist in After Lucas, there is a new lead in Throw Your Heart Over. We are introduced to Ellie earlier in the series and […]