Horses of the Sun by Leanne Owens

The first book in the Outback Riders series, Horses of the Sun has siblings Matthew, Lani and Dane discussing what they will do with their cousin Amy who is coming to stay with them – for a whole year.  Youngest Matthew wants to put a large brown snake – one of the deadliest snakes in Australia – in her bed as a welcome gift.  Ever the voice of reason Dean concludes they can play a prank but it shouldn’t be dangerous.

Their mother encourages them to think of ways they can make Amy feel welcome.  And yet, the siblings can’t help but feel anxious about her arrival.  And when the older teen comes to their property made up of thousands of hectares from her life in the city, the three struggle to feel welcoming or charitable.  This is especially so when they discover that Amy hates horses.  How can anyone hate horses?

The three try hard to be friendly but Lani soon finds she’d rather give Amy a hard time.  Dane is a little more successful at playing amicably but it’s young Matthew who actually manages to get through to Amy.  And although the three start to get along, Amy is hiding an incredible secret from them.

In time the teen is coaxed into the saddle and the brothers and sister giggle at her inability to rise at the trot in spite of her persistent tries.  The three take her on a tour of their property and share a story about Legend’s Leap, a four metre jump from one rocky area to another with a gorge between the two.

Amy cannot believe that anyone could make that jump on a horse and yet her cousins are insistent that their great grandfather achieved it many years earlier.  As much as Amy cannot believe the incredible feat, she finds that in time she is tested to do the same when a horrible accident results in the lives of her uncle, aunt and youngest cousin hanging in the balance. Amy’s move to live with her cousins has cost her so much.  And yet it seems that drawing close to this family may be the only way to realise what is important in life.  Horses of the Sun is fast paced and features horses highly.  An entertaining read.

Author: Leanne Owens
Fiction – teenagers
In My Library? As an ebook it is.