A great read which I couldn't put down. This is a wonderful mixture of intrigue, fun and excitement. So many elements of the horse scene are in this book from trick riding, Trakehners, horse trainers and hacks. Alyssa has crafted her characters well. Hide & Seek took me back to my teenage years - I loved every minute of it.

Krissy Harris

Krissy has been riding for 28 years, and professionally training horses for film, television and the sport of showjumping for 20 years. She has represented Australia as a showjumping rider at the World Cup Final in 1997, and again at the World Championships in 1998. She performed the lead female role "Jessica" in the Man From Snowy River live production at Sydney & Brisbane Royal Shows in 2000, and in 2004 was the Riding Trainer of the Stunt Jumping Horses for the Speilberg/Sony Production "Legend of Zorro" Location - Mexico.

'Hide and Seek' is every young horse lover's dream book, having such a variety of places to ride and experiencing adventures. The fact that it is set in the Southern hemisphere will make it feel like the dream is alive for all young Australian horse lovers out there.

Jess Mitchell

Member of the winning Aus team in NZ for the Young rider Trans Tasman Championships, 6th as an individual, 6th Sydney International CCI (Three Star) 2006 and member of the NSWIS and National Young Rider Squad.

Writing in the first person, Alyssa Brugman captures the reader's imagination in the intensity of a teenager's struggle to find a way through frustrating emotions while caring for and protecting a handicapped person. She takes the reader within the walls of disability and the prejudice sometimes projected by the outside world. Detailed descriptions of extreme, emotional hopelessness at times allow you to experience Rachel's inner depth of confusion.

This novel deserves recognition for the way the author has brought life to this her first book. Throughout the book, she has taken a difficult theme and presented the storyline with the stark, realism that challenges Rachel to a journey of self-discovery. Sometimes heartbreaking but always inspiring, I would recommend this as a highly worthwhile read suited for secondary school students.

Reviewed by Kristy O'Brien
Courier Mail Young Reviewer of the year Older Readers

Without fanfare Finding Grace by Alyssa Brugman (Allen & Unwin), a fresh, unpretentious story of idiosyncratic Rachel who cares for brain-damaged Grace, claims its place as a frank, distinctively humorous début novel.

Pam McIntyre
Best Books of the Year
Australian Book Review

Megan is not an appealing child, constantly putting herself first. But she learns some valuable truths as the story progresses, and so too may readers should they have ever been in a similar position themselves. Excellently written, making clever use of poets from Sylvia Plath to e e cummings, this is a book to read and then read again.
5 Stars - unmissable
Nicholas Tucker
Papertigers.org

Fascinating look at the politics in the "best" clique at an Australian high school and the subtle yet cruel ferocity that marks their interactions, both with each other and with the rest of the school. This is an engrossing read that many junior high (and younger senior high) girls will enjoy. (Please note - this is a dark and quite frank book; possibly not for everyone).

Review by Lyn P.
Wilmette Public Library

Being Bindy emphasises, it's the possibility of a functional single-parent family. Bindy's father is sensitive, thoughtful and practical, with a classic "dad" sense of humour (lame jokes abound).

The positive portrayal of men in the book is refreshing. Brugman has a knack for creating characters that the reader can't help but care about, and for this reason her books are highly enjoyable.

Finding Grace, Brugman's first book, is still my favourite, but she has received critical acclaim for everything she's written so far, and no one should be surprised if her success continues with Being Bindy.

Angie Schiavone
Sydney Morning Herald

Being Bindy is funny, sad and moving - but most of all it is very real. The problems faced by Bindy and Janey will touch a nerve with teenage girls. Author Alyssa Brugman doesn't preach and doesn't provide easy answers. There is nothing as simple as happily-ever-after - but there is a feeling of hope which makes the novel uplifting but not unrealistic.
This is Brugman's third novel for young adult readers, although this one is aimed at a slightly younger audience than the previous two. What it does have in common with her earlier offerings is Brugman's superb blend of insight and writing skill.

Reviewed by Sally Murphy
www.aussiereviews.com

Brugman's novel flows beautifully, and you can almost believe that Shelby the heroine is sitting next to you, confiding her story into the reader. The story is heartfelt and meaningful, with an underlying message that appears more and more as the story progresses - beauty is only skin deep.

Above all, I think the best thing about this book was its heroine. Shelby reminded me of what we all are; human. She makes mistakes and has a lot of faults, but among them are some values that we can all learn from: honesty, friendship, courage, persistence and particularly loyalty. I would recommend this book for readers aged 9 to 12. Nine stars!

Reviewed by Mikaella Aged 12
YARA Book Review

Beginners Luck

Shelby and her friends buy a pony from the sales, and attempt to train it and sell it for a profit, although, their plan backfires on them! The book is very funny, as Shelby and her two friends, avoid trouble and still run right into it.

It’s definitely a book for horse lovers, but even if you aren’t one, this book is very enjoyable, funny and has a bit of suspense thrown in! It’s easy to read and understand, and the storyline is very original. The book is very realistic, and interesting; it’s a good gift for horsy friends.

It’s also a great book to read alone, or be read to; it’s fun and you always want to find out what the girls are going to do next.

I recommend this book for girls mainly, aged 8 to 12.

Minna, aged 12, Canberra, ACT
YARA Book Review

Brugman has developed an incredible story of a child whose family has disappeared beneath her. Events beyond her control have shaped her life for the worse, and she must recognize this and attempt to rebuild it.

I followed her with my heart in my mouth and then immediately reread the book to make sure that Mackenzie will succeed, so engrossed was I with this girl's life. Girls particularly in secondary school will find this book gripping.

Fran Knight
www.readplus.com.au

Alyssa Brugman has made an exciting start with her first fantasy novel The equen queen, the second in the Quentaris - Quest of the lost city series.

Tab is a strong, engaging heroine whose exploits keep the reader totally enthralled as she plunges from one adventure to the next. Readers who enjoy horse stories will recognise some of the traits of the equens and identify with the determination of Tab to return her to her native world.

This was an enjoyable and satisfying story with original twists and turns and challenging ideas. It could be read as a stand-alone, although as many of the characters were first introduced in The spell of undoing, the reader will have a better understanding of relationships if they read that first.

www.readplus.com.au