Brumby’s Run by Jennifer Scouller

There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around, there’s a new kid in the country romance corral…!

Her name… Jennifer Scouller and Brumby’s Run is her debut novel.

My first comment… Brumby’s Run is so much more than the cover and back cover blurb. I can understand the publisher’s desire to take advantage to the increasingly popular farm-lit/ru-ro (rural romance) genre, but it’s a shame that by categorising Brumby’s Run it may limit readership with many missing out on a damn good Aussie tale of family, friendship and country life.

I am a fussy-pot when it comes to reading. I don’t like wasting time on bad books. The first chapter has to hook me and keep me hooked. I admit to almost putting Brumby’s Run down. Not because the writing wasn’t good, or because it didn’t hook me. It did. This book managed to do both brilliantly. My problem was that the main characters were so young, while I… I am so not!

Could I relate? Did I want to read about young love and typical teenage angst? (Did I mention I dislike predictable characters too! Told you I was a fussy-pot.)

Then I met Mary! (Everyone’s allowed a favourite, aren’t they?) And while I loved the way the author handled all the characters, the mothers were my favourite — and not a stereotype in sight.

So to my absolute delight, I not only found I couldn’t stop reading Brumby’s Run, I actually felt 18 again. What a bonus!

This is a terrific read as well as thought-provoking. I can see why they might want to promote it as ru-ro, but it would sit just as comfortably on both Young Adult and Australian Fiction shelves (in fact, I am recommending this to every mother I know who has teenager girls.)

In the end, I loved all the characters, the clever plotting (although the author apparently doesn’t plot out her stories – amazing), and the subtle environmental messages (some less subtle than others, but it did not detract from the reading. This is clearly the author’s platform and if you are going to push a barrow, the environment is the best one I know.)

Jennifer Scoullar’s love of the bush, books, brumbies, Blyton and Banjo (who she does give credit to for inspiring her), as well as the environment really makes this book stand out from the mob. But the best thing about Brumby’s Run is ANYONE – 16 or 60 – will enjoy the ride.

Jennifer has a great website http://jenniferscoullar.com/about/