I very much enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it because of the horse theme throughout the book and because one of the co-authors- Georgina Bloomberg- is one of my favorite professional riders. This book is not a "well-written" novel. People who do not like horses and do not understand the world of the top junior riders in the country will neither enjoy nor understand this book. For me this book was a composite of two of my favorite things one being the tv show Gossip Girl and the other being horses. It is basically just like Gossip Girl but with horses. The girls in this series are mean, bratty, snobbish, and spoiled but there is also some good in each of them; however, in most cases this is not shown until the end of the series. ( )

The A Circuit is the top tier when it comes to horse shows. And Tommi, Kate, and Zara are all trying to prove they have what it takes to be--and compete--there.

Tommi is the daughter of one of New York's richest men. With an older sister everyone compares her to and a father who hangs out with New York's mayor, people expect a lot form Tommi. But what she expects from herself and what they expect might not be the same things.

Kate works with the horses that cost possibly as much as her house for the opportunity at riding them, knowing her parents could never afford it otherwise. She might not have the money of everyone else in the barn, but she's going to work hard--bordering on too hard--to prove she deserves to be there--and make the most of her chance.

Zara's the daughter of a rock star and a movie star. Used to being stalked by paparazzi in LA she's looking for a change of pace in this New York barn . . . she just didn't expect quite how different it was going to be. Can the party girl really buckle down and take showing seriously?

Three girls, each with something to prove to someone--maybe even themselves--about their commitment to horses and showing all come together in The A Circuit.

If you already know about horses and shoes (and especially if you also love Gossip Girl or similar series) then this is the book for you. However, if you don't, you'll miss a little in The A Circuit.

There's a fair amount of terminology used--for everything from preparing the horses to what the horses actually do to what happens to the horses, etc--that never gets explained. I don't mean that there needs to be a paragraph by any means but there are places where a comma and a few words would have helped me.

As I said, though, if you do know all of what they're talking about then you get more enjoyment out of the story because you get all of it (and a fair amount of people will know it from reading previous books and it's being marketed to horse show enthusiasts/that world).

I did actually like that the horse care, talk was so much a part of the book (if not better explained) because it made the book not just another Gossip Girl-esque story. It really set the story in its own world and the characters had something they were passionate about and truly cared about.

Since the characters were so different (each of the three main female characters was very unique), I would have liked to see more of them individually. It felt like the book started to get into them, but then either backed off or ran out of time ... There were a lot of secondary characters (it actually got a little confusing in the beginning with the horse terminology and the lots of characters introduced right off), if there's more in this world I hope it focuses more on the central characters.

This is a fun read but definitely much, much more fun if you know about horses and showing so you can understand everything that's said. ( )

The A Circuit takes us to the elite and privileged world of dressage, horses, and wealthy teens. Pelham Lane Stables is one of the most elite riding stables in the country, and reputedly the best in the East Coast. We follow the stories of the riders, who are mainly teenage girls, as they compete and work as a team to keep the stables running smoothly.

Through the eyes of three main characters, we share the drama, excitement and intrigue that goes on in Pelham Lane Stables. There's Tommi, the billionaire's daughter, whose seemingly perfect life has its own problems. Her desire to prove her commitment to horses and riding and to carry this love and commitment to adulthood is one of the stronger conflicts of the book. Her best friend Kate is a "working student" which means that in exchange for access to the horses and classes, Kate works at the stables. This often means that the other riders often treat her like an employee and are dismissive of her knowledge and skills. Though Kate's able to brush this off, stay focused, and enjoy riding and the horses. The least likable and most tormented of the group is Zara, the rockstar's only child. Since nearly every relationship and interaction she has is colored by her father's fame, she's gotten used to getting her own way. Getting her own way hasn't always been good for her - but her love for horses and friends of her own may be a way to tame her. There are other secondary characters - boys, the social climbers, parents, and Jamie, the owner and manager of the stables. Jamie serves as a mentor to the girls - his handling of the difficult ones, equine and human, wins everyone's respect.

The A Circuit's super privilege and drama will likely appeal to fans of Gossip Girl and the Clique. The book is a light, fun read. I'm a bit embarrassed that part of what drew my attention was the author - Georgina Bloomberg. Though this sort of attention is addressed by the characters of The A Circuit where she makes clear that the children of paparazzi level fame don't want to be reduced to extensions of their famous parents. The author drew my attention, but I kept reading because of the characters themselves.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
ISBN-10: 1599906341 - Paperback $9.99
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (May 24, 2011), 288 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher. ( )