Library Journal Review

Tess (Kym Wilson) and Claire (Tammy McIntosh) are McLeod's Daughters, two half-sisters who battle the elements, their male counterparts, and, frequently, each other to manage Drovers Run, a vast cattle and sheep ranch near Adelaide, Australia. The action often revolves around the ability of these rough but capable "sheilas" to outwit or outwork rival blokes. Although the characters are somewhat two-dimensional and the plot lines fairly predictable, the film is entertaining, enjoyable, and often funny. Originally aired in Australia in 1996, this feature-length made-for-TV movie became the basis for a popular and long-running series. Bonus features include the first two episodes (with a different cast) of the television series. For 15-year-old Amy Fleming (Amber Marshall), life is anything but typical in Heartland, a family saga based on a series of popular YA novels by Lauren Brooke. Amy, like her recently deceased mother, is a horse whisperer and now lives with her grandfather and older sister at Heartland, a 600-acre ranch for abused or neglected horses in the northern Rocky Mountains of Alberta. In this two-disc set, containing episodes eight to 13 of the series' first season, Amy's backstory fills in and relationships with her family, friends, neighbors, and animals begin to develop. Following a familiar conflict-and-resolution formula, the shows are beautifully photographed, with an attractive cast and an appealing soundtrack. Extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes and interviews. Both of these modern-day frontier dramas are recommended for audiences that enjoy character-driven narratives. Libraries should consider purchasing all episodes of both series.-Linda Frederiksen, Washington State Univ. Lib., Vancouver (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.