Declan loves Seaneen, but his ambition to work at a top showjumping yard is
stronger than anything he’s ever felt before. So when Declan is offered his
dream job in Germany, he should be thrilled. There’s nothing for him at home
but dark history he’d rather forget. But he’s terrified: leaving Seaneen’s
harder than he expected; troubled hood Cian won’t leave him alone, and when he
finds a traumatised horse in a derelict barn, he knows he has to help her. No
matter how scared he is. Grounded is a gripping story of courage, fear, despair
and joy by the award-winning author of Taking Flight.
Review
‘Sheena Wilkinson’s first, Taking Flight, is one of the best Young Adult books
I’ve read – and the sequel Grounded is even better. We’re plunged into the
messy life and emotions of Declan, the young man trying to escape his difficult
background on a Belfast estate by building a career working with horses.
[Wilkinson’s] human characters are rounded and utterly real, but the most
fascinating character is Folly, the nervous, damaged horse that Declan rescues
from abject neglect. Folly’s story runs parallel to that of Cian, a young boy
already dabbling in drugs, alcohol and crime. Can Declan help either of them?
Their stories are compelling, heart-breaking and truly shocking. I’d recommend
Grounded and taking Flight to absolutely any reader, and I can’t wait to see
what Sheena Wilkinson comes up with next. She reminds me of K M Peyton, one of
the most successful children’s writers of our time.’ Keren David, young adult
author
About the Author
Sheena Wilkinson’s first novel, Taking Flight, was the winner of two Bisto
Children’s Book of the Year Awards: the Children’s Choice Award and the Honour
Award for Fiction, as well as a White Raven award from the International Youth
Library and a place on the iBbY Honour List 2012.”