GROUNDED
Little Island Books, 2012
WINNER OF THE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IRELAND BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD
WINNER OF THE CHILDREN’S CHOICE AWARD
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.
‘ … a powerful, unsentimental account of a teenager trying to cope with a series of unexpected responsibilities.’ Judges, 23rd CBI Book of the Year Award
‘The story is uncompromising in its depiction of life on the social margins but has warmth and lightness of touch …’ An Awfully Big Blog Adventure
‘Shocking, sometimes scary, Grounded pulses with an energy that stays with you long after the last page is turned.’ Books Ireland
‘Wilkinson portrays complicated situations with nuanced truth and spare elegance.’ Kirkus Reviews magazine, USA