Grounded by Sheena Wilkinson
Published by little Island Press, 2012

Sheena Wilkinson cites talking to teenagers about her first teen novel Taking Flight as one of her greatest joys of becoming a ‘real’ writer. If not for those very readers who took the characters to heart, she says Grounded would never have been thought of. Now in her latest book Sheena’s readers can see where those characters’ futures are headed.

Grounded continues the ongoing issues in eighteen year old Declan Kelly’s complex life. His dream of working with a top show-jumper is just too difficult to realize as he struggles with animal cruelty, teen pregnancy, drugs, alcohol and crime. Will he ever belong coming from a dodgy estate, having the wrong accent and not owning his own horse?

Just when he gets his dream chance of working at a top show jumping yard in Germany, his plans are turned upside down by news that his girlfriend is going to have his baby. On top of his own woes, troubled teenager Cian seeks him out, to share his unhappiness with him. And Declan has plenty troubles of his own.

Through Declan’s voice Wilkinson succeeds brilliantly in giving us a real life picture of life for teenagers growing up in a disadvantaged area of Belfast city and she convincingly portrays life through his eyes. In fact the strength of Grounded lies in its true-to-life characters including Declan who has to work his way through young adulthood and all its complications to an understanding of what’s important for him and what he must do to become a responsible adult.

Sheena Wilkinson won the CBI Book of the Year Award 2013 with her novel Grounded. The book also won the Children's Choice Award which is selected by eight Junior Juries from schools around the country.