[(Grounded )] [Author: Sheena Wilkinson] [Mar-2012]

Declan Kelly #2

by Sheena Wilkinson

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 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.

Genres: Horses, Young Adult

Paperback

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Described in The Irish Times as 'one of our foremost writers for young people', Sheena Wilkinson is the author of eight acclaimed YA novels. She has won many awards for these, and for her short fiction. Her first adult novel, Mrs Hart's Marriage Bureau, a historical romantic comedy, is published by HarperCollins Ireland.

Reviews

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Sheena Wilkinson’s first novel in the Declan Kelly series Taking Flight, we followed Declan as he moved in with aunt and stuck-up cousin and discovered his love and talent with horses. Declan grew up in a rough and poor area and continuously had to fight his background and reputation while he found his true passion with horses, and particularly his cousin’s horse Flight. In Grounded, it’s two years later and Declan’s life is right on track. But then Flight is gone and when Declan gets a great opportunity, he’s suddenly torn when a bombshell is dropped on him.

Thi was a pretty great read and it really kept me gripped until the end. However, unlike the first book, I felt the book was lacking a lot of the horsey communication and general bits and bobs that make me love horse-centric books. Declan was very much torn between his horse life and his home life in this one, and I felt like the home life took a bigger emphasis. I did enjoy a lot of Declan’s thoughts about Sheaneen and their situation, stuff that everyone has thought about and he actually put into words at time. I really felt for Declan and everything that was happening and how overwhelmed he was - and I was almost disgusted at myself that at times I just wanted Seaneen to go away.

This lost a star for me just because of the general lack of horsiness. In other books that have similar scenarios like Declan and Folly’s, I’ve seen a lot of moments where things were hard and then got better and real ‘bonding’ moments and I don’t feel like there was much of this. I also felt a large disconnect with Declan and Folly. I think this may be because he had wanted Flame first and Folly was just a second-choice but there was definitely something lacking.

The situation with Cian was heart-wrenching and it was hard to read. It was really Declan looking back and seeing what he could have been and become and it wasn’t nice at all.

I think I would have liked 50+ pages more of this book, just to have a bit more with Declan and Folly. I also am disappointed we didn’t see more of Rosevale. I would have liked Declan to have helped out there more. If there’s a third book, I hope to see that! I also felt, given how big Colette and Vicky were in Taking Flight, they would have had more of a part in Grounded but it seems not.

[s e n t i m e n t a l i t i e s olittlebear · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy her style of writing. I felt it was necessary to have read the first book, Taking Flight to entirely enjoy this. I was delighted that it was told only from Declan's point of view, while still including all the characters from the first book. There were moments when it read a little slow, and I probably wouldn't think so much of it on its own, but it's a brilliant sequel. I do think I enjoyed Taking Flight more though.

[Linda Kinsella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deeply emotional follow up to Taking Flight. Declan is a believable character who you want to cheer for and shake at the same time.

[bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book and has some really sad moments that made me realise how tough it must be for some people in rough neighbourhoods (oh gosh i sound like my grandmother) and one on my favourite books