Grounded

Sheena Wilkinson writes contemporary realistic fiction for children and young adults. Since the publication of her first novel, the multi-award-winning Taking Flight, she has been established as one of Ireland's most acclaimed writers for children and teenagers. Taking Flight (2010) won the CBI Honour Award for Fiction as well as the Children’s Choice Award. It was named as a White Raven by the International Youth Library and got a place on the IBBY Honour List. Its sequel, Grounded (2012) also won the CBI Children’s Choice award as well as the overall Book of the Year. Too Many Ponies, for readers 9+, was also shortlisted for the CBI awards, making that three out of three. Sheena's new YA title is Still Falling (2015). It will be followed by a historical novel for older children

'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