Grounded

The Grounded Trilogy, Book 1

By: G. P. Ching

Narrated by: Valerie Gilbert

Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Faith kept me plain. Science made me complicated.

In Hemlock Hollow, life isn't easy, but it is simple. Things in my community haven't changed much in over 300 years, since the time my Amish ancestors came to what is now the Green Republic. I milk my cow by hand, make fresh bread every morning, and hope to be courted by Jeremiah, a boy I've known since childhood.

When my father falls ill, the English doctor says a hospital outside the wall can heal him. Jeremiah convinces me to go on rumspringa, to experience the outside world as an Englisher in order to be closer to my father during his recovery. Others have gone before me. They claim it's an adventure. But adventure turns to horror as an ordinary light switch thrusts me into a new world, and revelations about my personal history make me question everything I believe.

All my life I've worked to be simple. I can't pretend anymore. Nothing about me is simple.

©2012 Carpe Luna Publishing (P)2017 Carpe Luna Publishing

I wish the other two were available

love the books. the author did well with the narration. she had some interesting inflection but you get used to it.

Absolutely loved it!

I loved this book. Loved the characters, the story, the plot, everything about it.
Loved the narrator. She 100% captured these character's essence and infused the story with the emotion it needed.

I could NOT put this book down. I was actually looking for stuff to clean around the house, so I could listen to it while doing chores. I know! I couldn't believe it myself.

There was action, a bit of romance, and a story that even though is dystopian in nature and deals with things that are "not possible" in our reality, is so well constructed and filled with real facts, that not for a second I doubted any of it could happen. As a reader, that's what I look for. A story that sucks me in and makes me forget that it is fiction. This book did this.

The narrator made a great story, even better.
I need the next 2 books. Like right now.

Highly recommend it.

*This book was gifted to me and my review if freely given.

Unique talent and heroine

Any additional comments?

this is quite the entertaining story about a young woman who has always wanted to venture outside of the Amish community and learn the true Outsiders way. If she gets her way and quickly learns that she would rather go back to the Amish community however she is seen as a prize outside of that community.. I found the book highly entertaining and quite unusual. the main seller of this book was the narrator , I've listened to several of her books and she has this uncanny ability to pull you into the story. I never want any of her stories to end.

interesting

I originally picked this because of the narrator, Ms. Gilbert is one of my faves.
I wasn't sure at the beginning, but it turned out to be an interesting story, where the author blends the simple life of the Amish with paranormal, sci-fi flavours, a unique combination. The story unfolds and we find out there is a reason why Lydia lives in an Amish community with her 'father'. As she sets out into the outside world she finds out who she actually is and the powers she wields. Not really a fan of dystopian, but this was worth a credit and I recommend it.

Pretty good young adult dystopian drama

This was a pretty good book very similar to other works such as the Hunger Games. It has an Amish twist it it that is interesting. There was no sex but references to it... nothing that most teens today aren't already aware of due to pop culture or school.

The story line is somewhat plausible (science, gmo, chemically produced food, wars fought over power and opposing views). The main character was definitely anti-violence and anti-war which is funny bc she becomes a trained killer but tries not to kill anyone...

It was a good listen overall. I would listen to the next book!

Interesting and kept my interest

I thought the story line was interesting. I think my teenagers will really enjoy this. I like young adult fiction, too, so it kept my interest. I thought the narrator was great and really brought the characters to life.

I was given this free copy by the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.

Electric

This was an amazing story. I could not imagine being born with the power to control electricity until this book, much less control it. Lydia shows amazing strength while she has an inner conflict as she is faced with many troubles a good Amish girl would never expect to have. I think it's a very good clash of two worlds. The Amish she is brought up by don't use our traditional electricity and yet she is born with it inside her. She is Amish yet she is struggling to live (temporarily at least) with the English.

Once I started this book, I didn't want to stop listening to it. It was full of action, but not so much that there wasn't character development and progress to the story. I highly recommend this book!

This review copy audiobook was provided by the author/narrator/publisher free of charge.

Such a Unique Read!

Lydia lives in an Amish community with her father, hidden away from the rest of the world after an environmental rebellion overthrows the government. Lydia is content to live in Hemlock Hollow for the rest of her life, but her friend Jeremiah urges her to go on Rumspringa with him and live as an Englisher. After her father has a heart attack and is taken to a hospital, Lydia agrees to leave her quiet world to visit him.

When Lydia first comes into contact with electricity, things immediately go wrong. After a power surge electrocutes her, she's captured by the Green Republic and taken to a medical facility. It's there that she meets a boy who has the same connection with electricity that she does. And the Green Republic is chasing both of them.

This was such a unique take on the genre! I was so impressed by how the author wove the Amish, dystopian, and fantasy themes into one addictive read. Lydia was a powerful female lead, her strength came from within and above. I think she'd be a wonderful role model for teen readers. This book was a slow burn, it took time to get to the action, but developed Lydia's character really well before then. I had a hard time putting the book down.

Like many dystopian novels, the villain in this novel is modern science, in this case a group of environmentalists who took animal and environmental protection to an unthinkable level. It didn't feel like it was preaching a heavy handed message on every page. This is the first in a trilogy but it could be read as a standalone as it had a completely wrapped up ending.

The narration was excellent, Valerie Gilbert performed distinct speaking voices for the characters. Her voice was easy to listen to and pulled me right into the story. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

great read

love it. always a new twist
I almost wanna be Amish. lol. leading lady was a sweetheart

OMG!! Wonderful!!

I was hooked from the beginning. The story line was original and well written. The performance was spot on. I can't wait for book two!