Book Review: Grounded by G.P. Ching

Who #1: G.P. Ching

Who#2: Carpe Luna Publishing

What: Grounded

When: November 15th 2012 (read in 2013)

Where: Goodreads – Kobo – Amazon – Book Depository

Why: Science fiction + Amish people? So there.

How: A copy of this novel was provided by All Night Reads via Net Galley.

In the year 2050, a secret government study nicknamed Operation Source Code injects eight volunteers with a retrovirus. The goal? To abate the energy crisis by reprogramming human DNA to power personal electronic devices. The experiment works but with disastrous consequences.

Seventeen years later, Lydia Troyer is far from concerned with the energy crisis. Growing up in the isolated community of Hemlock Hollow, life hasn’t changed much since 1698 when her Amish ancestors came to America. She milks her cow by hand, bakes fresh bread every morning, and hopes to be courted by Jeremiah, the boy who’s been her best friend since she could walk.

But when Lydia’s father has a stroke and is taken to the outside world for medical treatment, Lydia and Jeremiah leave home to visit him. An ordinary light switch thrusts Lydia into a new world where energy is a coveted commodity and her own personal history makes her the most sought-after weapon on the planet.

Before I had read Grounded, I was in a kind of reading slump. The last ten or so books I had read were good, but not great. I liked them, but I didn’t love them. I decided to read Grounded because it sounded unique and awesome, and it is also currently a standalone novel. I’m happy to say that Grounded pulled me out of my reading slump with its awesomeness.

Grounded tells the story of Lydia, a seventeen year old Amish girl who ventures outside her preservation to help her father in hospital. Her first encounter with electricity results in an electrical surge, and her being arrested. And that’s where the story of Grounded really begins.

I think the thing I loved most about Grounded was the complete and utter uniqueness of the story. An Amish girl with amazing superpowers; a dystopian society hell-bent on using her. It was just so unlike anything I had ever read before, and I think that’s why this book managed to finally grab my attention and pull me out of that reading slump.

Lydia was a likeable character. I think the way in which she dealt with the changes in her body, and her situation were written really well, as were her feelings for the love interest(s). I think that she held on to her Amish moralities and teachings well, even though everything around her was changing, as well as herself. She did what was required of her, but she didn’t just suddenly turn away from her Amish heritage. In fact, she yearned to return to the preservation. I liked this very much. I was so glad that Ching didn’t make Lydia obsessed with the Englisher world, and desperately want to stay. It really wasn’t that nice of a place, and I am pretty sure I would want to return to Hemlock Hollow, as well.

I thought that all the characters in Grounded were well developed. Especially the love boys. On the one hand, we have Jeremiah. A nice Amish boy who is, well, nice. I liked him enough. And then we have Korwin. *cue swooning* Korwin is powerful, and protective, and sweet. And yep. I liked Korwin. Very much. Whilst the love triangle in this book was pronounced – I mean, it was pretty clear who Lydia wanted – I think that Lydia experienced an adequate amount of regret regarding her situation with Jeremiah. I think Ching wrote the triangle really well. It wasn’t boring, or laborious. It was just really good. Other characters that I liked included Jameson, and Lydia’s father.

I loved the explanation of the world in Ching’s 2050, and the explanation of Lydia’s powers. They were clear, believable, and easy to picture. I do not like it when the world that an author creates is hard to picture, but I pictured everything very easily and clearly in my mind whilst reading Grounded.

When I researched the book before reading it, Ching mentioned that Grounded was written as a standalone, with the possibility of furthering the story to a trilogy. I DID love Grounded as a standalone. I thought that things were tied up pretty nicely, but I would absolutely LOVE to see it furthered into a three book series! There is so much room for exploration of Lydia’s powers, the corrupt government, the Amish community – everything. The sales for Grounded need to go up in order for Ching to write the next books, so I implore you to buy Grounded! It’s an awesome novel, and anyone who is keen on a new and fresh story, as well as sci-fi and superpowers will enjoy reading it. I know I did.

© 2014, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.