The Girl and the Grove

Written by Eric Smith

Narrated by Jeanette Illidge

Teenager Leila’s life is full of challenges. From bouncing around the foster care system to living with seasonal affective disorder, she’s never had an easy road. Leila keeps herself busy with her passion for environmental advocacy, monitoring the Urban Ecovists message board and joining a local environmental club with her best friend, Sarika. And now that Leila has finally been adopted, she dares to hope her life will improve.

But the voices in Leila's head are growing louder by the day. Ignoring them isn't working anymore. Something calls out to her from the grove at Fairmount Park. Is she ready to answer?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Everand Productions
• Release date: Oct 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094429410

Eric Smith

Eric holds a BA in English from Kean University and an MA in English from Arcadia University, two schools he adores. He uses those fancy degrees to teach the occasional literature and composition course at Peirce College. His Mom keeps these degrees hanging in his childhood home, and won't give them back. When he isn't busy blogging and writing, he can be found at Quirk Books, an indie publishing house in Philadelphia, working as the social media marketing guy. Here he's had the honor of working with a number of New York Times bestselling authors, scores of wonderful books, hundreds of amazing bloggers, and a band of awesome coworkers. He also blogs there sometimes. Best. Job. Ever. A native of New Jersey (don't hate), he currently lives in Philadelphia. You can find him on Twitter at @ericsmithrocks and @geekadelphia. He's represented by Dawn Frederick of Red Sofa Literary.

[aqua · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story was entertaining but those forum threads were absolute TORTURE!! There hast to be another was to integrate what happens on there. But reading the date, time, and who posted what every millisecond should have been omitted.

[Ashley · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was a cute book. But just not what I expected.

[Jordan Veal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was a cute book good teenage/ya read. Has a lot of layers

[Natale Michaud · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Started out slow, but glad I'm not a quitter, unless really boring or a droll narrator. Except for the annoying message board conversations (don't do them in RL), the book turned out pretty good.

[Adrienne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book! It was the importance of the trees and nature! Wonderfully magical!!! Thank you Eric Smith for this phenomenal story!

[Heidi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I lived in Philadelphia PA for ten years 2001-11 in Manayunk as I heard the story I could see everything so clearly...

[Trap · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great book well done! I enjoyed it so much well written and looking forward to reading more books from you.

Your friend Ricky Trapanese

[Chris Wilcox · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Slow start for me but keep reading you won't regret itl

[KC · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nope, nope for a audio book. It would probably be better as a book for reading but hearing the conversations held in a forum is horrible. Reply blah blah date time name 300 times. It’s painful. Painful painful. Also a lot is very dated who uses Facebook anymore?

[seschend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Engaging and well done book that melds urban fantasy with a very realistic view on adoption and foster care and all the emotional toll that entails.

Really enjoyable book that grounded me more in Philadelphia than any Rocky movie ever did.

Received a copy of this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

[sussura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A love letter to my hometown's Wissahickon and Fairmount Park system, and to the coffee houses, friends of the woods, and park rangers of Philadelphia, but also so much more than that -- finding a place to thrive, saving (an important part of) the world, being true to yourself.

This YA is all heart. And leaves. And branches. And mostly heart.

(nota bene: Eric is a friend, we're interviewing him for Cooking the Books & my first novel, Updraft, is mentioned in TG&TG.)