Kyle Banker a senior at Beaver Country Day School was selected to read Gripped Part 2 by Stacy Padula before its release date. Kyle was then asked a series of questions about the novel and its controversial content. Here’s what Kyle had to say:
Kyle Banker
The drug use and sexual content in this book will surely get it banned from schools, but the topics are too relevant in teenage culture to be ignored. Why do you think this book should be read by kids in middle school and high school?
It is very important for students of these ages to read Gripped Part 2 because it shows the honest truth of the massive drug problem that has risen from this generation. While it may seem from a parent perspective that topics in the novel may be over-exaggerated, that is certainly not the case. In fact, there are many more details in relation to withdrawal and overdose that have yet to be mentioned all because this topic is so thorough and relevant. Overall, while drugs may not be one of the first things you want to teach your child before going to middle/high school, it should be a definite priority considering the significant increase of substance abuse in the 21st century, and Gripped Part 2 effectively puts the problem into perspective.
What can kids learn from reading this book?
With the topic of substance abuse, I believe that kids are learning in a much different manner. Instead of being educated about the issue, they are instead being warned about the consequences of taking drugs. More specifically, readers will see the drastic changes that drugs can make to a teenager, such as a change of personality, motive, and social interaction. In addition, kids will also be exposed to the processes of withdrawal and overdose, as there are a few characters in the novel who are affected by it. Gripped Part 2 provides a broad overview of the whole topic at hand, and whether your kid is familiar with the drug problem or not, they will learn new content and experience new scenarios within characters in the book.
How has your opinion of Taylor changed from the beginning of the series until the end of book 2?
I still really like Taylor in the Gripped Series because it still seems like he has the motive to get clean and make it back to the football field. In Part 2, Taylor was not mentioned being involved with any kind of substance, which means that he is holding true to his goal and really wants to return to his own self. In addition, I appreciate that he is also making this effort in order to help his family and friends, as he understands that his addiction mentally scarred them. In all, Taylor is in a good state of mind, and I hope that he will be able to maintain that mindset until he completes his goals.
How has your opinion of Chris changed since the beginning of the series?
In my opinion, Chris was exposed much more to the reader in Part 2 of the series compared to the first novel. In this book, I saw a much more considerate and controlled side of Chris. This was shown through his decision with his relationship with Lisa, how he approached the Courtney situation, and his strong motive to become drug-free. It is clear that Chris is slowly turning into a better person, and when he wasn’t in this position, he isolated himself away from his friends in order to further prevent hurting them. Chris looks like he will be in a good influence going into Part 3, but with Jason and Luke still in his circle, who knows whether he will be able to keep this up.
About Kyle Banker – Communications Intern for the Gripped Book Series
Kyle is a Senior at Beaver Country Day School. His favorite subjects are Biology, English, and Entrepreneurship. Some of his hobbies include playing soccer and hockey, volunteering, and being with friends and family. Kyle plans to study Biological Sciences in college. He was awarded Intern of the Month for April of 2019 after author Stacy Padula was utterly impressed with the quality of his work and his dedication to the internship.
Other Articles by Kyle:
Why You Should Read the #1 New Release “Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told”
Kyle Banker on The “Gripped” Characters
Books by Stacy A. Padula 
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