Written by Elizabeth Harvey of Emerson College
Gripped Part 2 is the second book in the Gripped series and continues to expand on the themes of teenage drug and alcohol use in the context of the various character’s personal lives and relationships with one another. Taylor Dunkin has gotten himself involved in not just taking drugs, but selling them as well, and the police have begun to take notice. Taylor’s problems are further complicated when his younger brother Marc is notified by the police of their concerns about Taylor, just as Marc is thinking about his college prospects and life after high school. The web of deception fueled by drugs reaches the entire Montgomery community, from middle school students to college and beyond.
This book guides the reader through a thrilling narrative, expertly utilizing flashbacks to demonstrate a complete picture of just how devastating and far-reaching substance abuse can impact not just an individual, but entire families and communities. Gripped Part 2 is an essential book for kids and parents alike as it transports the reader into the mind of middle school age students and young adults, through the characters as they deal with extremely relevant topics and situations that all students will have to navigate through at some point during their teenage years.
GRIPPED PART 2: BLINDSIDED (JUST RELEASED!)
“What other drugs have you tried?” Lisa asked.
“Weed, mushrooms, ecstasy, mescaline, acid, Adderall, Xanax, Klonopin, and Vicodin, but this one is, by far, the best,” Chris replied without any hesitation.
Lisa widened her eyes. “Wow. You’ve tried a lot of stuff since we broke up.”
Fourteen-year-old Chris Dunkin is known for being the life of the party and everyone’s favorite friend. Despite his amicable nature, he carries around deep-seated pain from his childhood that he frequently numbs with alcohol and drugs.
After hosting a party, Chris wakes up with a strange vibe running through his body and no recollection of the previous night. When he learns the horrifying truth of what his night entailed, the trajectory of his life is changed forever.
Purchase Gripped Part 2: Blindsided this month, and 50% of the proceeds will go to saving dogs from kill shelters, restoring them to health, and placing them in loving homes through the remarkable efforts of Last Hope K9 Rescue—a Boston-based non-profit that saves dogs from high-kill shelters throughout the Unites States. To date, Last Hope K9 Rescue has saved the lives of over 7,600 dogs!
ELIZABETH HARVEY, NEEDHAM, MA
EDITOR | SR. COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING INTERN
Elizabeth first interned for Stacy Padula during the 2016-2017 school year. We are delighted to have her back as part of our team. Elizabeth attended Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications for one year before moving back to Boston and taking courses at Northeastern University. In the fall, she plans to attend Emerson College, as a communications major with a focus on public relations. She is originally from Needham, Massachusetts. Elizabeth enjoys creative writing and has a passion for traveling which she has pursued since high school. She looks forward to continuing her work on the Gripped book series!
Latest Articles by Elizabeth:
Why Teens & Parents Should Read “Gripped” by Stacy Padula
“Gripped” by Stacy Padula is a Book All Middle School & High School Students Will Enjoy Reading
The Spiritual Battle in The Aftermath
A Teen’s Take on the MLH Characters
Spiritual Warfare in The Forces Within
Books by Stacy A. Padula 
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