The New Novel Teens Will Want to Read

Posted byAuthor Stacy A. PadulaPosted inUncategorized

Written by Gianna Arcabascio

Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told by Stacy Padula is a book of life lessons and real life situations, which allows readers to connect with the characters’ relationships and emotions. Taylor, the main character, has dealt with a painkiller addiction since his torn ACL. He has struggled to get back on track, since his scholarship for football was taken away. He has drifted from his family and now that his family is present in his life he wants to change. The family now runs into a predicament, and his brother Marc is involved while also trying to get into college.

The book portrays many life lessons that can make or break a person’s life. Addiction is a worldwide problem. I believe this book is an accurate representation of what can happen if you let addiction into your life. I believe teens will feel connected to Gripped #1 and, like me, they won’t want to put the book down.

Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told

In high school, Taylor Dunkin broke more records than any other athlete to step foot in Montgomery, Massachusetts. As a sophomore in college, he was ranked by ESPN as one of the NFL’s top 100 prospects. However, his aspirations came to a jarring halt when a knee injury and two surgeries left him sidelined.

One year later, Taylor is a person of interest in a highly confidential investigation headed by the Boston Police Department. He has entangled himself in a crime ring notorious for pushing opiates, cocaine, and benzodiazepines on local college campuses.

When Taylor’s younger brother Marc discovers that Taylor is behind the copious drug supply circulating around Montgomery Lake High School, he sets off to not only reverse the damage Taylor has caused, but also save his lifelong role model from becoming a casualty of America’s deadly opioid epidemic.

Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told

Free shipping in the continental U.S.

$12.99

About Gianna Arcabascio

Gianna Arcabascio is a junior at Archbishop Williams High school. She plays lacrosse and is team manger for the football and boys hockey. In school, she’s apart of student council, admissions ambassadors, and is involved in a lot of leadership opportunities. She looks to pursue a future career as an Athletic Trainer.

Published by Author Stacy A. Padula

Stacy Padula has spent the last 14 years working daily with teenagers as a college counselor, mentor, and life coach. She was named "Top Inspirational Author of the Year" for 2022 by the International Association of Top Professionals (New York, NY). In 2021, she was broadcast on the famous Reuters Building in Times Square as "Empowered Woman of the Year." Her Gripped book series is currently being adapted for TV by Emmy-winning producer Mark Blutman. She is the founder and CEO of Briley & Baxter Publications: a publishing company that donates a portion of its proceeds to animal rescues each month. She has edited and published a variety of titles, including Boston Bruins Anthem Singer Todd Angilly and Rachel Goguen's The Adventures of Owen & the Anthem Singer, LaTonya Pinkard of Netflix's Last Chance U's Nate & His Magic Lion, and former NHL player Norm Beaudin's memoir The Original: Living Life Through Hockey. Stacy resides in Plymouth, Massachusetts with her husband Tim and two miniature dachshunds, Briley and Baxter.