By Joe Siracusa—Braintree, Massachusetts
As seen in “Gripped Part 2: Blindsided” by Stacy A. Padula, drug use and sexual intercourse are very present in high school culture. Reading this book as a senior in high school is a very enjoyable and informative way to learn about the dangers of these topics. The whole Gripped series should be read by kids in middle school and high school.
“Gripped Part 2” makes it clear that kids should stay far away from any drugs. At a young age, most of the main characters in the series fall into abusive drug addictions. From these main characters, kids will learn that taking drugs not only damages physical and mental health, but it also breaks relationships between those who were once inseparable.
Taylor Dunkin
After reading the first two books of the Gripped series, my opinion on Taylor Dunkin has changed a lot. At first, I looked at Taylor as a low-life drug addict and dealer who lured Montgomery’s youth into addiction. After reading “Gripped Part 2,” I believe that Taylor is doing his best to improve his life. I admire Taylor’s courage in trying to recover from addiction and return to the Northeastern football team. I felt devastated as a reader when Taylor’s season was cut short by an ACL and MCL tear.
Chris Dunkin
At the beginning of the Gripped series, Chris Dunkin seemed like a kid with no problems, who everyone liked being around. After stumbling into a crippling drug addiction, we begin to see Chris’s internal struggles. When Chris chose to become sober, I began to respect his character. I’m rooting for Chris on his journey through sobriety in hopes that he fixes the bonds he broke.
Jason vs. Marc
After reading the first two Gripped books, I truly believe that Jason and Cathy have a true connection. Although Cathy and Jason’s breakup had ended on an unhealthy note, the relationship they once had was on a different level. Marc Dunkin is a caring and loving person, but he does not seem like the person who is truly meant to be with Cathy. If Cathy and Jason can overcome their drug addictions, they have the potential to have a great relationship.
Chris and Lisa
Chris and Lisa’s relationship is far from healthy. I think that Chris has to truly find his old self and become mentally healthy before he can achieve a healthy relationship with Lisa. If Chris spends some time on himself, there is a possibility of a second chance in the relationship. If things do not work out with Lisa, there are always other girls in Montgomery who would love to date Chris.
Favorite Characters
Jason Davids and Chris Dunkin are my favorite characters in the series. Jason decides to turn his life around and make up for what he has done to Cathy. He knows that he has not been himself recently and wants to focus on rebuilding. I admire Chris for what he has had to overcome in “Gripped Part 2.” He was always aiming to recover from who he was and knows he will never give up in his efforts. These two best friends both have lots of issues, but I admire them both for what they have done to fix them.
About Joseph Siracusa
Joseph Siracusa is currently the president of the senior class at Xaverian Brother’s High School. In his free time, Joseph enjoys graphic designing, playing soccer, watching sports, and learning about many different topics. Joseph plans on studying finance in college, in hopes of pursuing a career in it.
Books by Stacy A. Padula 
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