Written by Megan Farinacci, Medfield, MA
I really enjoyed Stacy Padula’s book, Gripped Part 3: The Fallout. The novel starts off in the present day and jumps back eight months, then comes full circle, ending in the present day. As a reader you are able to see the character development throughout the book. As many of the characters enter high school, drugs and alcohol have become more present in their lives. They start attending high school parties regularly, which will soon come with consequences. The first and second books of the series transition smoothly into the plot of Gripped Part 3. We see how certain characters have changed due to substance abuse and we see friendships and relationships fall apart because of it.
The book addresses social issues that are relevant in teenage and adult lives. It is important that teens and adults are exposed to the harsh realities of high school drug culture. The Gripped series allows for readers to truly understand how they can help in their own communities and provide awareness.
I would not hesitate to give this book a 5 star rating. The writing is real, powerful, and heart wrenching.
After a near-death experience, Chris Dunkin begins surrounding himself with positive influences and putting his efforts towards living a clean lifestyle. However, the night before school starts, his best friend Jason convinces him to host a party that shows Chris more about himself than he actually wants to know.
Meanwhile, Marc Dunkin has received word from a detective that his oldest brother Taylor is a person of interest in a highly confidential case headed by the Boston Police Department. They know Taylor’s clean; they know he wants out of the game; and they want to help make that happen. However, their “help” will come at a cost-one that may put Taylor and his entire family in grave danger. Taylor is trying to get his life back in order after an opiate addiction wreaked havoc on his once promising athletic future. Getting clean was a difficult feat, but breaking free from the Bilotti crime ring will present an even greater challenge.
Emmy-winning producer Mark Blutman Developing TV Adaptation of Stacy Padula’s ‘Gripped’ Book Series
Reviews
“Invigorating, engaging and a must read. The characters in The Gripped Series diligently tackle the essence of forces that can limit greatness within.” – LaTonya Pinkard of Netflix’s Emmy-winning series Last Chance U
“As with the other Gripped books, both adults and younger readers will thoroughly enjoy this story and learn from the realistic depiction of the struggles that high school and college students face. Hopefully, this will spark essential conversations between friends, parents, and children.” – E. Harvey, Emerson College
“Gripped Part 3: The Fallout is an engaging and easy read that is ideal for middle school and high school students, while also being very applicable to adults wanting to know more about teenage drug abuse.” – K. Banker, University of Miami
“Gripped Part 3 shows how drugs can change people’s personalities as well as their relationships with others. Reading about the characters’ situations will help teens make the smart decision and not get involved in drugs.” – J. Finnerty, University of New Hampshire
“Gripped 3: The Fallout is perfect for all teens and their parents, as it offers unique perspectives on complex and relevant issues today. Teens, and parents alike, can learn from the book and prepare for situations in which they – or their children – may be put in. I easily give this book 5 out of 5 stars and encourage all teens and their parents to pick up any book in the Gripped series.” – Michael Farinacci, University of Notre Dame
About Megan Farinacci
Megan is a senior at Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart. She is a member of the Varsity Cross Country and Varsity Lacrosse teams at NCDS. She also plays club lacrosse for Mass Elite. She is involved in her school’s health science, yearbook, and running clubs. She has a passion for art and is currently studying 2D design. Megan also enjoys traveling. Over the summer, she traveled to Guatemala with School the World where she helped build a school for a community in need. Her favorite subjects are science and English. She plans to study health sciences in college.
Books by Stacy A. Padula 
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