My Hopes for the ‘Gripped’ Series Characters

Posted byAuthor Stacy A. PadulaPosted inUncategorizedTags:

Written by Nasin Groshek, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Nasin is a senior at Rising Tide Charter Public School, a college preparatory regional high school located in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  He enjoys travel, boating, photography, nature, volunteer work, and spending time with family and friends.  Nasin is a member of both the Community Action and Eco Clubs at Rising Tide.  He is also the founder of the Business Club at Rising Tide and looks forward to studying business in college.

After reading Gripped Part 5: Taylor’s Story, Nasin Groshek was asked a series of questions about the main characters…

In Gripped Part 6, what do you hope happens to…

  1. Taylor

I hope that Taylor helps to bring the Bilotti crime family down and can resume his life without living in fear. I also hope that Taylor can continue his college career and return to the football field.

  1. Cathy & Chantal

I hope that Cathy and Chantal continue to repair their relationship. You would think Cathy would no longer feel dead inside if this relationship with her twin sister was restored.

  1. Cathy & Jason

I still think Cathy should be in a relationship with Marc. I would be concerned that a relationship between Cathy and Jason could spin out of control resulting in drug addiction for either Cathy or Jason. I understand that Marc was partly trying to fix the damage caused by both Taylor and Luke to Cathy and that Marc will be off to college soon.

  1. Luke & Missy

I do not think that Luke and Missy should be together. Luke is a people pleaser, and Missy likes to party. Luke is at the point where he no longer wants to use drugs or distribute drugs to his friends. Luke now understands that he is not helping his friends by supplying drugs.

  1. Jordan & Marc

At one point while reading the series, Marc Dunkin was one of my favorite characters. But unfortunately, Marc is no longer a favorite character considering his hate for his brother Jordan. In his video to the family, Taylor even tells Marc not to let his anger keep him from working things out with Jordan. My favorite character now is Jordan. Jordan was introduced to the reader as the black sheep of the Dunkin family and as a person known for taking nothing seriously in high school. Even Jordan’s father now realizes what a wonderful young man Jordan has become since high school. 

How has your opinion of the characters evolved overtime?

  1. Taylor

My opinion of Taylor has not changed. I am still rooting for Taylor to put his life back together and to remove himself from the horrible predicament he finds himself in with the FBI, the Boston police department, and the Bilotti crime family.

  1. Jordan

Jordan was introduced to the reader as the black sheep of the Dunkin family and as a person known for taking nothing seriously in high school. I think Jordan has matured a lot since high school and is very serious about his future. Even Jordan’s father now realizes what a wonderful young man Jordan has become since high school.

  1. Marc

At one point while reading the series, Marc Dunkin was one of my favorite characters. Marc now is no longer a favorite character considering his hate for his brother Jordan. Taylor in his video to the family tells Marc not to let his anger keep him from working things out with Jordan.

  1. Missy

Missy is portrayed as a partier and possibly even a person who uses Luke for his drug connections and money. Unfortunately, my opinion of Missy has not evolved over time.

  1. Luke

At specific points in the series, Luke frustrated me because he supplied drugs and alcohol without acknowledging the negative consequences to his friends and classmates. However, Luke now realizes the damage he has done by providing classmates and friends with drugs and alcohol. As a result, my opinion of Luke has evolved positively.

Synopsis

Now being adapted for TV by Emmy-winning producer Mark Blutman!

Taylor Dunkin is missing.
The last message Jordan Dunkin receives from Taylor leads him to Taylor’s abandoned Jeep. Each of Taylor’s family members holds a piece of the puzzle, and as the Dunkins begin putting the details together, they are awakened to the possibility they may never see Taylor again.No one can find Missy Kent.
Missy’s boyfriend Luke Davids last saw her dancing with their friends at a nightclub, but she hasn’t responded to anyone’s texts or calls for hours.

Everything is connected.
Taylor and Missy’s friends are dangerously close to learning the truth, but their ignorance might be the only thing keeping them safe. Every clue is leading them closer to peril.

The fifth book in the Gripped series moves through details at a thrilling pace. Secrets are revealed and lives are at stake. Taylor, Missy, their friends, and their families must figure out who they can trust before it’s too late.

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 (Ms. P) from Netflix’s Emmy Winning Docuseries “Last Chance U”

“Gripped is perfect for Middle School and High School students, as well as their parents. It is an educational, yet entertaining narrative that highlights the growing problem of addiction in the U.S and just how easy it is for harmless fun to take a dark turn, regardless of who you are or where you come from.” – Elizabeth Harvey, Emerson College

“I recommend Gripped to young adults in middle school and high school because this book addresses topics such as relationships, drugs, and alcohol that most books recommended for this age group don’t go into enough detail about. With the opioid epidemic at an all time high, it is important that teens educate themselves on the dangers that drugs bring, and this book does a great job at providing an in depth look on the consequences of getting involved in dangerous, illegal substances. I would also recommend this book to parents of teens so they can get a better understanding of how to deal with issues regarding addiction, or simply just issues regarding their children’s relationships. By reading about this story of young adults who got caught up in drugs, parents and teens will be better informed and will hopefully be more comfortable to have open conversations about the topic.” – Sophia Coggeshall, University of Notre Dame

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.