Maeve Shortt Reviews “Gripped 2: Blindsided”

By Maeve Shortt—Cape Cod, Massachusetts

“Gripped 2: Blindsided” by Stacy A. Padula continues this captivating series by creating even more suspense for the reader. The drama, social pressures, substance usage, and relationships all make for an alluring read. Not only that, it is a highly educational novel that I recommend all ages should read. It offers a largely realistic high-school scene that can allow kids and teenages to prepare themselves for the real world. Although it is common for books written on topics such as this to be typically “banned” from schools, I believe they are essential in order to guide young adults in the right direction. If schools were to incorporate the “Gripped” series into the curriculum in some way, I believe that many teenagers would be much more mindful when put in similar situations.  

Each character in the series “Gripped,” has their own fascinating storyline that somehow all intertwine. While the majority of the focus in “Gripped 1: The Truth We Never Told” revolved around the choices that Taylor Dunkin made, “Gripped 2: Blindsided” primarily talks about how his life choices relate to his younger cousin Chris. Chris Dunkin has woken up in a frenzy, and is unsure of how to figure out what he has done that will continue to change his life forever. When engrossing yourself in this narrative by Stacy Padula, you will not only learn what it is like to be a teenager in modern life, but you will also begin to love and support these characters throughout their hard times. 

About Maeve Shortt

Maeve is a senior at St. John Paul II High School, where she is a member of the National Honor Society and a school retreat leader. She is a captain of her school’s varsity field hockey team, plays on the varsity lacrosse team, and is a player on the Cape Cod Field Hockey club team. Additionally, she was elected as a Cape-Cod All Star this past season. She is also a Climate Change Ambassador for the Cape Cod Commission. In the spring, Maeve will be attending the Mountain School of Milton Academy in Vershire, VT as a one-semester program. She hopes to study business and finance in the future.