Maeve Shortt Reviews “Gripped 2: Blindsided”

Posted byAuthor Stacy A. PadulaPosted inUncategorized

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.

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.