Q&A with Grace Gerety on “Gripped 3: The Fallout”

An Interview with Grace Gerety—Duxbury, Massachusetts

About Grace Gerety

Grace is a senior at Duxbury High School, where she is a member of the Varsity Rowing Team. In school, she is a part of the yearbook club and the Humanitarian Project. Her favorite subjects are science and history, and she plans to major in nursing in college. Grace also enjoys volunteering. Last summer she traveled to West Virginia and worked with the ASP organization, helping with home construction for less fortunate families. Grace works at a local retail shop year-round and has a summer job at a local beach restaurant.

1. This book touches upon the use of Adderall, acid, marijuana, alcohol, and Xanax. For that reason, parents may not want their children to read the novel. However, the author feels there is much to be learned. What do you think tweens and teens could learn from reading Gripped Part 3 that would be beneficial for them?

By reading Gripped Part 3 students will be informed on the dangers of using Adderall, acid, marijuana, alcohol, and Xanax. They can learn these truths not simply by reading facts but seeing how the reality plays out in real world examples. Through these examples students will retain the knowledge better than by just reading facts. 

2. Why could adults benefit from reading Gripped Part 3?

Although it is assumed adults know more about drug usage than teens this is not always the case. By reading these books they too can be informed on the dangers. Another angle is adults such as parents or teachers could be informed on the different ways teens are using drugs in middle and high school and watch out for signs in teens they are close to. 

3. What storylines were most intriguing in Gripped Part 3? What kept you wanting to turn the page?

The most interesting storyline to me in Gripped Part 3 was Cathy and Jason experimenting with different drugs to help with her anxiety. I thought the way Jason was trying all the drugs before Cathy was both very sweet of him to do but also very dangerous. I wanted to know if this experimenting would turn out good or bad and if Cathy would ever find other more healthy ways to cope. 

4. As drug use abounds in the series, some characters are trying their best to sober up, while others are getting deeper and deeper into substance abuse. How do you think readers can benefit from reading about Chris’s journey from the beginning of the series until now?

Chris’s journey with trying to get sober is a very relatable storyline. Many students will be able to relate to some part of Chris’s journey whether it be when he was trying to distance himself from his friends to better himself or when he slipped. Readers will also see how important accountability is when dealing with situations like Chris’s.  

5. At this point in the series, what character intrigues you the most and why?

Cathy intrigues me the most because of her attitude and how she is struggling with anxiety. Her charters have also changed so much since the start of the book and I am very curious to see how she will continue to change. I also want to see how she switches between Jason and Marc. 

6. What does this book teach readers about why people begin using drugs?

This book teaches readers that there are many reasons why people begin using drugs. People may be self medicating and treating anxiety like Cathy or simply just bored and experimenting like Jason. There are many other ways why characters begin to use drugs in the book and it is very important for readers to see all the different reasons.  

7. Chris loves Jordan, but Marc hates Jordan. He has slowly been introduced to the reader in the first three books and will play a more significant role later in the series. At this point in the series what are your honest thoughts on Jordan?

Jordan seems okay. He definitely lives in his brother’s shadows which he struggles with and he does cause some issues. But whenever Chris needs him he is always there to help.