Nicole Kroon Reviews “Gripped Part 4: Smoke & Mirrors” by Stacy Padula

By Nicole Kroon—North Andover, Massachusetts

Gripped Part 4: Smoke and Mirrors by Stacy Padula is yet another thrilling page-turner in the Gripped series, and it beautifully sets up the final book while keeping readers hanging on to every word. The masterful writing style keeps readers on the edge of their seats after each chapter while the amazing characters keep readers engaged and intrigued. Every chapter skillfully intertwined each character’s story into one fascinating plotline leaving readers begging to read more about one character but instantly getting sucked into another character’s chapter the second they turn the page! As the teenagers of Montgomery Lake High navigate their high school life and continue their struggle with drugs and alcohol, things get out of hand, bringing the tension to the highest it’s ever been! They find out firsthand how hard high school can be, and between the fights, heartache, and drama there’s never a dull moment in the world of Montgomery Lake High, yet another reason why Gripped: Part 4 is the best book yet in the series!

This book focuses more on the recovery from drugs and how hard it is for people to find the strength to stop, even when they’re destroying lives. It’s a powerful topic that can be difficult for some people to talk about, making it all the more important that it is talked about. This book is a great resource for anyone going through struggles with drugs, vaping, or alcohol, and demonstrates a realistic and interesting story, that everyone should read, about how hard it can be to escape from a life of drugs, especially when they’ve got you gripped!

About Nicole Kroon

Nicole is a junior at North Andover High School and will graduate in 2025.  Her favorite subjects in school are math and biology.  She loves reading and traveling with her family and enjoys going on challenging hikes.  Most recently she visited Iceland, where she hiked on several amazing trails.  Nicole is a varsity runner on the Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track teams at her school, and she also volunteers in the Youth Track and Field program.