Lily’s Book Nook

Lily is a senior at Marshfield High School, where she is a DECA Officer,  involved in their Future Medical Careers Club, and is a part of the school’s Dance Team. She plans to major in nursing during college. Lily’s favorite subjects in school are math and science. She does horseback riding competitively and has won numerous awards at different levels and even got the opportunity to qualify and compete at Regionals before. Lily works as a part time barista at Starbucks and in her free time loves being with her family and friends. 

Book Reviews

“Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told” by Stacy Padula is such a good book.  It’s an easy read, but it tackles some really deep and important topics that many high school students can relate to. The story focuses on Taylor and Marc Dunkin, whose lives go in totally different directions. Taylor was a high school sports legend, the guy everyone looked up to. He was even ranked as one of the top NFL prospects in college. But everything changes after he gets injured, and his life starts to spiral out of control.

The book shows Taylor’s journey into addiction and all the mistakes he makes along the way. It shows just how quickly things can go wrong. Taylor becomes involved in a drug ring that supplies drugs to local college students. It also shows the struggle he faces trying to quit drugs and get out of the drug ring he feels trapped in. Then there’s Marc who is heartbroken to find out that his role model is behind the drugs circulating around their high school. Marc is against drugs and saw how it tore their family apart. Marc is trying to help Taylor get back on track and leave the drugs behind. The book also touches on how students at Montgomery Lake High, like freshmen Cathy, Chris, and Jason, get caught up in this whole mess. It shows how easy it can be for teens to get dragged into something dangerous.

Stacy Padula did an amazing job portraying the struggles and choices that teens face. This book is eye-opening, and it really makes you think about the consequences of addiction, peer pressure, and how the choices you make can change your life.

“Gripped Part 2: Blindsided” by Stacy Padula is another engaging read that tackles the serious issues of drugs and alcohol and their impact on teenagers and their relationships. The story focuses on two main characters, Cathy and Jason, whose lives are significantly affected by substance use.

Before meeting Jason, Cathy was always against drugs and had never considered trying them. However, as their relationship develops, Cathy finds herself drawn into a world of substance use, leading to negative consequences for herself and those around her.

Jason was known for dating girl after girl before he met Cathy. He never drank alcohol or did drugs before. Yet, once they became a couple, Jason began experimenting with weed and various pills, including snorting Adderall prescribed for his ADHD. This shift influences Cathy, who, despite her religious beliefs, justifies her drug use by convincing herself that weed is a natural plant and that the pills help alleviate her anxiety and prevent panic attacks. Their relationship ultimately contributes to their mutual decline. Cathy and Jason’s dating is slowly corrupting themselves.

Stacy Padula does a great job portraying the struggles of a teenager’s social life. She illustrates how substance abuse can affect relationships and how the wrong group of friends can lead to poor life choices. “Gripped Part 2: Blindsided” serves as a strong reminder of the dangers that accompany these choices and the importance of navigating such topics as drugs, alcohol abuse, and peer pressure.

“Gripped Part 3: The Fallout” by Stacy Padula is another phenomenal read that talks about serious issues of alcohol and drug use and the impact they have on teenagers and their relationships. This story shows the struggle people have with addiction and the struggle to become and stay sober.

Throughout the book, Chris struggles with his addiction to drugs and alcohol. Chris is trying to become sober and stay clean but sees how hard it is when all of your friends do drugs or drink alcohol. In the book, Cathy and Jason’s relationship begins to shift as they try to cut back on substance use, hoping to regain their former selves. After their breakup, Cathy starts to turn her life around by spending time with Marc Dunkin and committing to sobriety, though she learns just how challenging it can be to stay on this path.

Stacy Padula perfectly portrays the struggle it is to try and get out of addiction and how being around the wrong people can destroy any progress you’ve made. She shows how addiction can impact relationships and impact your personality. “Gripped Part 3: The Fallout” perfectly shows the struggles of teenage social life and the struggles of drug and alcohol use. 

Interviews with Lily

August 2024: Gripped Part 1

1. Who would you recommend Gripped Part 1 to and why?

I recommend Griped Part 1 to my best friend Sophia; she loves reading and attends church every Sunday morning. I know she will enjoy the book just as much as I did and she will be intrigued by how certain religious aspects are worked into the book and are shown in a teenage social group. This book was intriguing, easy to follow, and kept my attention all the way through and I know those are some qualities of a book that Sophia looks for. Sophia and I have read most of the same books and we have enjoyed them together and we share the same thoughts and likings when it comes to them so I know that she will enjoy this book just as much as I did.

2. How do you as a young adult relate to the story?

As a young adult, I can relate to this story because I know what it is like to be in a social group and be torn on whether to do what you know is right and what you believe in versus what your friends might want you to do.  But I also relate to and appreciate the people and friends who don’t force you to do things you don’t want to do, they will support you no matter what decision you make. I can also relate to this story because I know what it is like for relationships and breakups to mess up a friend group and make people pick sides. The book talks about alcohol and drugs and as a teenager in high school I have seen curiosity get the best of people and people feel peer pressured into trying or doing something that they would never otherwise do.

3. What did you like best about the story?

I best liked how religion was meticulously tied into the story. Religion was there with religious beliefs but it was never shoved in anyone’s face, it did not dictate anyone. It was a part of their thought process and their thoughts on what to do in certain situations but Cathy and Chantal never tried to make any of their other friends go along with their religious beliefs, and their friends respected them and their beliefs and never tried to make them go against those beliefs.

4. What message does this book send to readers?

The message this book sends to readers is a struggle; the struggle that teenagers go through internally and externally. This book ties in multiple aspects of different people’s lives and shows how different things can be portrayed or handled. It shows how even good kids can get wrapped up in sticky situations where temptation, peer pressure, and curiosity can get the best of people, even the town’s golden boy.

5. There are a few different storylines running through Gripped Part 1 because it is setting up the rest of the series. What storyline do you find the most interesting and why? (For example: Taylor and the police, Cathy and Jason, Cathy and Chantal, etc.) 

The storyline I most enjoyed was Cathy and Chantal. While I did love Cathy and Jason, Cathay and Chantal were my favorites because I loved how their relationship was portrayed. They were best friends and told each other everything up until the end of the book when Chantal started to shut out Cathy because she was trying to help Chantal and Alyssa become friends again. Chantal shut Cathy out of her life because she was getting annoyed that Cathy was still friends with Alyssa and that sent Cathy into a state of emotional distress just seeing their relationship go from being so good and they were inseparable to them not even talking any more just blows my mind, and that is what leads Cathy to go down the path she does with drugs. 

6. Gripped Part 1 sets up the rest of the series but leaves a lot of things “hanging.” What are you most curious to uncover by reading Gripped Part 2?

In Gripped Part 2 I am most curious to uncover the road Cathy goes down with drugs. I am curious to see what Jason has to do with it and how she hides it from Chantal and her parents. I also am excited to see how she can pull herself out of it and get sober again.

7. About the characters…
   1. Who do you feel bad for and why?

I feel bad for Chris because he is the character that is always stuck in the middle even when he tries not to. When Jon and Chantal broke up Jon didn’t want Chris to hang out with Chantal and Andy even though Lisa wanted to hang out with them. Then when Lisa’s father passes away, Lisa breaks up with Chris because she needs time to grieve without the pressure of being his girlfriend so they break up even though Chris still loves Lisa.

2. Who frustrates you and why? 

Jon frustrates me the most because he gave in to his friends and what they wanted him to do. He stopped believing in his faith as much and started to treat Chantal badly. Chantal was trying to help Jon stop drinking and go back to his faith but Jon just stopped trying and would drink more and then feel guilty after. He stopped seeing Chantal and started spending more time with Alyssa, putting tension on his and Chantal’s relationship.

3. Who do you most relate to and why?

I relate to Cathy the most in the ways that she sees both sides of the story. She is there to comfort people when needed and she shows up to hang out with her friends to just have a good time with them. Cathy also stands up for those that she cares about, she thinks things through before she does anything, and she gets other people’s opinions and points of view on situations. 

4. Who do you like and why? 

I like Bryan; he is just a chill laid-back character. He goes with the flow and he respects Courtney. Bryan doesn’t let the group’s peer pressure of bringing Courtney around get to him; he knows what to do and what not to do when it comes to her. Bryan is also friends with everyone and never starts any drama and never picks sides.

5. Who do you dislike and why?

I dislike Jordan; while he was nice that one time to offer Cathy a ride home at one in the morning I don’t like that he was giving Chris alcohol and offering him weed. He is older and should know better than to do that. If Jordan hadn’t given Chris alcohol and weed maybe Jon and Chantal would still be together. If he was responsible like he should’ve been maybe Cathy wouldn’t have fallen into drugs and would’ve been okay.

September 2024: Gripped Part 2

1. The drug use and sexual content in this book will surely get it banned from schools, but the topics are too relevant in teenage culture to be ignored. Why do you think this book should be read by kids in middle school and high school?

This book should be read by kids in middle school because it shows how drugs can destroy people and relationships. I think it is important we teach kids at a young age the effects of drugs and the impact they can have on us and the people around us. If we can teach kids what drugs do then it could help them avoid them.

2. What can kids learn from reading this book?

Kids can learn the negative effects doing drugs can have on you and the people around you. They can also learn how hard it is to quit doing drugs which we can see with Chris in this book. Kids will learn how Xanax affects someone who self-doses.

3. How has your opinion of Taylor changed from the beginning of the series until the end of book 2?

My opinion of Taylor has changed in a positive way since the beginning of the series. I now like Taylor more and I see that he is trying to get rid of drugs and stop being a drug dealer. He is also now trying to improve his relationships with his family and he is trying to be a better person and get back on track with school and football.

4. How has your opinion of Chris changed since the beginning of the series?

My opinion of Chris has changed positively since the beginning of the series. Chris has finally realized how bad drinking and drugs are for him, especially now that he almost died, and he is trying to improve his life and get away from the drugs and alcohol. Chris is trying to turn his life around and that has made me respect him more. Chris knows he has a bad reputation for throwing all of those house parties and he is now trying to improve his life and his relationships.

5. After reading books 1 & 2, are you rooting for Cathy to end up with Jason or Marc?

I am rooting for Cathy to end up with Marc. I love Cathy and Jason together but Jason is corrupting her and getting her involved in drugs which is something she never did before she met him. Marc on the other hand is genuinely worried about Cathy and knows about her past with drugs and wants to help her overcome that and wants to help her stay sober.

6. What are your honest thoughts on Chris and Lisa’s relationship?

I love Chris and Lisa together however I respect why they broke up. I hope when Chris sobers up and stays sober I hope Lisa and him can get back together and be a better couple. I don’t like Lisa with Jeff and I don’t like Chris with Courtney.

7. Who are your two favorite characters so far in the series and why?

My two favorite characters in the series so far are Cathy and Jason, but not together. I love Cathy and I love her story and how she is developing as a character, however, I don’t like the group that she has gotten into. I love Jason because he cares about Cathy and his friends, however I don’t like how he got Cathy hooked on drugs, but Jason alone as a character I love.

October 2024: Gripped Part 3

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?

I think tweens and teens could learn how drugs affect their lives, their relationships, and the people around them. It also shows that people don’t think addiction could ever happen to them until they realize it’s too late and they are already addicted to something. I think it’s important for tweens and teens to realize how drugs have an effect on you as a person and your personality. 

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

I think adults could benefit from reading Gripped Part 3 because it can teach them some of the signs that someone is going through addiction. It also shows them how you never know what someone is going through/ dealing with. Even the best kids can get mixed up in certain situations and get caught up in drugs and alcohol.

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

The most intriguing storyline was Jason and Cathy’s relationship in the book and how they were both going through an addiction problem. I also love Cathy and Marc’s relationship in this book, as well as how Taylor is trying to turn around his life for the better.

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?

I think readers can benefit from reading Chris’s journey to show that no matter how deep into addiction you are there is a way out of it and people are willing to support you through your journey to sobriety. Chris’s journey shows the struggle it is to get sober and stay sober and how one slip-up can cause a downward spiral back into alcohol and drugs. But even after that slipup, Chris didn’t give up his journey to sobriety.

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

Cathy intrigues me the most because she is the main character but the series starts with her being super religious and staying away from anything that is sinful, to now in Gripped Part 3 where she is an addict and is starting to do more sinful things. She is still religious but I feel like she has moved more away from God than she used to be.

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

This book teaches readers that when people start using drugs it’s more for experimental purposes and they don’t think they are actually going to get addicted to anything. When people start trying to use drugs it’s supposed to be a risk-free fun thing to do with your friends, but no one actually thinks they are going to be addicted to whatever they are taking until it is too late and they are going through withdrawal.

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?

My honest thoughts of Jordan are that he is an average character. He doesn’t play a huge role in the series yet. Jordan is a good kid. He plays football at Notre Dame which is a very impressive school but he is kind of the “forgotten kid”. The story mainly focuses on Marc and Taylor and Jordan is kind of left in the dust.