Ella’s Book Nook

Ella is a senior at Thayer Academy, where she is an Honors student and involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. Ella is also a Varsity and Club soccer player. Through her school, she volunteers regularly with the Special Olympics and is a member of the Asian Student Association. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends. In college, Ella looks forward to majoring in psychology and hopefully studying abroad. She is excited to intern a Gripped because of its focus on mental health!

Book Reviews

Gripped: The Truth We Never Told, is a young adult novel written by author Stacy Padula, focusing on the stories of several young characters and their involvement and addiction to drugs. The story brings light to widespread drug problems affecting teens all over both the United States and the rest of the world, something that is being consistently ignored. Padula refrains from sugar coating or downplaying the struggle of addiction, instead sharing the physical and psychological power it can hold over a person, especially in teenagers. Gripped follows several storylines, one about an injured college quarterback whose NFL dreams are in ruins, and another about a girl dealing with severe anxiety and depression after her twin sister pushes her away. The book explores the many ways people can both turn to drugs and eventually become addicted. 

Gripped: The Truth We Never Told is a quick and straightforward read for pre-teens and teenagers. But it is also an extremely important read for young people. Its readers are directly exposed and confronted with the potential drugs have to completely change and destroy one’s life. As a result, the reader can understand the drug problem in the novel reflects the drug problem globally, and be compelled to not only share their understanding of the dangers of drugs but also help to save other people from becoming addicted. Gripped: The Truth We Never Told is both a five star read and a must read for all young people in order to help them understand the drug crisis we are faced with today.

Gripped Part 2: Blindsided continues the story of the Gripped series written by author Stacy Padula revolving around teen drug abuse in America and its effect on mental health. It resumes its focus on the characters and families in the town of Montgomery, Massachusetts, showcasing their journeys. Some characters begin to step away from drugs and fight to end their addictions, while others become increasingly dependent on drugs. Padula reveals throughout the novel an important lesson: how easy it is to become addicted to drugs without realizing. This message is portrayed through characters whose personalities have changed completely and are reliant on drugs to get through each day. However, she also demonstrates the ways characters start to detach themselves from drugs and makes the reader, along with the characters friends, root for them to get the help they need. This book shows how helpful support can be for a friend or family member struggling with addiction. 

Gripped Part 2: Blindsided contains insightful commentary on the drug, relationship, and mental health struggles teens face today. Its topics, such as drug abuse, peer pressure, the importance of communication, and dealing with depression and anxiety make it a must read for middle and high school students. Similar to the first book, Gripped Part 2: Blindsided can demonstrate not only the horrible effects drugs can have on a person, but also the effects they can have on one’s relationships with their family and friends. Gripped Part 2: Blindsided is both a five star read and an extremely important novel that can teach teens topics commonly glossed over in school.

Gripped Part 3 is the next book in the compelling and informative series by author Stacy A. Padula. It continues to follow the journeys of the teens of Montgomery High and their relationships with drugs, mental health, and each other. It dives deeper into their relationships, specifically concentrating on the line between knowing when to support someone and knowing when to give them the space they need to recover. Padula does a phenomenal job at showcasing the warring storylines of characters on a path to sobriety versus characters developing stronger addictions, and how these characters impact one another. 

The novel highlights the importance of unconditional support and patience for those struggling with addictions and just how prevalent the drug problem with teens in America is becoming. Stacy Padula demonstrates the misconception most people have that they will not get addicted to drugs if they try them once or twice, instead showing how easy it can be. Gripped Part 3: The Fallout is a 5 star read and a necessity for readers all across America to comprehend the drug epidemic taking over the country.

Interviews with Ella

July 2024: Gripped Part 1

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

I would recommend Gripped Part 1 to people of all ages, as I believe anyone could benefit from reading this book. For kids in middle school and high school, this book is important to read because it exposes them to the horrors that drugs and alcohol can do, especially to people their own age, which might be more impactful than simply hearing about it in a health class. It’s also important for adults to read this to increase their awareness that their children could be exposed to drugs early on and help them to teach their children to avoid drugs.

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

As a young adult, this story is very relatable because it centers on people my age. It’s easy to ignore sometimes when teachers tell you to avoid drugs and alcohol, but reading about not only the physical but the profound mental effects it can have on people was really eye opening. Young adults are constantly exposed to alcohol, weed, and even harder drugs at parties or other places, so knowing the impact of these drugs can help make avoiding them much easier.

3. What did you like best about the story?

I loved how this story followed several different storylines that helped show the many ways people can become addicted. Oftentimes many people believe that a drug addiction starts from peer pressure and they encourage kids to “just say no”, but it can be more than that. As seen in Cathy’s situation, her battles with her mental health led her to drugs because she struggled to find a way to positively quell the anxiety she was having. Taylor also became addicted after his injury and his struggle to cope with the affects it was having on his mental health as well. I loved how the story discussed mental health and its role in addiction. 

4. What message does this book send to readers?

The message this book sends to its readers is to not underestimate how easy it is to become addicted. Most of the people in the novel believed they would never become addicted to drugs or said that once or twice would be okay, however they all became addicted anyways. The book stresses this and the power addiction can have over someone and how it can cause people to lose their friends and family as a result.

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.)

I really enjoyed reading about Cathy’s story. I loved how, although the reader knows she becomes addicted to drugs and completely changes, we start with her backstory and are able to follow her journey to see how she becomes this way. I liked how you could slowly see the impact of events like Chantal shutting her out and her guilt for possibly breaking up Chantal and Jon start to affect her health and what a struggle with mental health can lead to.

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?

I’m really curious to see what happens to Taylor in Gripped Part 2. It’s clear he has reinvented himself, becoming clean and wanting to stop selling drugs, in addition to getting his school and football career back on track, but his life is being unknowingly threatened by his drug dealer. I’m really interested to see how he deals with this, if he relapses or can finally find a way to escape the predicament he is in.

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

I feel bad for Cathy because she constantly tries to do the right thing and look out for other people, especially Chantal. She tried to protect Chantal with the Jon breakup situation, and the outcome was Chantal completely blocking her out, which eventually led Cathy to drugs as a result. Although Cathy probably should have just communicated the situation with Chantal, her heart was in the right place in trying to protect her sister.

2. Who frustrates you and why? 

Jon frustrates me because he avoided communicating with Chantal and instead turned to drugs and alcohol instead, and then got angry with her. It was frustrating to see him deal with/ignore problems he was having with substances instead of talking to Chantal and helping each other understand how they were both feeling.

3. Who do you most relate to and why?

I relate to Taylor the most because I know what it’s like to deal with a major injury and surgery, and struggling mentally because of that. I only took one Oxy for both of my surgeries because I was so scared of it, but I can relate to Taylor in wanting to find a way to block out both the pain and negative thoughts while recovering. 

4. Who do you like and why? 

I like Marc because of his refusal to try any drug, but also how he tries to help Taylor, even if it really hurts him and he’s extremely angry and disappointed in his brother. I like how he wants to help him because he knows Taylor needs support, even if he is resentful of Taylor and his addiction.

5. Who do you dislike and why?

I dislike Luke, because of him trying to convince Cathy to take Xanax to calm her down at Taylor’s and how he is ignoring the fact that his role as a drug dealer has hurt so many of the people around him. I feel like he should have recognized Cathy’s struggle was with her effort to stay away from the drugs and should have supported her in that, instead of trying to temporarily solve it with more drugs.

August 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?

I believe this book should be read by kids in middle school and high school because if they aren’t exposed to the dangers and repercussions of these topics, then they have no way of knowing to avoid making the same mistakes as the characters in the book. If they are told that drug use is bad and that they should avoid sexual activities but they can’t visualize the actual damage that can be done, they won’t believe what they’re being told. 

2. What can kids learn from reading this book?

Kids can learn that it is extremely easy to become addicted to drugs and most of the time, they won’t realize it until it is too late. Cathy is a great example of this because she took the drugs to help with her anxiety, which became her excuse as to why she wasn’t addicted, when in reality she was. Kids can also learn that their support is needed more than ever if someone they know is struggling with a drug addiction, even if that person is trying to push them away. 

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 improved from the beginning of the series because the reader can really see the effort he’s making to not only become sober but also fix his grades. The reader can definitely tell that Taylor wants to get better and amend the mistakes he made. I also really like how he is, although slowly, reacquainting himself with his family and fixing those relationships as well.

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

My opinion of Chris has definitely improved since the first book, as I would get frustrated that he would be the one constantly suggesting drinking, smoking, or taking drugs. However, the steps he’s taking to become sober are admirable and I really like how he is instead encouraging those around him to stop using drugs, and I also like how he’s trying to use his influence on Taylor as well. 

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

I’m rooting for Cathy to end up with Marc, because I feel that he can be a really good influence on her and support her, especially during times when she feels the need to turn to drugs. I like Jason, but I think he needs to focus on himself before committing to a relationship with Cathy again. 

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

I have mixed feelings about Chris and Lisa’s relationship, because I feel they both have issues they need to address before they are ready to date each other again. However, I do think that Lisa and the idea of getting her back and being a good boyfriend to her have definitely motivated Chris to become sober. If they do get back together, I think that Lisa could help Chris stay sober and support him. 

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

I have really loved getting to see Chris making a positive change and fighting for himself. I love how he’s rewriting his own narrative from the party animal to someone that takes care of himself and cares for his friends. I also really like Cathy, but I’m worried for her after seeing the effects the drugs have had on her personality. I loved her empathy and kindness in the first book, so I’m hoping she will begin to find healthier ways to work with her anxiety, rather than the drugs.

December 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?

Often, teens and tweens don’t want to listen to what people in positions of authority tell them, whether that be their parents, teachers, or someone else. They believe they know the answers and that their parents are wrong. However, Gripped Part 3 exposes them to the dangers of these drugs in a way that shows them how very real and devastating the effects of these drugs can be. Gripped 3 also incorporates many different drugs, showing that none of them are entirely safe to use and can still have dangerous repercussions. 

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

Gripped Part 3 can continue to educate them on the dangers of drug use, but it can also show them the importance of supporting teens, instead of just scolding them for making bad decisions. Several of the characters struggle with various mental conditions such as anxiety, depression, and also struggle with boredom from ADHD, but they turn to drugs because they don’t know how else to deal with these conditions. If they had adults there to support them and for them to lean out, there is a possibility they don’t turn to drugs instead.

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

The storylines I found most intriguing in Gripped Part 3 were Chris’s journey to become sober, and Taylor’s involvement with a drug ring. I liked how Chris’s story showcased the struggles, physically and mentally, that he went through to become sober, and how nothing was sugar coated. With Taylor’s story, I enjoyed how it added an extra dimension to his situation and the war he’s having between being sober and not supplying versus keeping himself and his family safe. 

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 about Chris’s journey throughout the series because it can show them that they are always capable of making a change. If they do end up forming an addiction, it is never too late for them to ask for help and recover from their addiction. Chris’s story also shows that people who are friends with those struggling with addictions should not give up on them and continue to support them, especially when they’re trying to get better.

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

I’m very interested in learning about Jordan because we’ve heard about two different versions of him: the one that partied a lot and had a falling out with Marc, and the one that has matured and prioritizes his academics and his commitment to the Notre Dame Football Team. I’m intrigued to see his relationships with other characters when he comes home and how much of a positive or negative influence he is on them.

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

This book teaches readers that often people begin using drugs as a way of coping with struggles they are having mentally. Rather than asking for help and thinking they are burdening someone else, they turn to drugs as a way to curb their symptoms. 

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?

I think that Jordan is someone who has grown up and matured since arriving at Notre Dame and has taken the time to prioritize what is truly important to him. Although all we know about Jordan currently is information from other people, which have definitely skewed our viewpoints of him. I think Jordan is a leader who will help Taylor recover from his addiction, as well as make sure Chris stays sober.