Greta’s Book Nook

Greta is a senior at Duxbury High School who is on the Executive Board of Student Council and the President of Students to Seniors. Greta is a hard worker as she works two jobs, one at an Ice Cream Shop and the other at Local Beach Restaurant. Greta loves spending her free time listening to music as she walks her dog on Duxbury Beach.

Book Reviews

As a high school student, I loved this book! If you are looking for a story with lots of storylines with relationships, peer pressure, athletics, academics, and the reality of a high school setting, Gripped Part 1 is for you! As an avid Friday Night Lights watcher, this book reminded me a lot of the show which I loved! Additionally, as a sports fan, I enjoyed reading about Taylor Dunkin’s football career before taking a turn.

For me personally Gripped was eye-opening as someone who lives in a very reserved small town where substance abuse is not a thing and the idea of popularity isn’t really present. Seeing the Dunkin family cope and handle Taylor made me think about my personal life and how grateful I am for a family that has no addictions. Gripped Part 1 was great and excited to start reading Part 2. 

Coming Soon!

Interviews with Greta

January 2025: Gripped Part 1

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

I would recommend Gripped Part 1 to teenagers who are in high school as the story setting is a high school, especially to upperclassmen dealing with the pressures of college, friends, and family. Additionally, teenagers might be faced with situations where they have the pressures of doing drugs. Gripped Part 1 could offer an outlet for teenagers trying to balance school, family, friends, and more. 

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

As a young adult, I have never done drugs and faced a situation where I was asked or pressured to do drugs. I can relate to the story as Taylor struggles with his relationships with his family. Sometimes I catch myself being rude to my parents because of my personal feelings conflicting with the social pressures I have living in a very competitive town with my peers being smart, competitive, and athletic.

What I liked most about the story was the different perspectives on the reality of other high schools in the country. Since I live in a small wealthy town where popularity isn’t huge, and teenagers doing drugs is not present, it’s interesting to see how peer pressure is really big in Montgomery. Additionally, as my favorite show is Friday Night Lights, Gripped reminded me a lot of the television show so for me it was very nostalgic while reading. 

3. What message does this book send to readers?

The message the book sends to the readers is that peer pressure is real. And how the dangers of peer pressure can lead to circumstances that change Taylor’s life. Additionally the importance of seeking help and taking responsibility for your actions even when it’s hard. And the idea of how Taylor steps up to make better choices a priority. 

4. 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 find most interesting was Taylor with police because his actions faced the consequences he deserved for doing drugs. Additionally, even though it was heart wrenching that he lost his spot at Notre Dame, it shows the karma that you can’t do drugs if you want to be a D1 football player for an elite school.  

5. 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?

What I am most curious about is what happens to Taylor. Does he continue to go down the wrong path? Does his relationship with family get better or worse? Additionally in Gripped part 2 I want to know how Taylor finds himself in Gripped part 2 and realize his actions have led to his life going down the wrong path. 

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

I feel bad for Marc Dunkin as he is the youngest brother and sets himself the high standards but also is surrounded by his older brothers who are more athletic than Marc is. Also I feel for Marc for putting in the work and having the ability to try, but still doesn’t always succeed. Due to the fact that Marc tries to help Taylor to go to rehab but still fails to actually make him go and then learns that Taylor is dealing the drugs to his good friend. 

2. Who frustrates you and why? 

Taylor frustrates me as he falls down the path of drugs even though could have had great success in his future. With his Notre Dame scholarship playing football and having popularity in high school he loses it all for his addiction. Additionally, as someone who is very close with my sibling it’s upsetting to watch him lose the strong bond because of his poor decisions. 

3. Who do you most relate to and why?

I relate to Jordan Dunkin, as he is the middle child and so am I. I relate to the way Jordan was looked down upon by his family academically at first, but then I can relate as Notre Dame was a new start for Jordan, as high school was a new start for me where I wanted people to take me seriously for my academics. 

4. Who do you like and why? 

I like Cathy Kagelli because I like how she kinda takes a step back as the identical twin and lets Chantal, her best friend and sister take the lead. I feel for Cathy as she is sometimes excluded in the church and only gets invited when her sister is. I like how Cathy has her sister’s back and grows as a person throughout the story. 

5. Who do you dislike and why?

I dislike Lisa Ankerman. She bothers me as how she always needs to let people know her worth and overall very cocky. How Lisa is morally ambitious takes a lot to watch her proceed with her actions. And how manipulative she is is very frustrating to read about as the audience because she only wants for her own benefit.