Hanover, MA Senior Class President Recommends “Gripped” to Students

An Interview with Ava Khouri of Hanover, Massachusetts

Ava Khouri is a senior at Hanover High School and serves as Class President, where she works to strengthen school spirit and foster a positive experience for her classmates. She is also Vice President of the Outreach Club, Treasurer of the Debate Team, and a member of the National Honor Society. A dedicated student-athlete, Ava is Captain of the Varsity Cheerleading Team, plays Varsity Tennis, and has been a dancer for over ten years. Beyond school, she has served as a Project 351 Ambassador and Lead Trainer for the Playbook Initiative, experiences that strengthened her passion for service and leadership. In her free time, Ava enjoys spending time with friends and family and working summers at JC’s Ice Cream.

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

I would recommend “Gripped Part 1” not only to high school students, but also middle schoolers. It is scary how young people are being faced with decisions of such significant consequences that could alter the trajectory of their lives. My sister told me that the students in her grade began vaping as early as seventh grade which is shocking and saddening to me because that addiction will not only follow them through high school, but could even lead to much more serious substance abuse. I believe that by recommending this book to both middle and high schoolers, they will better understand the consequences of even smaller scale substance abuse and how powerful addiction is to yourself and also those around you. 

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

I relate to the story as a young adult because substance abuse is an issue that becomes increasingly prominent in our lives and peer pressure plays a major role in this. As I get older, the more I realize how strong the temptations to do bad things are ubiquitous. The facade of looking cool by doing drugs and drinking underage is so strong as a young adult and I have witnessed so many of my peers fall prey to the temptation and the downward spiral that ensues. I have seen its effects on their own lives, but also how it affects their friends and younger siblings who follow in their footsteps.

3. What did you like best about the story?

I most enjoyed the realistic and unfiltered portrayal of this story. Oftentimes, the books that we read in English class by other authors are extremely unrealistic and do not serve to have any lasting impact on the reader. This book does not conceal any details of the story which left me thinking about this storyline and its parallels in regards to the challenges that my generation is constantly faced with: compromising morals to fit in.

4. What message does this book send to readers?

I found the main takeaway from this book to be a warning of the consequences of our actions, and how they span much further than we intend or imagine. It is shocking how interconnected the characters in this story are and how Taylor’s addiction affected the rest of his community and every other person in his life. The prologue said it perfectly; one person’s fall impacts people beyond our immediate circle and everything is connected. 

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. Additionally her storyline with Jason is very interesting and I was dying to know why Jason blamed himself for Cathy’s path with drugs. This storyline highlights the complexities of drugs and life choices. 

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 in regards to his desire to leave the drug industry and the complications that come with it. He clearly wants a fresh start and I am curious to see if he will be able to escape from his past mistakes. It seems as though the police have figured everything out, and I am curious to see how everything plays out with Taylor’s story and I am hoping that he does not relapse. Ultimately, I am excited to read more about why the characters made the choices they did in Gripped Part 2.

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

One character I feel bad for is Chantal Kagelli because she is constantly being deceived and lied to by the other characters. Those who are closest with her, turn out to hurt her the most. Whether it be her own sister, Cathy, who never told Chantal that she was partially at fault for her breakup with Jon, or Jon consistently lying to Chantal about the truths from Chris’s parties and having no regard for the effects of his actions, she is constantly lied to which evokes a strong sense of sympathy in the reader. Overall, I feel bad for almost every character in this story in one way or another due to the difficult issues that they are faced with.

2. Who frustrates you and why? 

Jordan Dunkin frustrates me because he serves as an extremely bad influence. He introduces Chris and all of Chris’s friends to substances that they should not be involved in, supplying Chris with alcohol and influencing him to try weed for the first time. Being so much younger, they should not have the resources to make these bad choices and Jordan was responsible for these decisions that Chris and his friends chose to partake in.

3. Who do you most relate to and why?

I most relate to Marc due to his intense emotions and care regarding those close to him. Despite any frustrations with my sister, I know that I would always try to help her out of a complex situation no matter the circumstances, just as Marc helps Taylor despite the disappointment that he feels towards him. We both care deeply about those closest to us. Additionally, Marc understands the negative effects of drugs and thus chooses not to partake in them which is a decision that I have made for myself too.

4. Who do you like and why? 

I like Marc Dunkin because he stays true to his morals, refusing to take part in the drugs that all of his closest friends, and even older brother whom he looks up to so highly, are involved in. He understands the dangers that come along with drugs and does not fall under any peer pressure. Beyond this strength, he also looks out for his older brother which is not always easy to do. As Taylor struggles with addiction, Marc feels frustrated and disappointed in his brother, but helps him regardless. 

5. Who do you dislike and why?

I dislike Luke because he is seemingly always trying to force drugs onto Cathy. He encourages her to take Xanax even after seeing how him dealing drugs has hurt so many other people. Instead of supporting her efforts to avoid drugs like these to temporarily improve her pain and calmness, he offered drugs as a solution. Luke seems to show very little care for the consequences of his actions.

Ava’s Book Review

“Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told” by Stacy Padula is an unfiltered story about substance abuse and its profound impacts on an entire community. The story follows Taylor Dunkin, a talented young athlete who was named one of the top NFL prospects in college. Unfortunately, Taylor falls prey to a lifestyle of drugs following an injury that ends his season. Along with his personal struggles with addiction, Taylor is investigated by the Boston Police Department due to his involvement in a drug ring that was supplying drugs to other students. All the while, his brother Marc does not partake in this world of drugs and is heartbroken that his role model is behind the drug ring in school. There is a blend of storylines involving Cathy, Chris, Jason, and others, which  all intertwine to portray the complexities of drugs and their effects on teenagers.

Stacy Padula did an incredible job portraying the reality of the epidemic in our country. It’s an easy read, but it addresses very complex and relevant topics. As a high school student and young adult growing up in a generation marked heavily by peer pressure, I can relate to this story making it even more compelling. I highly recommend this book to anyone, from young adults to parents and educators, and can guarantee that you will not be able to put this book down.