A Must-Read for Teens and Parents: Gripped Part 4 Delivers Tough Truths & Timely Insight

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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Ava’s Book Review

“Gripped Part 4: Smoke & Mirrors” by Stacy Padula is a powerful continuation of the series that brings together the storylines and emotional weight of the previous books while raising the stakes even higher. The novel dives deeply into addiction, mental health, and strained relationships, showing how easily destructive behaviors can take hold and how difficult—yet necessary—it is to confront them. Padula presents recovery as a complicated, uneven process and emphasizes the role of support systems without oversimplifying the realities teens face today.

The nonlinear structure works especially well in this installment, blending past and present events to give readers a fuller understanding of the characters and their choices. The tension between the interconnected group of friends keeps the story fast-paced and gripping, making it hard to put down. The characters feel authentic and relatable, and the emotional conflicts surrounding substance use, trust, and mental health are portrayed in a way that feels honest rather than exaggerated.

This book is especially impactful for teenagers and parents alike. Teens can recognize the real-life consequences of unhealthy coping mechanisms, while parents gain insight into warning signs and the broader substance abuse issues affecting high school communities. Overall, Smoke & Mirrors is an engaging, meaningful, and necessary read that balances drama with an important message about resilience, accountability, and the possibility of change.

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An Interview with Ava on Smoke & Mirrors

1. Who would you recommend this book to and why?

I would recommend “Gripped Part 4” to a similar audience to that of the first few books: teenagers, to warn them about the dangers of substance abuse; adults, to gain a broader perspective on the struggles children face while growing up in this epidemic; and overall, anyone looking to learn from the characters’ experiences. More specifically, though, I would recommend this part to those who have read the first three parts. This installment compiles the previous sections and pulls all the pieces together into one cohesive story, while also paving the way for “Gripped Part 5”.

2. Why do you feel the topics covered in the book are relevant for teenagers?

The topics covered in the Gripped book series are highly relevant for teenagers because they emphasize the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse while also addressing the emotional and social challenges adolescents face. These ideas are not only important for educating teenagers about the serious consequences of substance abuse, but also serve to prepare them for real-life situations they may encounter as they grow older. By presenting realistic scenarios and relatable characters, the book helps teenagers understand that addiction can affect anyone and encourages awareness, empathy, and informed decision-making.

3. Why should parents read this book?

It is just as important for parents to read this book as it is for teenagers. While the message may be more preventative for teenagers—teaching them the importance of avoiding risky situations and showing how easily addiction can develop—the book also offers valuable perspective for adults. Parents can benefit from the realistic characters and storylines, and by gaining insight into the characters’ thought processes, they can develop greater empathy for their children and become better-informed role models and sources of advice. This epidemic is more prevalent now than ever, and by reading this series, adults can better understand the realities faced by today’s generation.

4. At this point in the story, what are you most curious to uncover in Gripped 5?

After finishing “Gripped Part 4,” I am most curious to uncover what happens to Taylor. At the end of each part of the Gripped book series so far, there is always one storyline that I feel most attached to, which pushes me to continue reading. At this point, I am especially eager to see what happens to Taylor after his disappearance and how his story ultimately unfolds.

5. What did you like best about this book/what kept you wanting to turn the page?

My favorite part of not only this book, but the entire series, is its structure. The constant shifting between flashbacks and the present day storylines kept me eager to turn the page. Additionally, the characters’ storylines were highly engaging, and the ever-changing relationships, especially Taylor’s storyline in this book, kept me on my toes throughout.

6. What did you like about the writing style/setup of the story?

My favorite aspect of this series is the writing style. I appreciate how the nonlinear storyline allows multiple events to unfold at once. This structure adds to the sense of chaos and makes the characters feel more realistic. By shifting between flashbacks and the present day, the author allows readers to form their own opinions of the characters without initially knowing the full story. As the narrative progresses and more backstory is revealed, those opinions are gradually challenged. This approach is far more engaging for me as a reader and makes me feel more involved in the storyline.

7. How has your opinion of the characters evolved over time? Specify what you now think of the following people after reading Gripped 4:
   1. Luke: I used to dislike Luke in book 1, but now he’s becoming one of my favorite characters. He clearly cares about his friends and brothers, and he treats Cathy like a sister. Even though he means well, he’s creating huge problems by buying drugs from Taylor and supplying them to younger kids, and I don’t think he fully understands how serious that is.
   2. Jordan: Jordan surprised me the most. Marc always described him as irresponsible, but Gripped 4 shows that he has matured a lot in college. He’s focused on school and football, and he’s become a positive influence on the younger characters. He also seems genuine and loyal, especially in the way he treats Michelle and supports his friends.
   3. Taylor: I’m still rooting for Taylor as he is clearly trying to turn his life around. Even in the middle of everything between his boss and the police investigation, he shows real potential and keeps trying to create a better future for himself and his family.
   4. Jason: Jason is one of my least favorite characters right now. His drug use turned into addiction and ruined his relationship with Cathy and damaged many of his friendships. I still have some hope for him, but in this book he’s frustrating and hard to like.
   5. Cathy: Cathy also seemingly took a turn for the worse, but I feel immense sympathy for her still. Her drug use started as a way to deal with anxiety, but she became careless and lost control, which caused her relationship to fall apart. I think she can recover, but right now she’s making choices that are hard to defend.