Notre Dame Academy’s Ksenia Nenacheva Reviews ‘Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told’

Ksenia Nenacheva is a student at Notre Dame Academy, graduating in 2027. She is a dedicated student-athlete who competes in swimming year-round while balancing her academic interests in history, English, business, and global affairs. She enjoys learning about different cultures, communication, and the ways businesses and organizations connect with people around the world.

Outside of school, Ksenia is passionate about mental health advocacy, community involvement, and personal growth. Over the past several summers, she has participated in educational programs in Italy, where she studied business and communication while helping younger students develop language skills. She enjoys traveling, exploring new opportunities, working on passion projects, and spending time with friends and family. In the future, Ksenia hopes to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, combining her interests in business, communication, and creativity.

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Q&A with Ksenia

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

I would recommend Gripped Part 1 to teenagers and young adults who enjoy realistic fiction with mystery, emotional drama, and meaningful life lessons. The novel goes beyond a typical coming-of-age story by exploring addiction, family struggles, friendships, and the consequences of the choices people make. Because there are several connected storylines, there is always something happening that keeps readers invested, and every character brings a different perspective to the story.

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

As a young adult, I related to the pressure many of the characters feel to make the right decisions while balancing friendships, family expectations, and their own emotions. Even though I haven’t experienced everything the characters go through, I understand what it’s like to question who you can trust and to realize that one decision can affect many people. The story also shows that teenagers often face challenges that adults don’t fully understand.

3. What did you like best about the story?

What I liked most was how the author connected so many different characters without making the story confusing. Each chapter revealed another piece of the bigger picture, making me want to keep reading to see how everyone’s lives would eventually intersect. I also appreciated that the characters weren’t perfect, they made mistakes, learned from them, and felt like real people rather than stereotypes.

4. What message does this book send to readers?

The strongest message in the book is that every decision has consequences, even if those consequences aren’t immediately obvious. It also reminds readers that people often carry struggles that others cannot see, so it’s important not to judge someone too quickly. Throughout the novel, themes of forgiveness, personal growth, and hope suggest that people can change when they choose a better path.

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 found Taylor’s storyline the most interesting because it drives much of the mystery and tension throughout the novel. As more information is revealed, it becomes clear that his situation is more complicated than it first appears. His story raises questions about responsibility, trust, and how quickly someone’s life can change because of the choices they make.

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?

By the end of Part 1, I wanted to know how all of the different storylines would come together. I’m especially curious to learn what happens with Taylor and whether the other characters will discover the truth behind everything that has been happening. I’m also interested in seeing how the friendships and relationships change now that everyone is being forced to face difficult realities.

7. What were your thoughts on the characters as you were reading Gripped Part 1?

I felt the most sympathy for Taylor. Although he makes serious mistakes, it’s clear that he is dealing with struggles that have affected nearly every part of his life. Instead of seeing him as simply a “bad person,” the novel encourages readers to understand how complicated his situation really is.

Jason frustrated me because he often lets his emotions guide his decisions instead of thinking about how they might affect the people around him. At several points, better communication could have prevented misunderstandings and made situations less complicated. His actions felt realistic, but they were still frustrating to watch unfold.

I related most to Cathy because she genuinely wants to help others while also trying to figure out what the right thing to do is. She often finds herself caught between loyalty to her friends and doing what she knows is right. That internal conflict made her one of the most relatable characters in the novel.

Cathy was my favorite character because she is compassionate, thoughtful, and willing to stand by the people she cares about even when situations become difficult. She isn’t perfect, but she tries to make responsible choices and grows throughout the story. Her kindness and maturity make her someone readers naturally want to support.

The character I liked the least was Jason because some of his choices created unnecessary conflict for the people around him. At times, he acted without considering the consequences, which caused problems that could have been avoided. Even so, the author writes him in a realistic way, showing that everyone has flaws and room to grow.

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Book Review

Gripped Part 1 is an engaging young adult novel that combines mystery, suspense, and realistic teen drama into a story that is difficult to put down. Instead of focusing on only one main character, Stacy A. Padula weaves together several storylines that slowly connect in surprising ways. Each character struggles with different challenges like friendship, family, addiction, and personal choices. This makes the novel feel authentic to the younger audience and emotionally powerful.

I usually only read fantasy, but what makes this book stand out is its ability to keep readers asking questions without relying on unnecessary cliffhangers or predictable twists. This has been one of my all time favorite realistic fiction books because every chapter reveals another layer of the story while encouraging readers to think about trust, accountability, and second chances. I finished Part 1 wanting to immediately start Part 2 because I was so invested in the characters and eager to discover how their stories would continue. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction with meaningful themes and plenty of suspense.