Rising Taekwondo Star Chase Fitzpatrick Recommends YA Novel ‘Gripped’

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Chase Fitzpatrick is a senior at Hanover High School in Massachusetts. He is ranked 3rd in the United States for the Taekwondo Junior (15-17) Heavy Weight Division and has competed globally. He recently won the Bronze Medal at the 2026 Nationals. He enjoys traveling around the country for competitions and passing his passion onto the younger kids he instructs at Xcel Taekwondo. At Hanover High School, he is the kicker for the Varsity football team and a member of DECA. His favorite subjects in school are history and math. He has a passion for business and also interns at a local law firm. He has been investing in the stock market since age 11 and hopes to pursue a career in business management. 

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Q&A with Chase

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

I would recommend Gripped Part 1 to everyone, especially teens and young adults who enjoy realistic, relatable stories about social pressure, family, friends, and religion. Gripped Part 1 deals with the challenges of substance and alcohol abuse from middle schoolers to juniors in college, making the scene relatable to young adults and teens who may have been in similar situations. Gripped Part 1 also displays how, through friendship and faith, characters shape their values and form their moral compass. 

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

As a young adult I relate to the story through the characters’ experiences and the challenges they face everyday. Whether it is through friendships and family struggles the characters actions are very relatable and realistic. 

3. What did you like best about the story?

My favorite thing about the story is the flashback to when Chris, Lisa, Chantal, Andy, Jon, Jason, and Cathy were in 7th grade and the parties they would attend, and how realistic the party scenes were. Another thing I enjoyed about the series was the dynamic of Chantal and Jon’s relationship and how middle-school-coded it really was, with the weekly fights and Chantal storming out of Chris’s house a couple of times due to Jon drinking against Chantal’s demands. 

4. What message does this book send to readers?

The message Gripped Part 1 sends to readers is that alcohol and substances can have everlasting effects on one’s future. This message is evident in Taylor’s story who once had a promising future and had a chance to possibly go to the NFL, however due to an injury he sustained in his senior year at Northeastern, he became victim of substance addiction, and ruined his shot at becoming an NFL player.  

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?

The storyline I found most interesting in Gripped Part 1 was Taylor’s involvement with the police. I found it especially interesting because of how dangerous his situation becomes without him fully realizing it, particularly as he is constantly being watched by the people he is selling drugs for. I also found it interesting how long the Boston Police Department has been aware of Taylor, and did not approach him directly, rather they approached Marc in the middle of his football meeting with a coach from BC to try and get Taylor to tell them what he knows. 

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?

After reading Gripped Part 1, I am excited to begin reading Gripped Part 2, because I want to see what happens after Marc’s meeting with the BC football coaches. I am curious to see how Marc approaches Taylor with the phone he received from Detective Roth, and if he will try and convince Taylor to talk. I am also curious to see how the dynamic of Taylor and Marc will be considering Taylor is now sober and the last time Marc saw Taylor he was in a terrible condition due to his withdrawal. 

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

I feel bad for Taylor because of the fact that due to his injury he became addicted to drugs which has ruined his life and he may not be able to play Division 1 football again. 

2. Who frustrates you and why? 

I would say Cathy frustrates me the most because of her, Lisa, and Jason’s decision not to tell Chantal about her call to Jon that led to the end of Jon and Chantal’s relationship. Even though she was nervous if she told Chantal about that call she would lose feelings for Andy and get back with Jon, she still left Alyssa alone, losing two of her best friends. 

3. Who do you most relate to and why?

I relate to Marc the most because I try to not fall into the peer pressure from my friends at parties whether it is in the form of alcohol or even substances.  

4. Who do you like and why? 

I like Marc the best because he does not fall into the social pressure around him and truly wants the best for his brother Taylor. 

5. Who do you dislike and why?

The character who I most dislike is Cathy. I dislike Cathy because I don’t believe she is a good fit for Marc, who avoids drugs unlike Cathy. However I sympathize with her and her addiction due to her anxiety and depression as the result of her and Chantal’s falling out. 

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Review

Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told by Stacy A. Padula is a powerful and engaging novel that tackles real issues many teenagers face today. The story follows Taylor Dunkin, a former football star whose life begins to unravel after an injury leads to addiction, while his younger brother Marc struggles to cope with the consequences of Taylor’s choices. Through multiple interconnected storylines, the book explores friendship, family, peer pressure, and the challenges of growing up in the community of Montgomery, Massachusetts, which is affected by drug and alcohol abuse. Even though the book is fiction, the characters truly do feel real, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journeys.

What makes this book stand out is its realism. Compared to some books with the same message, Gripped Part 1 does not simply tell readers about the dangers of addiction; it shows how one person’s choices can affect friends, family members, and an entire community. Author Stacy Padula does a great job keeping the story suspenseful and full of meaningful lessons without feeling like a lecture. Gripped Part 1 will keep you turning pages and leave you on the edge of your seat, eager to find out what happens next.