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.
Q&A with Chase
- The drug use and sexual content in this book will surely get it banned from schools, but the topics are too relevant in teenage culture to be ignored. Why do you think this book should be read by kids in middle school and high school?
I believe that Gripped Part 2 should be read by kids in middle school and high school despite the drug use and sexual content in the book because these topics arise constantly whether in high school or even middle school. The book shows how normalized drugs are and goes into some of the effects of each drug. This is important for middle school and high school students to learn because it helps them understand the risks and consequences of drug use.
- What can kids learn from reading this book?
One thing kids can learn from reading Gripped Part 2 is that drugs and alcohol have real consequences. Gripped Part 2 shows that the abuse of drugs and alcohol can have real effects on relationships, and lead to poor decision making. Another lesson kids can take away from reading Gripped Part 2 is the power of peer pressure, this is evident in how normalized the drugs and alcohol have been in the lives of Cathy, Chris, and Taylor.
- How has your opinion of Taylor changed from the beginning of the series until the end of book 2?
My opinion of Taylor has changed from the beginning of the series until the end of book 2 in a positive way. In the beginning of the series Taylor is addicted to pain medication, and deals drugs which made me think Taylor was a bad person and a terrible influence on his brothers. However by the end of book two I realized that Taylor is not a bad person he just fell into an unfortunate circumstance and is trying to fix it.
- How has your opinion of Chris changed since the beginning of the series?
In the beginning of the series I was not the biggest fan of Chris just because him hosting the large parties he often would result in the gateway of substance abuse for not only himself but his peers. At the end of book 2 Chris is trying to quit abusing substances and get over Lisa which I respect, and now am a fan of his.
- After reading books 1 & 2, are you rooting for Cathy to end up with Jason or Marc?
After reading books 1 & 2, I am rooting for Cathy to end up with Marc. I am rooting for them to end up together because I think the most important thing Cathy needs is to quit her substance abuse, and I believe the best person to support her during that would be Marc.
- What are your honest thoughts on Chris and Lisa’s relationship?
My honest thoughts on Chris and Lisa’s relationship is that they really did care for each other and it’s just a shame that their relationship had to come to an end due to Chris’s addiction. But now that Chris is trying to get clean I am interested to see if they will get back together.
- Who are your two favorite characters so far in the series and why?
My two favorite characters are Marc and Chirs. I like Marc because he tries to avoid the substances being abused around him, and how much he still cares for Taylor. Chris is another one of my favorite characters because he realizes that he needs to get clean, and starts hanging around another group in hopes for that.
Book Review
Gripped Part 2: Blindsided was a great book that kept me interested from beginning to end. There were a lot of unexpected moments that made me want to keep reading, and the story felt realistic. Author Stacy Padula did a good job showing how the choices people make can have a big impact on their lives and the people around them. It also balanced serious topics with an interesting storyline, which made it hard to put down.
I wouldn’t just recommend this book to teens. I think parents, teachers, and anyone who would enjoy a realistic story with lots of valuable lessons would like it too. The book’s message is strong and feels natural shown through the characters actions and the entire story line. Overall, I would definitely recommend Gripped Part 2, and I am super excited to begin Gripped Part 3!!
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