Nick Hallal is a senior at Boston College High School who’s interested in sports and fitness. He’s been on the varsity wrestling team for 3 years. At school, he is the president and founder of the Bible Club, and he is the captain of Bowman House, participating in leadership activities in and out of school. Over the summer, Nick works at SNAP camp, a special needs camp, enjoying being able to help out others. In his free time, he likes watching sports and hanging out with friends and family. He plans to major in Health Sciences in college with dreams of pursuing a career in medicine.
Q&A with Nick
- Who would you recommend this book to and why?
I would recommend Gripped 5 to really anybody. Whether you are just looking for an entertaining social drama story or an impactful, meaningful novel then Gripped 5 is perfect for you. Like the other books in the series, it dives deep into important topics like addiction, mental health, and relationships, offering valuable and impactful lessons. Not only is it a very meaningful read but it also has a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow Taylor’s chaotic involvement with the mafia.
- Why do you feel the topics covered in the book are relevant for teenagers?
The topics covered in Gripped 5, such as addiction, mental health, peer pressure, and relationships are very relevant to teenagers in today’s age. Being a teenager myself has shown me, firsthand, the severity of these problems and how they can completely destroy people. Reading this novel can really give people of all ages a realistic depiction of these struggles and the psychological toll they can take on others.
- What 3 important messages does Gripped 5 send to readers?
Gripped 5 has numerous important messages, but I think the most important are the reality of drugs, the brutality of peer pressure, and the importance of communication. The novel does a tremendous job of realistically portraying how dangerous drugs can be and how easy it is to get addicted without realizing it. Gripped 5 also has a major emphasis on the dangers of peer pressure, providing many examples of individuals falling into traps like drug use because they want to “fit in.” Lastly, the novel highlights how important communication is especially for high school students; stories such as Cathy and Chantal’s relationship after the Jon situation show just how easy it is to misinterpret what really happened.
- What are you most curious to uncover in Gripped Part 6?
In Gripped 6 I am very curious to uncover what will happen with Taylor. Although Taylor and the FBI are very intelligent, it seems that the Bilotti mafia is significantly more powerful and dangerous than they can handle. I am also very excited to see how the Bilottis’ hunt for Taylor affects the Dunkin family and the people close to them. Throughout Gripped 5 we see many instances of people stating that they will come after the Dunkin family to get to Taylor; I am eager to see how this all plays out.
- What did you like best about this book and who is your favorite character in the series at this point?
What I liked best about Gripped 5 is how it is a very meaningful novel that has given me many valuable lessons, while also being an entertaining read that has kept me on the edge of my seat throughout all of the books. Overall, at this point in the series, I would say my favorite character would have to be Marc Dunkin. Marc is a very good person with no arrogance, which is a little surprising since his two older brothers were the stars of the town and he is a very intelligent, good-looking kid. He shows genuine care for the people around him and does not fall into the temptation of drugs like many others do.
What do you hope happens to:
- Taylor
I am not sure how Taylor will get out of the dangerous hole he dug himself with the Bilotti family, but I hope he escapes his past safely. Taylor is a very special person, possessing gifts of intelligence and athletics, and I really hope he can find a way to use these gifts in the future and stay out of trouble. I also hope his involvement with the mafia won’t result in the people he cares about being hurt.
- Cathy & Chantal
I am really looking forward to Cathy and Chantal rebuilding their relationship. What was once such a strong bond was shattered due to a mere misunderstanding. I am hoping that through communication and love Chantal and Cathy can regain the relationship they had with each other once again.
- Cathy & Jason
I agree with Chantal and Marc that Cathy should have an honest one-on-one talk with Jason to discuss the ending of their relationship. I think this will really help the both of them and bring Cathy a lot of comfort regarding the situation. But I hope that after this conversation, Cathy can move on, pursue a relationship with Marc, and escape her past with drugs.
- Luke & Missy
Similar to my opinion on Cathy and Jason’s old relationship, I think that Luke and Missy should not be together. I hope they realize that while they both can be good people, they aren’t good partners for each other. It seems that Luke is starting to realize this, and I hope that they stay friends but split as partners.
- How has your opinion of the characters evolved over time? Specify what you now think of the following people after reading Gripped 5 vs. what your initial impression was:
- Taylor
I have always admired Taylor and think he is a truly good person. Although he has struggled badly with drugs and gotten involved with the wrong people, I think he was mentally and physically lost after his injury, but never stopped caring about the people he loves. My opinion has not changed too much on Taylor, except for the fact that I realized he had his Notre Dame offer revoked for something that was not his fault at all.
- Jordan
My opinion on Jordan has changed significantly since the start of the series to now. I initially thought of Jordan as a reckless and careless brother and cousin who would provide drugs and alcohol to his younger peers, not caring about the repercussions. As I have read more, I have seen Jordan’s growth into the man he is now, striving to be better and faithful.
- Marc
Similar to my opinion on Taylor, my opinion on Marc has not changed much. I have always viewed Marc as a good, responsible, and thoughtful kid who is very intelligent and genuinely cares about his peers. Reading more of Gripped has verified my view on Marc, displaying the true type of good person he is.
- Missy
My view of Missy has changed a little bit since reading more of the series. Originally, I did not know too much about Missy. It seemed to me that she was just a careless teenager that loved drugs. But as I kept reading, I realized that although she is addicted to drugs, she seems like a very nice and genuine person who can be too much sometimes, but always has good intentions on her mind.
- Luke
Luke has grown on me a whole lot. I once viewed Luke as a very reckless and idiotic teenager who was hurting a lot of people by providing them drugs. I have learned that Luke did these things because he thinks he is genuinely helping people and wants to fit in. Towards the end of Gripped 5, Luke begins to make a change, stopping himself from providing people with drugs and rethinking all of his decisions. I hope as he continues to mature, Luke can turn into a good young man who is against substance abuse.
- Laurelle
During the early books of the series, I did not know much about Laurelle and did not really form an opinion on her. Reading about Laurelle in the later books has given me a good understanding of who she is as a person. She seems to be similar to Pat, her boyfriend, in the way that she is smart, a good, caring friend, and does not seem to be addicted to drugs.
Book Review
Gripped 5 sends the tension through the roof, pulling you right back into the chaotic and entertaining lives of its characters. Right from the beginning, like the previous Gripped books, it refuses to sugar-coat the brutal reality of addiction, mental health, peer pressure, and toxic relationships. Gripped 5 is impossible to close due to its authentic and real feel as it interweaves different characters’ stories and jumps between past and present. Every storyline teaches you a valuable lesson displaying how one bad decision can endanger an entire friend group if you let it.
What really stood out to me about Gripped 5 was its portrayal of character development through characters such as Jason, Cathy, and Jordan. Above all, Luke’s maturity arc towards the end of the novel is my favorite display of character development. Watching Luke realize and confront the impact of his actions was amazing. He has always cared deeply about others but misdirected that energy in a way that was actually hurting his peers. Seeing him try and use his care the right way to help people is awesome and adds a layer of redemption. The emotion in Gripped 5 especially Taylor’s heartfelt message to his family at the end of the novel makes it an even more meaningful read. Gripped 5 ends with a mind-blowing cliffhanger involving Taylor and the Bilotti mafia, leaving me wondering if Taylor can stay safe and how this situation will affect everyone around him. Overall, it is a tense, meaningful, and entertaining read that I would recommend to anyone, especially teenagers navigating through these situations themselves.
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