Step into the electrifying world of the “Gripped” series by Stacy A. Padula, where the stakes are as high as the emotional rollercoaster you’ll ride. This saga begins with “The Truth We Never Told,” following Taylor Dunkin, a college football star whose life takes a dark turn after a devastating injury. His battle with painkiller addiction pulls you into a narrative that’s both heart-wrenching and suspenseful. But “Gripped” is not just one story; it’s a universe where teenage characters like Chris Dunkin, Taylor’s younger cousin, grapple with their own demons of substance abuse and peer pressure in “Blindsided” and beyond. With each book, including “The Fallout,” “Smoke & Mirrors,” and “Taylor’s Story,” Padula delves deeper into the lives of young adults facing real issues, offering not just a tale of addiction but one of hope, recovery, and the complex tapestry of high school life.
What makes “Gripped” an unmissable read is its unflinching look at mental health, combined with a thrilling crime drama element that keeps readers turning pages. Characters like Cathy Kagelli and Jason Davids bring additional depth, each dealing with their unique struggles under the shadow of societal expectations. Padula crafts these stories with an authenticity that resonates with teens and adults, providing a mirror to the often unseen battles of adolescence. But it’s not all darkness; the series is punctuated with moments of redemption and the possibility of change, making it not only a cautionary tale but also an inspiration. Award-winning and captivating, “Gripped” invites you to explore the gritty, emotional, and suspenseful journey of its characters, promising a reading experience that will linger long after the last page is turned.
Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told
The Gold Winner for “Best Teen Book” in the 2022 Readers’ Choice Book Awards
Now Being Adapted for TV by Emmy-Award Winning Producer Mark Blutman!
One choice. One secret. No way back.
In Montgomery, Massachusetts, everyone’s connected—friends, families, secrets.
Taylor Dunkin had it all: star athlete, hometown legend, future NFL prospect. But one devastating injury changes everything, pulling him into a hidden battle that threatens to destroy him … and everyone around him.
As pills spread through high school parties and close-knit circles, lives unravel. His brother Marc fights to uncover the truth. Cousins and friends like charismatic Chris, brilliant Jason, charming Luke, and anxious Cathy get caught in the web—where one experiment can spiral into disaster.
How far will the damage go before someone breaks?
Raw and unflinching, Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told dives into the opioid crisis gripping America’s teens.
Gripped Part 2: Blindsided
A Finalist for “Best Teen Book” in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Book Awards!
One party. One blackout. No escape.
In Montgomery, Massachusetts, the shadows of secrets grow longer—and one wild night could shatter everything.
Chris Dunkin, the ultimate party king, wakes up with no memory of the chaos he unleashed. As fragments of a horrifying truth surface, he’s forced to confront the monster he’s become … and the lives he’s dragged into the abyss.
Meanwhile, Taylor Dunkin claws his way toward redemption, but a tangled web of crime and cops pulls him deeper. His brother Marc races to intervene, while friends like reckless Jason, tormented Cathy, and loyal Luke teeter on the edge—where loyalty crumbles and addictions strike without warning.
Who will survive the fallout when the blinders come off?
Raw and relentless, Gripped Part 2: Blindsided exposes the deadly grip of drugs on America’s youth.
Gripped Part 3: The Fallout
A Gold Winner for “Best Teen Book” in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Book Awards!
One choice. One betrayal. Total chaos.
In Montgomery, Massachusetts, redemption hangs by a thread—and one reckless party could snap it for good.
After a brush with death, Chris Dunkin vows to turn his life around, ditching the drugs and chaos for positive vibes and sobriety. But when his best friend Jason talks him into hosting an epic bash the night before school starts, Chris uncovers truths about himself that hit harder than any high.
Meanwhile, Taylor Dunkin fights to rebuild from his opioid nightmare, only to get tangled in a deadly game with cops and criminals. His brother Marc steps in as the go-between, but the “help” offered could cost their family everything—putting lives on the line in a web of danger and deception.
As addictions resurface and loyalties fracture, who will escape the wreckage?
Raw and unflinching, Gripped Part 3: The Fallout lays bare the brutal consequences of America’s teen drug crisis.
Gripped Part 4: Smoke & Mirrors
One deal. One clue. Eternal reckoning.
In Montgomery, Massachusetts, illusions shatter—and one desperate deal could cost everything.
Taylor Dunkin, ex-star quarterback, battles to escape his opioid-fueled nightmare, but a shadowy pact puts his life and his family’s safety on the brink. As cryptic clues surface, feuding brothers Jordan and Marc must unite to unravel the mystery of Taylor’s disappearance—uncovering secrets that could redefine their bonds forever.
Meanwhile, Cathy Kagelli, fresh off grounding, dives into her boyfriend Jason’s hidden world of drugs, hatching a risky plan to pull him back … at the potential cost of her own soul.
Who will emerge from the deception unscathed?
Raw and riveting, Gripped Part 4: Smoke & Mirrors unmasks the perilous illusions of addiction and loyalty in America’s youth.
Gripped Part 5: Taylor’s Story
The Silver Winner for “Best Teen Book” in the 2022 Readers’ Choice Book Awards
One clue. One lie. No return.
In Montgomery, Massachusetts, vanishings strike without warning—and one hidden truth could unravel it all.
Taylor Dunkin is gone. His brothers Jordan and Marc race to piece together cryptic clues from his abandoned Jeep, awakening to a nightmare that might cost them their brother forever.
Meanwhile, Missy Kent vanishes after a night out, her boyfriend Luke’s last glimpse of her lost in the club’s chaos. As friends dig deeper, innocence shatters, drawing them perilously close to a deadly secret.
Everything connects. Trust fractures. Who will pay the ultimate price?
Raw and heart-wrenching, Gripped Part 5: Taylor’s Story uncovers the shattering fallout of addiction’s grip on America’s teens.
Reviews
“A riveting read from start to finish, “Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told” by author Stacy A. Padula is especially and unreservedly recommended for middle school, high school, and community library YA Fiction collections.”
– Midwest Book Review
“This is a compelling and gripping novel, with an important message. The book shows the stark reality of life as a teenager, the many pressures they experience growing up in today’s society, and the deadly opioid epidemic that is sweeping the nation. An essential read for any young person or adult.”
– Readers’ Choice Book Awards
“Invigorating, engaging and a must read. The characters in The Gripped Series diligently tackle the essence of forces that can limit greatness within.”
– LaTonya Pinkard from the Netflix Original Series ‘Last Chance U’
“The Gripped Series is fantastic for anyone looking to learn about the dangers of substance abuse. This is an essential read for those looking to protect themselves against peer pressure and drugs.”
– Emily Han, College of William & Mary
“One of the main benefits of reading Gripped Part 2: Blindsided, as well as the entire Gripped series, is that it not only shows the horrors of substance abuse, but also reveals the buildup to it. Blindsided depicts not just the worst days, but the first days. Through the story, teens are able to learn about decisions and behaviors that can lead to drug abuse. Throughout the story, the social lives of the different characters intertwine with each other, creating drama, conflict, and new friendships, which makes Blindsided a fascinating read.”
– Michael Farinacci, University of Notre Dame
“Gripped 5: Taylor’s Story depicts what actually happens behind the scenes of drug addiction, how it can change a person, and affect even their family and friends. If you are looking for a book which will both engage and educate you, look no further than Gripped 5: Taylor’s Story.”
– Isabelle Semas, Best-selling author of ‘The Crash’
“This novel is an engaging and meaningful read, ideal for high school freshmen, while also being very applicable to adults wanting to know more about teenage drug abuse. Gripped Part 4 displays the many drawbacks of taking drugs, including losing friends, girlfriends, and your thoughts on your own life. As a result, Padula effectively shows the extreme efforts needed to begin overcoming an addiction in order to begin a new life; this is shown to be very hard to complete. This would hopefully influence all young adults to avoid using drugs in order to prevent going through this troublesome process, and to avoid losing the trust and relationships with loved ones and friends.”
– Kyle Banker, University of Miami
“Stacy Padula’s masterful control of a bifurcated storyline keeps the reader intrigued in two chronologies of events. The characters grow richer with each passing novel, as the depth of relationships between them approaches reality.”
– Mackenzie Wells, University of Georgia
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