Gripped Series New Illustrated Covers on Kindle

We are excited to share that the Gripped series has new illustrated covers, and they are now live on Amazon Kindle! These updated editions feature a consistent hand-drawn style across all six books while keeping the core imagery that reflects each story. The goal was to create a cohesive look for the series that stillContinue reading "Gripped Series New Illustrated Covers on Kindle"

Free Companion Guides for Educators, Youth Groups, & Parents — Now Available

The Gripped and Montgomery Lake High series deal with the real pressures teenagers face—peer pressure, substance use, family tension, identity, and the long work of coming back from damage. These free companion guides are designed to help adults use the books for meaningful discussion and learning. Each guide provides structure, discussion questions, and practical waysContinue reading "Free Companion Guides for Educators, Youth Groups, & Parents — Now Available"

Gripped Part 6 — Free on NetGalley This Month!

Attention book reviewers! Gripped Part 6: The Dunkin Legacy is now available on NetGalley through the end of August. Request a free copy today! Gold Winner for "Best Teen Book" in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Book Awards • 5-Star Review from Readers’ Favorite • Now being adapted for television by Emmy Award-winning producer, Mark Blutman!Continue reading "Gripped Part 6 — Free on NetGalley This Month!"

Jason Davids: The Character Readers Root For, Get Frustrated By, and Can’t Quit Watching

If Cathy Kagelli is the most misunderstood character in the Gripped world, Jason Davids might be the most complicated. Readers rarely land in the middle with him. Some fall for his charm immediately. Others want to throttle him by the second book. And a large number do both—sometimes in the same sitting—depending on which chapterContinue reading "Jason Davids: The Character Readers Root For, Get Frustrated By, and Can’t Quit Watching"

Rising Taekwondo Star Chase Fitzpatrick Recommends YA Novel ‘Gripped’

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 theContinue reading "Rising Taekwondo Star Chase Fitzpatrick Recommends YA Novel ‘Gripped’"

BC High Student Leader Reviews ‘Gripped Part 2: Blindsided’

Nick Hallal is a rising 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 ofContinue reading "BC High Student Leader Reviews ‘Gripped Part 2: Blindsided’"

Cathy Kagelli: The Character Readers Love, Struggle With, & Ultimately Can’t Forget

If you’ve spent any time talking with readers of the Gripped series (or the Montgomery Lake High books), you’ve probably noticed something interesting about Cathy Kagelli. People rarely feel neutral about her. Some readers call her their favorite. Others admit they wanted to shake her. A surprising number say both—depending on which book they wereContinue reading "Cathy Kagelli: The Character Readers Love, Struggle With, & Ultimately Can’t Forget"

Class of 2027 Gripped Book Series Interns

Sending out a special welcome to our newest interns: Chase, Clare, Julia, Ksenia, and Nick! They will be reviewing and vetting our Gripped series to ensure the books are authentic and relatable to modern teen life. Chase Fitzpatrick is a rising senior at Hanover High School in Massachusetts. He is ranked 3rd in the countryContinue reading "Class of 2027 Gripped Book Series Interns"

Free Curriculum Now Available for The Aftermath (Montgomery Lake High #3)

I’m excited to share that a free companion study guide is now available for The Aftermath, the third book in the Montgomery Lake High series. Designed specifically for youth groups, small groups, and middle/high school classrooms, this downloadable curriculum helps leaders and teachers walk teens through the story in a meaningful, discussion-based way. About theContinue reading "Free Curriculum Now Available for The Aftermath (Montgomery Lake High #3)"

BC High’s Nick Hallal Reviews ‘Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told’

Nick is a rising 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.Continue reading "BC High’s Nick Hallal Reviews ‘Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told’"

Best Books for Youth Groups: Why When Darkness Tries to Hide Is a Must-Read for Teens

In a world full of distractions and pressures, finding stories that speak directly to teens’ hearts—while pointing them toward faith, hope, and real-life wisdom—is invaluable for youth pastors, leaders, and parents. If you’re searching for the best books for youth groups this year, When Darkness Tries to Hide by Stacy A. Padula stands out asContinue reading "Best Books for Youth Groups: Why When Darkness Tries to Hide Is a Must-Read for Teens"

From College Gridiron Glory to a Town Gripped by Secrets

Friday night lights in small-town Massachusetts. Star quarterback Taylor Dunkin was the hometown legend — a high school record-breaker who became a college football phenom, ranked by ESPN as one of the NFL’s top prospects. One knee injury later, everything crashes. Pain pills turn into secrets, secrets turn into dealing, and suddenly the whole town’sContinue reading "From College Gridiron Glory to a Town Gripped by Secrets"

Gripped Character Spotlights: Meet the Hearts of Montgomery

The Gripped series by Stacy A. Padula dives deep into the lives of interconnected teens and young adults in Montgomery, Massachusetts, as they navigate friendship, family, romance, peer pressure, faith, and the devastating grip of substance abuse. At the center are complex, flawed, and deeply relatable characters whose journeys of struggle, growth, and redemption resonateContinue reading "Gripped Character Spotlights: Meet the Hearts of Montgomery"

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

New England Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson Stars in Announcement Video as Gripped Book Series Heads to Television

Gripped Part 6: The Dunkin Legacy by Stacy Padula Now Available with 5-Star Readers’ Favorite Review, Foreword by TreVeyon Henderson, & Major Award Nominations The Gripped book series by Plymouth, Massachusetts author Stacy A. Padula is being adapted for television by Emmy Award-winning producer Mark Blutman. The latest installment in the book series, “Gripped PartContinue reading "New England Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson Stars in Announcement Video as Gripped Book Series Heads to Television"

Taylor Dunkin’s “Gripped” Journey: A 4-Part Video Series

This 4-part video series brings Taylor’s powerful story to life in short, heartfelt episodes. Whether you’ve faced your own disappointments, walked alongside someone battling addiction, or simply need a reminder that redemption is possible, these videos were created for you. Watch the full series below. Part 1 – The FallFrom Al-Anon roots and high schoolContinue reading "Taylor Dunkin’s “Gripped” Journey: A 4-Part Video Series"

Exclusive Free Sample: First 9 Chapters of Gripped Part 1 – Football Glory, Authentic Teen Struggles, and Hope-filled Journeys of Recovery

I wrote this series to shine a light on the real challenges facing today's youth—because sometimes the hardest battles happen right under the surface of small-town life. Ready to uncover what really happened? Scroll down to read the opening chapters for free.