Article by Michael Farinacci—Medfield, Massachusetts Michael Farinacci Since Gripped Part 2: Blindsided, Jordan Dunkin has been, by far, the most intriguing character in my opinion. At the University of Notre Dame, he has a high GPA, has joined the Catholic club, and is starting at wide receiver on one of the best football teams inContinueContinue reading “Jordan Dunkin, the Black Sheep of “Gripped” or Not?”
Tag Archives: gripped book series
Gripped on “Gripped” – Why Teens Will Love This New Book Series
As a young adult, I can relate to Gripped by Stacy A. Padula because I have witnessed firsthand some of the same issues within my own high school and friend group that the characters in the story have been through. I am at an age where the curiosity of experimentation along with peer pressure drive people to try things and do things that often lead to difficult and even dangerous consequences, and I have seen how one bad decision can lead to an immense amount of turmoil, as experienced by several of the characters in Gripped.
The Good & The Bad: Gripped’s Protagonist Taylor Dunkin
Article by Jennifer O’Sullivan, Dover, Massachusetts Jennifer O’Sullivan In Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told, by Stacy A. Padula, Taylor Dunkin plays a major role. In the novel, I found the storyline about him and the Boston police department to be the most interesting. To me, Taylor seemed like a really nice, smart,ContinueContinue reading “The Good & The Bad: Gripped’s Protagonist Taylor Dunkin”
New Teen Fiction Book Helps Kids Realize Their Choices Today Matter
As a seventeen year old in high school, I have definitely been exposed to both drugs and alcohol. When I was younger, I watched plenty of movies and TV shows with high schoolers drinking and doing drugs at parties, but I thought that was only something that happened on television. Now, being around the age of the characters in the book, I am fully aware of what really goes on at this age. Kids at my school cannot go a full school day without vaping in the bathrooms, they rely on alcohol to have fun at parties, and prescription pills that are not prescribed to them. A huge focus in our health classes are drugs and how easy it is to become addicted, but students do not want to listen to teachers who seem like they are scolding them. Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told by Stacy A. Padula is the perfect book for tweens and teens because it is a true version of what happens as a young adult. It is a fast-paced and complex novel perfect for teens and parents that is hard to put down.
New Teen Book Educates Kids about Prescription Drug Abuse, but Is It Controversial?
Gripped Part 3: The Fallout touches upon the use of Adderall, acid, marijuana, alcohol, and Xanax. For that reason, parents may not want their children to read the novel. However, the author feels there is much to be learned.
A Look at Cathy, Jon, and Chantal in Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told
Article by Jennifer O’Sullivan, Dover, Massachusetts In Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told, the characters are compelling and easy to relate to. In Stacy A. Padula’s other book series, Montgomery Lake High, Cathy Kagelli is portrayed as a toxic girl who is rude, coldhearted and manipulative. Gripped Part 1 flashes back to Cathy’sContinueContinue reading “A Look at Cathy, Jon, and Chantal in Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told”
New Teen Series Educates Readers About The Root Causes of Substance Abuse
Written by Michael Farinacci of St. Sebastian’s School Gripped Part 3: The Fallout is yet another great addition to the Gripped book series. The book tackles many complex issues including substance abuse, relationships, and the difficult time that is high school and middle school. The story follows many different storylines, which not only makes theContinueContinue reading “New Teen Series Educates Readers About The Root Causes of Substance Abuse”
A New Kind of Teen Book Series Hits the Shelves!
Article by Olivia Syat of Sharon, MA I recommend Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told to young adults because of its ability to capture the reality of middle school/high school. Although the book mainly serves as a tool to help teens realize they are not alone in their struggles, I believe parents shouldContinueContinue reading “A New Kind of Teen Book Series Hits the Shelves!”
A Book Series All Teens Should Start Reading
Article by Jennifer O’Sullivan, Dover, Massachusetts I would recommend Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told by Stacy A. Padula to young adults, especially those who are in high school or are part of a friend group that likes to party with substances involved. I think that this book really shows how easy itContinueContinue reading “A Book Series All Teens Should Start Reading”
Photos from Stacy Padula’s Barnes & Noble Book Signing (August 2019)
Stacy Padula’s books are also available at Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kobo, iTunes, & other major retailers Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told In high school, Taylor Dunkin broke more records than any other athlete to step foot in Montgomery, Massachusetts. As a sophomore in college, he was ranked by ESPN as one ofContinueContinue reading “Photos from Stacy Padula’s Barnes & Noble Book Signing (August 2019)”
Sharon High School’s Olivia Syat on Stacy Padula’s Novel “Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told”
The book Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told, by Stacy Padula quite literally “grips” the reader into the story, resulting in the inability to put the book down. It transforms readers into the mysterious, yet intriguing realm of young adults, teaching valuable lessons in a journey through the pages.
Sophia Coggeshall Reviews “Gripped Part 1” By Stacy A. Padula
Once I started reading the book, it was incredibly hard to put down for it is made up of a number of different storylines, ranging from the story of the football star, Taylor Dunkin, who throws his chances of being in the NFL away as he becomes involved in the growing opioid epidemic, to the stories of several different couples who face immense difficulties as they become entangled in drugs and alcohol.
A College Freshman’s Take on “Gripped Part 2: Blindsided” by Stacy Padula
This book will hopefully influence teens to abstain from drugs and alcohol after reading about the effects it has on everyone’s lives. Teens who read this book will also learn what could happen to them if they do end up getting involved with drugs. Similar to Taylor’s situation, drugs can ruin someone’s life after becoming addicted.
Michael Farinacci of St. Sebastian’s School Reviews “Gripped Part 2: Blindsided”
It is important for all high school and middle school aged kids to read this book, as it is very likely that they will run into a similar situation at some point in the middle and high school lives.
Jenna Finnerty Reviews Stacy Padula’s Novel “Gripped Part 2: Blindsided”
Gripped Part 2 will show teens how easy it is to get addicted to drugs and how it can affect everyone around you. Not only will this book show how dangerous it is to start experimenting with drugs, but it could also teach a valuable lesson to anyone struggling with addiction. It shows that even if you stray from your morals, you can always go back.
A Rising Senior’s Take on Stacy Padula’s New Release “Gripped Part 2: Blindsided”
One of the main benefits of reading Gripped part 2, and the entire Gripped series is that the book not only shows the horrors of substance abuse, but shows the buildup to substance abuse. Most likely, an addiction is not formed by one singular decision. Gripped part 2, does a great job of showing not only the worst day, but the first day.
Stacy Padula will be a Featured Author at Barnes & Noble on Sunday August 18th!
Stacy Padula will be signing books from her new series “Gripped” at Barnes & Noble in Hingham, Massachusetts on August 18, 2019 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
A Close Look at the Characters in Gripped Part 2: Blindsided
Written by Elizabeth Harvey, Emerson College How has your opinion of Taylor changed from the beginning of the series until the end of book 2? I was happy with the progress Taylor has made that became evident by the end of book 2. Although he still has to figure out many things and relationships inContinueContinue reading “A Close Look at the Characters in Gripped Part 2: Blindsided”
A Controversial but Worthwhile Read for All Young Adults
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?
Rebecca Ronning Reviews Gripped Part 2: Blindsided
Gripped Part 2: Blindsided by Stacy Padula is an absolutely captivating young adult story that follows the lives of a group of Massachusetts teens throughout their middle and high school experience. Dealing with issues of relationships, friendships, drug abuse, and much more, this book is particularly beneficial to those who are entering high school and are looking to learn from a relatively accurate description of some issues they may encounter, as well as how to deal with them. Not only does this book reflect excellent and important morals, it is extremely interesting, and I honestly could not put it down. I would rate this book a 5/5 and strongly recommend it to any young adult.
