| Written by Olivia Halle, Hingham, Massachusetts | Meet Olivia Halle Olivia is a senior at Hingham High School, where she is the president of National Honor Society. She is a member of the Varsity Tennis Team and also enjoys sailing, reading, and hiking. Olivia is involved in Hingham’s Mentor Program, Green Team, and MedicalContinueContinue reading “Fast-paced, Educational, & Engrossing: Stacy Padula’s “Gripped 4” is a Must-Read for Today’s Teens – by Olivia Halle”
Tag Archives: gripped book series
“Gripped 2: Blindsided” Shines an Honest Light on Modern Teen Culture
| Written by Laurie O’Sullivan—Dover, Massachusetts | Meet Laurie O’Sullivan Laurie is a 17 year old senior at Dover Sherborn High School where she likes to be involved with sports and extracurriculars. She is part of the National Honor Society and tutors high schoolers who want extra help in biology. She runs on the trackContinueContinue reading ““Gripped 2: Blindsided” Shines an Honest Light on Modern Teen Culture”
The Gripped Characters: Q&A with Olivia Halle on ‘The Fallout’
After reading Gripped Part 3: The Fallout by Stacy Padula, Olivia was interviewed about her honest thoughts on the characters and storyline.
Accurate Representation Matters: why the Gripped book series belongs in schools
“Gripped Part 3 warns readers that drugs do not solve problems nor do they provide substantive comfort, which encourages readers to face their challenges rather than temporarily numb the discomfort by abusing substances.” – Olivia Halle
The Gripped Characters: Q&A with Laurie O’Sullivan
“The entirety of Gripped Part 1 is one large cliffhanger. I not only want to know the immediate outcomes of crumbling relationships and kids getting in trouble, but how their lives will pan out as they move forward into college.” – Laurie O’Sullivan
Hingham High School Senior Reviews ‘Gripped 3: The Fallout’ by Stacy Padula
“Padula masterfully explores the relentlessness of addiction and the burdening strain that it exacts on relationships, which will surely make the reader feel that they are in the whirlwind of the book themself.” – Olivia Halle
Gripped: a 5-star Read for Teens
“I recommend this book to anyone who wants a perfect blend of intensity and drama, and is open to reading about the harsh reality of our world today through the perspective of those going through it.” – Laurie O’Sullivan
First Book in Gripped Series Hits Home with Teen Readers
“My favorite part of the story was the dialogue. I think in a book like this where it has a lot to do with relationships and young adults, seeing their interactions shows their personality way more than any amount of description can.” – Laurie O’Sullivan
Multiple Timelines in Gripped #1 by Stacy Padula Make It a 5-star Read
Written by Timmy Weiss, Weston, MA Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told by Stacy Padula is a thrilling book that engrosses the reader in the story and teaches extremely valuable life lessons. By exploring different timelines of its characters, it not only gives the reader a closer connection to each character but alsoContinueContinue reading “Multiple Timelines in Gripped #1 by Stacy Padula Make It a 5-star Read”
There’s Much to Learn from Chris Dunkin’s Character Arc in “Gripped” by Stacy Padula
Written by Maya Daly, Duxbury, Massachusetts Gripped Part 3: The Fallout by Stacy Padula gives important insight into the minds of many teens during their high school years. While, oftentimes, the characters are not making the best decisions, it shows that usually these decisions are made worse due to outside factors going on in theContinueContinue reading “There’s Much to Learn from Chris Dunkin’s Character Arc in “Gripped” by Stacy Padula”
“Gripped 3” Shows Deeper Causes of Teen Substance Abuse Than Many Would Think
Written by Maya Daly, Duxbury, Massachusetts Gripped Part 3: The Fallout by Stacy Padula is a Y.A. fiction novel about substance abuse and relationships. It shows readers that drug abuse stems from deeper issues within people’s lives—more than just bad influences or hanging out with the wrong crowd. While there are some bad influencers inContinueContinue reading ““Gripped 3” Shows Deeper Causes of Teen Substance Abuse Than Many Would Think”
Nasin Groshek Reviews ‘Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told’ by Stacy Padula
Written by Nasin Groshek, Plymouth, Massachusetts Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told by Stacy Padula is a fast-paced, compelling story about substance abuse and how it affects young adults’ relationships and future aspirations. I highly recommend this book to other high school and middle school students since they should easily relate to thisContinueContinue reading “Nasin Groshek Reviews ‘Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told’ by Stacy Padula”
A Fascinating Page Turner with an Important Message for Teens
Written by Maya Daly, Duxbury, Massachusetts Stacy Padula’s Gripped Part 3: The Fallout is a captivating story, following the plot of teens on their journeys to sobriety or falling deeper into drug use. This story continues with the main characters of the past two books now coming up on their freshman year at Montgomery LakeContinueContinue reading “A Fascinating Page Turner with an Important Message for Teens”
Q&A with Megan Farinacci on Stacy Padula’s ‘Gripped’ Characters
After reading Gripped 4: Smoke & Mirrors, Megan Farinacci, a senior at Newton Country Day School, was asked to share how her opinion of certain main characters has changed throughout the series.
Newton Country Day Senior Reviews ‘Gripped 4: Smoke & Mirrors’ by Stacy Padula
“The author’s ability to seamlessly connect several plot lines is unlike anything I have read. Gripped 4: Smoke & Mirrors is the best one yet, and I cannot wait to read Taylor’s Story next.” – Megan Farinacci
The Y.A. Page Tuner Parents Should Be Reading
“As a senior in high school, I highly recommend the book Gripped 4: Smoke & Mirrors, along with any of the books in the Gripped series by Stacy Padula, to parents and teens. Gripped 4 touches on heavy topics like drug and alcohol abuse, which are rarely talked about in schools across the country. It is important for teens to be knowledgeable on these topics and be able to share their knowledge with their peers for the good of their community.” – Megan Farinacci, Newton Country Day School
Reflecting on Taylor’s Story: The Gripped Characters
Written by Kyle Banker, University of Miami After reading the latest novel in Stacy Padula’s Gripped series, Kyle Banker was asked to share his opinion on some of the main characters. Taylor Taylor has dug himself into a deep hole within Bilotti’s drug dealing business. However, he is trying to get out of the gangContinueContinue reading “Reflecting on Taylor’s Story: The Gripped Characters”
Teenage Author Isabelle Semas Recommends Y.A. Suspense Novel
Isabelle Semas By Isabelle Semas, South Shore, Massachusetts Taylor Dunkin, former football star, is attempting to escape the drug distributing ring he is entangled in. His life has been ruined by addiction, and he is ready to change. Just when Taylor begins to work with police, he goes missing. As his family members and friendsContinueContinue reading “Teenage Author Isabelle Semas Recommends Y.A. Suspense Novel”
Y.A. Novel Demonstrates that Addiction Does Not Discriminate
Stacy Padula’s story, Gripped Part 2: Blindsided is a 5/5 star read, as it is a captivating and revealing story on the dangers of drugs. An important read for people of all ages, this book shows how drugs can become a prominent factor in anyone’s life, even those who it would be least suspected of. The novel is able to keep the reader curious and engaged with each chapter, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
Alternating Storylines Maintain Suspense in “Gripped Part 5: Taylor’s Story”
Written by Kyle Banker, University of Miami In Gripped Part 5: Taylor’s Story by Stacy Padula, I enjoyed the alternation between the storylines of Taylor and the Boston Police with Cathy and Chantal. I believe that this style worked best in Gripped 5 as Taylor’s situation kept its intensity as the reader was separated fromContinueContinue reading “Alternating Storylines Maintain Suspense in “Gripped Part 5: Taylor’s Story””
