Tag Archives: gripped part 1

An Interview with UGA’s Mackenzie Wells on Gripped 1: The Truth We Never Told

Mackenzie is a senior at the University of Georgia majoring in English and public relations. She is a leader at the Wesley Foundation at UGA, the community outreach coordinator for UGA’s Undergraduate English Association, and a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Mackenzie has always had a passionate love for books andContinueContinue reading “An Interview with UGA’s Mackenzie Wells on Gripped 1: The Truth We Never Told”

Senior Class President at Xaverian Brothers Shares His Thoughts on “Gripped” by Stacy Padula

Joseph Siracusa is currently the president of the senior class at Xaverian Brother’s High School. In his free time, Joseph enjoys graphic designing, playing soccer, watching sports, and learning about many different topics. Joseph plans on studying finance in college, in hopes of pursuing a career in it. Written by Joseph Siracusa, Braintree, MA GrippedContinueContinue reading “Senior Class President at Xaverian Brothers Shares His Thoughts on “Gripped” by Stacy Padula”

Y.A. Novel Kept Me “Gripped”

Written by Mackenzie Wells, Athens, Georgia Mackenzie is a senior at the University of Georgia majoring in English and public relations. She is a leader at the Wesley Foundation at UGA, the community outreach coordinator for UGA’s Undergraduate English Association, and a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Mackenzie has always hadContinueContinue reading “Y.A. Novel Kept Me “Gripped””

New Young Adult Book Series Exposes the Dark Truths of Teenage Substance Abuse

Written by Abby Fusco, Marshfield, MA Abby Fusco is a senior at Marshfield High School. She has always enjoyed painting her dog, Teddy—a King Charles Cavalier. Her paintings made perfect gifts for her mother, and this inspired her to begin painting pet portraits for her friends and family. She founded A.R.F. Pet Portraits in 2020, where peopleContinueContinue reading “New Young Adult Book Series Exposes the Dark Truths of Teenage Substance Abuse”

Brad Campbell on The Gripped Book Series Characters

Written by Bradford Campbell, Duxbury, MA Bradford Campbell is currently a senior at Thayer Academy. He is captain of their Varsity Soccer and Track and Field teams. In school, Bradford is a 2020 Student Government Representative and Peer Advisor for freshman students. He also enjoys volunteering for Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity. Bradford participatesContinueContinue reading “Brad Campbell on The Gripped Book Series Characters”

New Y.A. Novel Opens Up Conversations Between Teens and Parents

Written by Bradford Campbell, Duxbury, MA Bradford Campbell is currently a senior at Thayer Academy. He is captain of their Varsity Soccer and Track and Field teams. In school, Bradford is a 2020 Student Government Representative and Peer Advisor for freshman students. He also enjoys volunteering for Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity. Bradford participatesContinueContinue reading “New Y.A. Novel Opens Up Conversations Between Teens and Parents”

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.

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”

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.

Looking Ahead to Gripped Part 2 with Michael Farinacci

Last month, Michael Farinacci of Medfield, Massachusetts—a junior at St. Sebastian’s School—read and reviewed Gripped Part 1 by Stacy Padula: the first installment in a young adult book series that highlights the perils of prescription drug abuse. Before beginning to read Gripped Part 2, Michael answered a couple questions about what he was most looking forward to uncovering in the next installment.

Rebecca Ronning of Brooklyn Tech Reviews Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told

Gripped Part 1 by Stacy Padula tells the gripping story of a star student athlete who let a mere setback turn into a major addiction. It exemplifies the importance of understanding that nobody is safe from drug abuse, not even the classic golden child, and expresses the unfortunately realistic young ages at which this abuse starts.

May’s Q&A with Michael Farinacci of St. Sebastian’s School

Michael Farinacci, a junior at St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, Massachusetts, read and reviewed Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told—the first book in a young adult series that examines the perils of prescription drug abuse amongst teenagers. After reading the novel, he was asked a series of questions about its main characters. His responses are below.

Michael Farinacci Reviews Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told

The book Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told investigates the complicated social lives of young adults ranging from middle-school to college. The story follows numerous people throughout their lives outside of school and demonstrates how difficult decision can be for young adults, and the consequences that these decisions have. The book deals with drug abuse, relationships, and the effects of miscommunication as it follows the lives of the children from Montgomery Lake, while brilliantly setting up the rest of the series.

“Gripped ” is A Must-Read for Teens Who Want to Know The Truth About Street Drugs

We caught up with Rebecca Ronning, a junior at Brooklyn Technical High School in Brooklyn, New York, to ask her some questions about the first book in the Gripped book series by Stacy Padula. Rebecca was just chosen as the book series’ Intern of the Month for May of 2019!

Jenna Finnerty’s Take on New Y.A. Novel “Gripped” by Stacy Padula

The book Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told by Stacy Padula allows readers to learn from the mistakes of the young and naive characters. It shows how entangled young adults can get in drugs and alcohol and the consequences that come with them. When relationships are ruined due to the mistakes the teens have made, many of them question their actions and if it is worth the loss of friends and family.

Q&A with Rebecca Ronning on “Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told” by Stacy Padula

I would recommend Gripped Part 1 to any high schooler who may be feeling the inevitable temptations of dangerous party drugs. It is important to recognize the legitimate impact that the things you do in highschool can have on your future, not only on your health but within your professional career. To anybody reading this book, I would say that decisions you make matter in the long run; have fun while you’re young, but refrain from making bad choices.