Tag Archives: Stacy Padula

Jordan Dunkin, the Black Sheep of “Gripped” or Not?

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?”

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”

Joanna Dakoyannis’s Interview on “The Forces Within”

Joanna Dakoyannis is a senior at Dover-Sherborn High School. She enjoys creative writing, traveling, going to the gym, running track for her high school team and loves cheering on the team at school sporting events. She plans to be a science major in college and hopes to eventually attend dental school.

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”

The Forces Within by Stacy Padula: an Excellent Teen Read

Article by Joanna Dakoyannis, Dover, Massachusetts The Forces Within, by Stacy Padula, is the fifth and most compelling book in the MLH series. The story focuses on the spiritual battle of several characters in the series, but mainly dissects the actions of Andy Rosetti.  Andy finds himself in a strange place called Fallen Lake, inContinueContinue reading “The Forces Within by Stacy Padula: an Excellent Teen Read”

“The Battle for Innocence” Depicts Important Lessons for Teens and Tweens

New York, NY—Article by Rebecca Ronning on “The Battle for Innocence” by Stacy A. Padula There is a first time for everything. In the book “The Battle for Innocence,” we are shown the first expressions of teenage rebellion amongst the kids of Montgomery Lake. Taking us all the way back to the eighth grade, thisContinueContinue reading ““The Battle for Innocence” Depicts Important Lessons for Teens and Tweens”

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)”

Breaking Down the Spiritual Battle in “The Forces Within”

The Forces Within, the 5th book in Stacy Padula’s Montgomery Lake High series, tells a story of how Satan can enter the lives of people who are not strong in their faith and ruin friendships with the people who matter most. I think that people who feel jealous or scared in their lives should read this book, because it reveals reasons as to why this might be happening.

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.

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.