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 ofContinueContinue reading “BC High’s Nick Hallal Reviews ‘Gripped Part 3: The Fallout’”
Tag Archives: Young adult books
Character Development in the Gripped and Montgomery Lake High Series: Depth, Complexity, and Earned Empathy
One of the defining strengths of Stacy A. Padula’s Gripped and Montgomery Lake High series lies in their approach to character development. Rather than presenting clear heroes and villains, the books build a cast of young people whose choices, motivations, and growth feel layered, contradictory, and deeply human. The result is a style of storytellingContinueContinue reading “Character Development in the Gripped and Montgomery Lake High Series: Depth, Complexity, and Earned Empathy”
Luke Davids: The Character Readers Often Judge First—and Understand Later
Luke Davids is one of the easiest characters to misunderstand at the beginning of the series. On the surface, he is the middleman. The guy who helps move the drugs from Taylor into the high school. The one who makes the substances available to kids who are already struggling. For many readers, that role createsContinueContinue reading “Luke Davids: The Character Readers Often Judge First—and Understand Later”
Chris Dunkin: The Character Readers Love from the Start and Root for Even Harder Later
Chris Dunkin is one of the rare characters who wins people over almost immediately. He’s the life of the party. The charismatic friend everyone wants around. The guy who can light up a room and make people feel like they belong. In the early books, a lot of readers simply like him. He’s fun, loyal,ContinueContinue reading “Chris Dunkin: The Character Readers Love from the Start and Root for Even Harder Later”
Jordan Dunkin: The Character Readers Often Overlook—Until They Can’t
Jordan Dunkin doesn’t usually announce himself the way some of the other characters do. He isn’t the most dramatic presence in the early books. He isn’t the one readers immediately love or immediately hate. For a lot of people, he starts as background noise—the middle Dunkin brother, the fun-loving one, the guy who sometimes seemsContinueContinue reading “Jordan Dunkin: The Character Readers Often Overlook—Until They Can’t”
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 chapterContinueContinue 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 theContinueContinue reading “Rising Taekwondo Star Chase Fitzpatrick Recommends YA Novel ‘Gripped’”
BC High Student Leader Reviews ‘Gripped Part 2: Blindsided’
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.ContinueContinue reading “BC High Student Leader Reviews ‘Gripped Part 2: Blindsided’”
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 countryContinueContinue reading “Class of 2027 Gripped Book Series Interns”
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.ContinueContinue 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 asContinueContinue reading “Best Books for Youth Groups: Why When Darkness Tries to Hide Is a Must-Read for Teens”
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 resonateContinueContinue 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 ofContinueContinue reading “Notre Dame Academy’s Ksenia Nenacheva Reviews ‘Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told’”
July Book Specials
Visit our online bookstore and use the coupon codes below for extra savings this month! Use code BOOKTOK40 at checkout to get 40% off the full paperback series at the Gripped Bookshop Use code BOOKTOK30 at checkout to get 30% off Gripped Part 6 at the Gripped Bookshop
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 schoolContinueContinue reading “Taylor Dunkin’s “Gripped” Journey: A 4-Part Video Series”
Book Trailers on YouTube
Curious about the world of Gripped and Montgomery Lake High but haven’t dove into either series yet? Now you can watch video trailers on our YouTube channel to learn about our books and characters! Some of our most-watched videos are below.
“Gripped 4” by Stacy Padula Wins the Gold Award!
We are thrilled to announce that Gripped Part 4: Smoke & Mirrors has been honored with the Gold Award for Best Teen Book in the Readers’ Choice Book Awards! This prestigious recognition highlights the powerful storytelling and resonant themes that have captivated readers across generations. As the fourth installment in the Gripped series, this novel continues to shine a light on the harsh realities faced by today’s youth, and we’re incredibly grateful to our dedicated fans and the awards committee for this accolade.
The Gripped Series Gets a Fresh Look
As my team and I continue to pour our hearts into developing the highly anticipated TV adaptation of the Gripped series, I’m thrilled beyond words to announce the re-release of Parts 1 through 5 with new covers and synopses. Just a couple of weeks ago, after an inspiring meeting with producers, I dove straight intoContinueContinue reading “The Gripped Series Gets a Fresh Look”
Stacy Padula’s Faith: A Journey of Inspiration and Guidance
Stacy Padula, an accomplished author, mentor, and entrepreneur from Plymouth, Massachusetts, has woven her faith deeply into her life’s work, particularly through her literature and educational pursuits. Her faith is not just a personal belief system but serves as a cornerstone for her storytelling, mentorship, and community engagement. Faith in Literature Stacy Padula is bestContinueContinue reading “Stacy Padula’s Faith: A Journey of Inspiration and Guidance”
Discover “Gripped”: A Series for Parents Seeking Insight into Teen Life
Attention, Parents: If you’re looking to bridge the gap between you and your teenager, or if you’re eager to understand the complex world they navigate daily, the “Gripped” series by Stacy Padula is a must-read. Here’s why you should dive into this compelling YA series: A Window into the Teenage Psyche: Real Issues, Real Stories:ContinueContinue reading “Discover “Gripped”: A Series for Parents Seeking Insight into Teen Life”
