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 fiction
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”
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’”
Cathy Kagelli: The Character Readers Love, Struggle With, & Ultimately Can’t Forget
If you’ve spent any time talking with readers of the Gripped series (or the Montgomery Lake High books), you’ve probably noticed something interesting about Cathy Kagelli. People rarely feel neutral about her. Some readers call her their favorite. Others admit they wanted to shake her. A surprising number say both—depending on which book they wereContinueContinue reading “Cathy Kagelli: The Character Readers Love, Struggle With, & Ultimately Can’t Forget”
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’”
From College Gridiron Glory to a Town Gripped by Secrets
Friday night lights in small-town Massachusetts. Star quarterback Taylor Dunkin was the hometown legend — a high school record-breaker who became a college football phenom, ranked by ESPN as one of the NFL’s top prospects. One knee injury later, everything crashes. Pain pills turn into secrets, secrets turn into dealing, and suddenly the whole town’sContinueContinue reading “From College Gridiron Glory to a Town Gripped by Secrets”
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”
Exclusive Free Sample: First 9 Chapters of Gripped Part 1 – Football Glory, Authentic Teen Struggles, and Hope-filled Journeys of Recovery
I wrote this series to shine a light on the real challenges facing today’s youth—because sometimes the hardest battles happen right under the surface of small-town life. Ready to uncover what really happened? Scroll down to read the opening chapters for free.
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”
Gripped Part 6: The Dunkin Legacy – A Thrilling Tease of the Next Chapter
The Gripped series has captivated readers with its relentless suspense and raw emotional depth, and Gripped Part 6: The Dunkin Legacy is set to raise the bar even higher. Author Stacy A. Padula returns with another pulse-pounding installment, diving deeper into the lives of Taylor Dunkin, Jordan Dunkin, and their father, Jack Dunkin, in theContinueContinue reading “Gripped Part 6: The Dunkin Legacy – A Thrilling Tease of the Next Chapter”
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”
Empower Your Reading Life with “Gripped”: A Series That Resonates with Women
Ladies, if you’re searching for a book series that not only entertains but also speaks to the heart of the teenage experience with all its complexities, the “Gripped” series by Stacy Padula is your next must-read. Here’s why you should immerse yourself in this compelling YA world: Authentic Female Characters: Relatable and Real: “Gripped” introducesContinueContinue reading “Empower Your Reading Life with “Gripped”: A Series That Resonates with Women”
Empower Your Classroom with “Gripped”: A Series That Educates Through Engagement
In an educational landscape where connecting with students on real-life issues is crucial, the “Gripped” series by Stacy Padula offers a unique opportunity to blend literature with life lessons. Here’s why “Gripped” should be on your classroom reading list: Educational Value Meets Engaging Storytelling: Real-World Issues in a Safe Space: “Gripped” tackles themes like substanceContinueContinue reading “Empower Your Classroom with “Gripped”: A Series That Educates Through Engagement”
