Chris Dunkin’s Journey with Substance Abuse and Recovery in Stacy Padula’s “Gripped” Series

Stacy Padula’s Gripped series intricately weaves the tale of Chris Dunkin, a character whose life spirals into substance abuse, only to embark on a tumultuous journey towards recovery. Set against the backdrop of Montgomery Lake High, Chris’s story is a poignant exploration of addiction, its consequences, and the often arduous path to redemption. The DescentContinueContinue reading “Chris Dunkin’s Journey with Substance Abuse and Recovery in Stacy Padula’s “Gripped” Series”

Chris Dunkin and Lisa Ankerman’s Relationship in Stacy Padula’s “Gripped” Series

The Gripped series by Stacy Padula delves deep into the lives of teenagers navigating the complexities of adolescence, including the trials of friendship, romance, and the looming shadow of substance abuse. Among the intertwining narratives, the relationship between Chris Dunkin and Lisa Ankerman stands out as a poignant tale of love, loss, and the struggleContinueContinue reading “Chris Dunkin and Lisa Ankerman’s Relationship in Stacy Padula’s “Gripped” Series”

Stacy Padula: Weaving Faith into the Fabric of Literature

Stacy A. Padula, an acclaimed author known for her “Gripped” and “Montgomery Lake High” series, has made a name for herself not only through her storytelling but also through the integration of her Christian faith into her work. Padula’s journey of faith is not just a personal one but one that she shares with herContinueContinue reading “Stacy Padula: Weaving Faith into the Fabric of Literature”

The Role of OxyContin in the Gripped Book Series

In the “Gripped” book series by Stacy A. Padula, the narrative weaves through the lives of teenagers in Montgomery, Massachusetts, grappling with the realities of substance abuse. One drug that plays a pivotal role in shaping the characters’ lives and the series’ overarching themes is oxycodone. This article explores how oxycodone is depicted, its impactContinueContinue reading “The Role of OxyContin in the Gripped Book Series”

Nicole Kroon Recommends “Taylor’s Story” to Young Adults

Article by Nicole Kroon—North Andover, Massachusetts https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?preview=inline&linkCode=kpd&ref_=k4w_oembed_9dDMUMv4gozEV0&asin=B098FC3LWN&tag=kpembed-20 As a junior in high school, I would recommend the novel Taylor’s Story (Gripped Part 5) by Stacy Padula to young adults who are constantly being exposed to drugs and alcohol, and are at a higher risk of being tempted to try them. This book is an excellentContinueContinue reading “Nicole Kroon Recommends “Taylor’s Story” to Young Adults”

Fordham University Graduate Reviews ‘When Darkness Tries to Hide’ by Stacy Padula

“This book throws the readers completely into the MLH world on a deeper level than ever before and makes for a quick read as you will not be able to put it down!” – Reilly Fournier

Y.A. Fiction Novel Expertly Juxtaposes the Internal & External Struggles of Being a Modern-day Teenager

Written by Reilly Fournier, Falmouth, Massachusetts In the premiere of the series “Montgomery Lake High: The Right Person,” author Stacy Padula expertly juxtaposes both the internal and external struggles of being and becoming a modern day teenager. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GKMHWO/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i5 From addressing a growing drug epidemic amongst this generation to opening the door for conversations about self-reflectionContinueContinue reading “Y.A. Fiction Novel Expertly Juxtaposes the Internal & External Struggles of Being a Modern-day Teenager”

April Q&A with Notre Dame Academy’s Kate Peterson

Kate Peterson is a senior at Notre Dame Academy. She is the captain of her school’s varsity ski team and a member of the tennis team. She is in NDA’s National Honor Society and is involved in her school’s Growing Greener, Spanish, and Model UN clubs. Kate traveled to the Dominican republic this past summer to build houses for a community in need. With a great passion for psychology and science, she plans to major in neuroscience or health science in college. After reading the young adult novel Gripped Part 3: The Fallout by Stacy Padula, Kate was asked by the author to answer the following questions and provide honest teenage feedback.

Notre Dame Academy Senior Reviews Stacy Padula’s Y.A. Novel “Gripped Part 3: The Fallout”

The book Gripped Part 3: The Fallout by Stacy Padula is a GREAT read. As a teenager, I learned so much from this book and was intrigued while reading every page. We learn about the dangers of drug abuse/addiction through the characters. The characters all have different struggles and reasons for their addictions, so we learn about their issues from different perspectives.

A High School Senior’s Take on Taylor & Marc Dunkin in ‘Gripped Part 1’

WRITTEN BY JACK STANTON, MEDFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS Jack Stanton Jack is a senior at Medfield High School where he is the founder and president of the school’s Investment Club. He has a passion for business and finance, engaging his interests in other business-related clubs such as DECA. Jack is a member of the Varsity Lacrosse andContinueContinue reading “A High School Senior’s Take on Taylor & Marc Dunkin in ‘Gripped Part 1’”

A Teen’s Perspective on Chris Dunkin & Cathy Kagelli in ‘Gripped 2: Blindsided’

Written by Kate Peterson, Hingham, MA Kate Peterson is a senior at Notre Dame Academy. She is the captain of her schools varsity ski team and a member of the tennis team. She is in NDA’s National Honor Society and is involved in her school’s Growing Greener, Spanish, and Model UN clubs. Kate traveled toContinueContinue reading “A Teen’s Perspective on Chris Dunkin & Cathy Kagelli in ‘Gripped 2: Blindsided’”

Medfield High School Class Leader Recommends ‘Gripped’ to Teens

WRITTEN BY JACK STANTON, MEDFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS Jack is a senior at Medfield High School where he is the founder and president of the school’s Investment Club. He has a passion for business and finance, engaging his interests in other business-related clubs such as DECA. Jack is a member of the Varsity Lacrosse and Hockey teamsContinueContinue reading “Medfield High School Class Leader Recommends ‘Gripped’ to Teens”

Notre Dame Academy Senior Uncovers Valuable Lessons for Teens in Stacy Padula’s ‘Gripped 2: Blindsided’

Written by Kate Peterson, Hingham, MA Kate Peterson is a senior at Notre Dame Academy. She is the captain of her school’s varsity ski team and a member of the tennis team. She is in NDA’s National Honor Society and is involved in her school’s Growing Greener, Spanish, and Model UN clubs. Kate traveled toContinueContinue reading “Notre Dame Academy Senior Uncovers Valuable Lessons for Teens in Stacy Padula’s ‘Gripped 2: Blindsided’”

Medfield High School Student-Athlete Shares Why Stacy Padula’s ‘Gripped’ Series Is a Must-read

WRITTEN BY JACK STANTON, MEDFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS Jack Stanton Jack is a senior at Medfield High School where he is the founder and president of the school’s Investment Club. He has a passion for business and finance, engaging his interests in other business-related clubs such as DECA. Jack is a member of the Varsity Lacrosse andContinueContinue reading “Medfield High School Student-Athlete Shares Why Stacy Padula’s ‘Gripped’ Series Is a Must-read”

Y.A. Fiction Novel Teaches Valuable Lessons in an Entertaining Way

Written by Kate Peterson, Hingham, MA The young adult book Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told by Stacy Padula is a great read. It teaches many valuable lessons, ranging from friendship to drug addiction. Through the experiences of one of the main characters, it addresses the epidemic of opioids to teenagers in aContinueContinue reading “Y.A. Fiction Novel Teaches Valuable Lessons in an Entertaining Way”

Y.A. Fiction Novel Sends Important Message to Teen Readers

Written by Kate Peterson, Hingham, MA I recommend Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told by Stacy Padula to middle school and high school students. They are the perfect age for this book because it relates so well to teenagers’ everyday lives. The characters are in their age group and going through tricky experiencesContinueContinue reading “Y.A. Fiction Novel Sends Important Message to Teen Readers”

A Young Adult Fiction Review by Sophia Tufankjian

This book informs you of the difficulties faced throughout high school and provides many life lessons. This story is relatable to any high school and something many students can connect with. It is a quick and easy read that will have you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this to any high school students or soon to be high school students. There are many things you can take away from this book that could even help guide you in your own life.

YA Novel “The Right Person” by Stacy Padula Guides Teens Through the Confusing World of High School

Going into your first year of high school is a historically stressful, confusing, scary experience. Surrounded by new faces, new perspectives, and new ideas, it is easy for a young impressionable teenager to be tempted to go against their morals and change themselves in an effort to fit in and make a good impression on their classmates, even if they know it’s not the right thing to do. The Right Person, by Stacy Padula, perfectly represents this internal conflict by entering the minds of a group of incoming freshman at Montgomery Lake High as they come across new obstacles in their social lives, much unlike what they experienced in middle school.