Nichole Conran Recommends “Gripped Part 1” by Stacy Padula to Teens and Adults

Nichole will graduate in 2024 with a Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. She enjoys reading, writing, baking, going to the beach, and spending time with loved ones. She plans to pursue a career in writing after graduation. 

I would recommend the Gripped series to teenagers and young adults. This is an important series for young people to read because the situations that the characters find themselves in are common situations that could occur in real life. This book showcases how one seemingly small bad choice can result in life changing consequences. Caving to peer pressure and social influence can be dangerous, and this story demonstrates why. The characters navigate relatable things such as love, friendship, and finding themselves. Young adults may identify with their feelings and their struggles.

What I like best about this story is how it captures the relationships between the various characters. It’s intriguing to learn about the characters and how they are all connected to each other. I enjoyed watching the relationship between certain characters unfold. I became invested in learning why the characters made certain choices, and felt compelled to keep reading to see what happened to them. The message that this book sends to readers is to be careful about the choices that you’re making. A choice that doesn’t appear significant at first could lead to a devastating outcome. Our choices not only affect us, but our loved ones as well. 

The storyline that I find the most interesting is between Cathy and Jason. I was curious how the two of them would interact with each other once they met. I enjoyed reading their conversations with each other, and learning about Cathy’s inner thoughts. I’m looking forward to reading about what happens to them in the series. I’m curious to see what will happen to Taylor and Marc after Marc was asked to assist in a situation with Taylor. I want to read more about Chantal and Cathy’s relationship after the last conversation that Chantal had with Jason. 

I feel bad for Cathy because she seems remorseful over certain events. I feel bad for Jon and Chantal because of the emotional pain they experience together. I’m concerned for Jon because he appears to be a little lost. I’m frustrated with Taylor because I want him to make the right choices, otherwise I’ll worry about him as a reader. I relate the most to Cathy due to her initial nerves in a new social setting. I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters and I like them all. There isn’t a character that I dislike. I find each character to be interesting in their own way. 

I highly recommend this book. This book is an educational read, highlighting the experiences that young people may go through. Young adults may relate to the situations that the characters are in. The characters navigate love, friendship and finding themselves while under the pressure of social influences. This book demonstrates how certain choices can have devastating consequences for the person making that choice, and their loved ones.

The relationships between the characters are intriguing and leave the reader wanting to know more. I found myself becoming invested in the characters. The storyline pulls a reader in. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens to them as I continue reading the series.