Emily McDermott Reviews Gripped Part 1 by Stacy A. Padula

Gripped: Part 1 by Stacy A. Padula offers an informative and realistic insight into how quickly drugs and alcohol can tear apart a community. Taking place in a small Massachusetts town, Gripped is told from the perspectives of multiple different characters varying in age ranges from teens to twenties who are all struggling in one form or another from the effects of addiction. While the drug and alcohol usage starts out as something that the characters do casually at parties, it quickly becomes something much more severe. Featuring reoccurring themes such as miscommunication and peer pressure, the novel demonstrates how simply trying a drug or having a drink one time can lead to the breakdown of multiple relationships and drastically alter the course of a life for the worse. Although many of the characters attempt to steer those they love back on track, sometimes all the care in the world cannot be enough to save someone from their own mental battles.

The characters in this story are easy to root for, yet sad to read as they continuously make poor choices. Each character is realistic, resembling someone who many readers might be able to relate to. This relation provides a more personal connection to be made between readers and the characters as Padula makes sure to refrain from hiding all the uncomfortable truths that come with addiction, allowing for the characters to fall from grace. While the novel is a piece of fiction, many of the difficult moments featured are people’s real life struggles. Forcing oneself to read through the moments that are uneasy will ultimately reveal just how someone with such potential and drive can end up the target of a drug operation. 

Although it might seem as though a novel that revolves around addicts would feature plots geared towards characters that never had a chance of leading a successful life anyways, Gripped provides quite the opposite. Each character has a backstory of such promise, whether that be a star athlete destined for the NFL or a Jesus-loving girl devoted to living an honest and pure life. Through featuring characters such as these, Padula demonstrates that addiction can happen to anybody, no one is immune. 

Through themes such as choosing between right and wrong, this young adult novel is perfect for teenagers looking for a true account of what growing up can be like. While there is a discussion going around whether or not certain books should be allowed in the hands of young minds, as the topics can be intense, it is still crucial for young teens to understand the realities of addiction. Each conflict faced within the novel is something that could very realistically happen and teens should be aware of what the consequences of poor decisions could be. Instead of straying away from the novel due to its content matter, readers should embrace it as a learning opportunity. 

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ABOUT EMILY MCDERMOTT

Emily is a recent graduate of  Bridgewater State University where she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in English with a concentration in Literature. While at Bridgewater State, Emily worked in the Academic Achievement Center as a writing consultant where she helped enrolled students with any stage of the writing process. Being in this position helped Emily realize that working as an editor might be something she could see herself doing as a career. Currently, she is employed for a small business in her hometown of Bridgewater, MA while actively searching for jobs within the publishing field. She spends most of her free time reading books, playing with her dogs Neely and Kevin, going on coffee runs with her friends, and watching the Bruins with her dad.