Gripped Part 1
The Truth We Never Told
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date May 21 2024 | Archive Date Jun 30 2026
Talking about this book? Use #Grippedbookseries #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
The Gold Winner for "Best Teen Book" in the Readers’ Choice Book Awards—now being adapted for television by Emmy® award-winning producer, Mark Blutman!
Taylor Dunkin was the golden boy of Montgomery, Massachusetts—a star quarterback with a clear path to the NFL. A devastating knee injury in college changes everything. What begins as painkillers for recovery quickly turns into a dangerous addiction, pulling him into dealing drugs.
When his younger brother Marc discovers that Taylor is the source of the pills now circulating through Montgomery Lake High School, the tight-knit Dunkin family begins to fracture.
Told through multiple perspectives and flashbacks, Gripped Part 1 also explores the innocent beginnings of adolescence—first parties, budding romances, and friendships—before Taylor's hidden struggle with addiction starts rippling through the entire community.
This is the most innocent installment in the series, blending slice-of-life teen relationships with the raw early stages of peer pressure and substance issues.
Written by a college counselor with 18 years of daily experience working with teenagers and vetted by current high school students for authenticity.
Note: This is the first book in a 6-part series. The emotional intensity and stakes rise significantly in Books 4–6.
Perfect for fans of realistic YA contemporary such as Crank, Go Ask Alice, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Advance Praise
"A riveting read from start to finish." - Midwest Book Review
"A compelling and gripping novel, with an important message." - Readers' Choice Book Awards, Gold Winner
"I've always looked for ways to affect young adults with a positive message in my work and so the opportunity to take the world Stacy created, a world showing how good kids can easily fall into life threatening drug addiction and eventually put the pieces of their lives back together, was an opportunity and challenge I was excited to bring to the small screen." - Mark Blutman, Emmy-Award winning producer
"Invigorating, engaging and a must read. The characters in the Gripped Series diligently tackle the essence of forces that can limit greatness within." - LaTonya Pinkard from the Netflix Original Series 'Last Chance U'
"What truly sets Gripped apart is its ability to educate without preaching. Unlike many other reads, Padula does not soften the realities of addiction, peer pressure, or mental health challenges, and instead presents them as they often appear in real life-messy, painful, and deeply impactful." - Ava Khouri, Senior Class President of Hanover High School
Marketing Plan
Author visits to schools, youth groups, libraries, and churches.
Social media marketing with professionally produced book trailers on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
TV Adaptation in progress.
Series endorsed by NFL running back, TreVeyon Henderson, and Emmy-Award winning producer & writer, Mark Blutman.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781735016832 |
| PRICE | $16.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 210 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 1 member
Featured Reviews
Book Trade Professional 2085121
Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told has the potential to set kids on a positive path who may have otherwise turned down a dark road. Highly recommended for adolescents, teachers, and parents.
Gripped Part 1 is a powerhouse of a YA novel that pulls you in from the first page and refuses to let go. Stacy A. Padula has crafted a raw, honest, and deeply compelling story that tackles the harsh realities of addiction, peer pressure, and the fallout from one bad decision after another—all while never losing sight of hope and redemption. The characters are complex, flawed, and relatable—Padula doesn’t shy away from showing how good kids from good families can still get caught up in something far bigger than themselves.
What sets this book apart is its unflinching realism combined with heart. The dialogue crackles with the intensity of teenage life, the parties feel vivid and dangerous, and the consequences hit hard. It’s the kind of story that sparks important conversations about substance abuse, influence, and the pressure to fit in. The pacing is perfect, the mystery elements keep you hooked, and by the end you’re fully invested in these characters and desperate to see what happens next in the series. Looking forward to diving into Gripped Part 2 and the entire series!