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412 reviews for:
What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen
Kate Fagan
4.2 AVERAGE
412 reviews for:
What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen
Kate Fagan
4.2 AVERAGE
Fagan offers insight into the factors that led a promising collegiate athlete to take her life. It not only tells her story but also dives into the pressures that high achieving students face and the influence of social media. In addition, Fagan offers a nuanced discussion of mental health concerns facing college students, examining the rise in anxiety and depression in young adults. As a college educator, it was valuable to understand what some of my students might face; as a mother, the pressures of achievement with little space to develop a sense of self.
Initially, I was put off by some of Fagan’s personal intrusions, but she used them to complicate the simple picture many want to paint about depression and suicide. She was also careful to honor Maddy as a human being while addressing issues young adults are dealing with.
Overall, a hard and sad read, but a worthwhile one.
Initially, I was put off by some of Fagan’s personal intrusions, but she used them to complicate the simple picture many want to paint about depression and suicide. She was also careful to honor Maddy as a human being while addressing issues young adults are dealing with.
Overall, a hard and sad read, but a worthwhile one.
This is a book that deals with a timely, important topic: mental health. It also deals with the discrepancy between our lives on social media and our real lives. It is well-written, quick, and touching. I cannot recommend this book enough.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Just so good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
This was an interesting story that was easy to read, but I think the author stretched a bit in trying to find enough material to turn her ESPN article into a full book.
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
emotional
medium-paced
kate fagan is a brilliant writer. this book is a beautiful, well-written guide into the transition into collegiate athletics, dealing with mental illness, and the way that social media affects our perception of life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Powerful. We should all be aware that young adults and teens filter their world for all to see. That filter can hide a person with serious emotional issues.
Another interesting point brought up by the author via a student survey response was the amazing amount of pressure put on kids to excel and be perfect or a "winner" by their parents. The young respondent likened it to the commodification of one's child. That stuck out to me. I am not suggesting this is the case with Maddy's family.
An eye opening book.
Another interesting point brought up by the author via a student survey response was the amazing amount of pressure put on kids to excel and be perfect or a "winner" by their parents. The young respondent likened it to the commodification of one's child. That stuck out to me. I am not suggesting this is the case with Maddy's family.
An eye opening book.
This reporting is both helpful and dangerous at the same time. I learned quite a bit about how to be a better professor, but I think I could have learned more from a book that was about life through suicide prevention instead of death by suicide.
After the song 1-800-273-8255 came out, calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline increased by a third. Quoted by CNN, John Draper, the director of the hotline, said,"We can certainly attribute and have seen call increases relative to tragic events and alarming portrayals of suicide in the media -- anywhere from (musicians) Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington's suicides, and (the Netflix show) '13 Reasons Why, ... But here's what's really important: Logic is generating calls with a song about getting help and finding hope. It's not focusing on tragedy or suicide. In fact, he's starting conversations about suicide prevention, as opposed to suicide."
I remember learning in high school about responsible reporting and the difficulties around death by suicide. This book does not follow the best practices, although it's mission is to educate people who can support those in need, and it certainly educated me about a student, it may do the opposite for those who are suffering. I could have learned as much or even more from a story about a woman who did not die, but was saved.
After the song 1-800-273-8255 came out, calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline increased by a third. Quoted by CNN, John Draper, the director of the hotline, said,"We can certainly attribute and have seen call increases relative to tragic events and alarming portrayals of suicide in the media -- anywhere from (musicians) Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington's suicides, and (the Netflix show) '13 Reasons Why, ... But here's what's really important: Logic is generating calls with a song about getting help and finding hope. It's not focusing on tragedy or suicide. In fact, he's starting conversations about suicide prevention, as opposed to suicide."
I remember learning in high school about responsible reporting and the difficulties around death by suicide. This book does not follow the best practices, although it's mission is to educate people who can support those in need, and it certainly educated me about a student, it may do the opposite for those who are suffering. I could have learned as much or even more from a story about a woman who did not die, but was saved.