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Using her own experiences, combined with interviewing Maddy’s family and friends and studying Maddy’s digital record, Kate Fagan traces the tragic effects of mental illness on a smart and talented young person. Fagan’s empathy for Maddy and her experiences trying to navigate the beginning of her college experience and her athletic career while simultaneously being overcome with anxiety and depression shines throughout the book. Fagan does not glorify her subject, but accurately details her human
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A well-written, very empathetically written, biography about Madison Holleran and reportage about the rising rate of suicide and depression in student athletes. Fagan has expanded her original article "Split Image" into an investigation about perfection, depression, social media, the athletics "mind set", college transition, and suicide. She includes interviews and work she has done with other students and a discussion about how to talk about suicide in the media.
This book is a rough read, I'm ...more
This book is a rough read, I'm ...more
An important work drawing attention to the mental health of young adults in today's social media-fueled world.
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3.5 stars.
This is one I should buy and keep around for Lucy to read when she is in high school. Fagan’s thoughts on social media’s relationship to anxiety and depression are striking. Madison Holleran was well parented, and well coached, and I would have coached and parented her exactly the same way those around her chose to. I have a lot to think about regarding the life I want to encourage my children (especially my daughter) to cultivate.
A tough read given the subject -- a college athlete's suicide and the broader issues around mental health among American youth -- but also a must-read for anyone working with teens. Fagan sensitively crafts a heart-wrenching narrative while acknowledging the things she/we cannot know about what was going on in Maddy's mind leading up to her death.
I do wish some of the data and other research referenced had been footnoted for further reading. ...more
I do wish some of the data and other research referenced had been footnoted for further reading. ...more
Aug 02, 2017
Ms. McGregor
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