logo

39 pages 1 hour read

Kate Fagan

What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen

Kate Fagan Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2017

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Kate Fagan

What Made Maddy Run

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2017
Book Details
Pages

310

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

University Of Pennsylvania • 2010s

Publication Year

2017

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan explores the life and tragic death of Madison Holleran, a talented student-athlete at the University of Pennsylvania who struggled with depression and ultimately took her own life. Using a non-linear narrative, Fagan delves into Madison's college experiences, her mounting academic and athletic pressures, and her unsuccessful attempts to seek help, while also discussing broader issues of mental health, social media, and the challenges young people face today. Sensitive topics such as suicide and depression are discussed in the book.

Melancholic

Informative

Emotional

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.4

18,200 ratings

84%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Kate Fagan's What Made Maddy Run is a powerful, deeply moving exploration of mental health pressures faced by young athletes. Reviewers praise its empathetic, well-researched narrative and impactful storytelling. Some criticism includes the book's intense emotional content, which may be overwhelming for some readers. Overall, it’s a compelling and necessary read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read What Made Maddy Run?

Readers of What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan are likely empathetic individuals interested in mental health, sports culture, and young adult struggles. Fans of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and The Pressure Cooker by Abigail Kirk would appreciate this insightful narrative blending personal tragedy with broader societal issues.

4.4

18,200 ratings

84%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

310

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

University Of Pennsylvania • 2010s

Publication Year

2017

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.