When the book What Made Maddy Run was first brought to my attention by my daughter Emmeline, she was talking about it over a family dinner, I took notice. Our entire family took notice. My wife Liz began reading the book soon after that conversation. We bought a second copy of the book. Over the next couple of months, the entire family had read the book. It's not uncommon for Liz or me to have read a book the kids are reading for school or to read along with them. It is uncommon for all four of us to read the same book. When deciding on a list of books to discuss in an episode of this podcast, What Made Maddy Run was at the top of the list.

What Made Maddy Run was written by bestselling author Kate Fagan. The author expertly navigates the delicateness of the subject matter, mental health and suicide. The story of Madison Holleran, Maddy to her family and friends, is one of a gifted student and athlete. She is described as beautiful, funny, and popular by those who knew her. Her social media accounts portrayed her as being full of life. And yet, as Maddy transitioned to her freshmen year of college she was met with feelings, internal struggles that she hadn't encountered before. Maddy contemplates quitting sports which was always a big part of her identity. She also considers transferring to a different college as she seeks to be happy again. Kate uses letters to and from Maddy; social media posts; first-person accounts; and elements of her own mental health concerns and experiences to describe Maddy's state of mind.

Throughout the book you will root for Maddy to find the answers she needs. You will relate to Maddy, her family, her friends, her coaches, and her teammates at different times. You will be left feeling empathetic for all of those folks in her life who will forever mourn her. We are reminded after reading this book to be kind to everyone you meet because you don't know what struggles they are facing. And as a parent, I am reminded to hug my kids and tell them I love them often.

My guests for this episode are Mr. Ryan Collins and Coach Josh Wachtel. They are the gentlemen who created the high school reading assignment that brought Maddy into our lives. Ryan and Josh are English teachers at Westfield High School (Indiana). The three of us discuss the scope of the student choice assignment. You will find out why What Made Maddy Run was added to the list of novels to choose from. We dig into student reactions after reading the book. We explore the impact of social media on the perception of happiness. And we talk about the importance of having someone to be able to open up to. None of us knew Maddy or her family personally but we were all moved by their story.