Maggie's Story [Paperback]

Dandi Daley Mackall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2006

Maggie's Story Maggie Dale is stuck at a dead-end job in a podunk town in rural Ohio. Her life is on the fast lane to nowhere, until a stranger named Joshua comes to town and shows her that she can be a part of something bigger than herself. This contemporary retelling of Mary Magdalene's story will capture young adults ages 14 to 19 looking for a biblical perspective on the character disparaged by The Da Vinci Code.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dandi Daley Mackall is the author of over 400 books for children and grown-ups, with sales of over 3 million, she has published with HarperCollins, Dutton/Penguin-Putnam, Harcourt, Simon & Schuster, Disney, Hanna-Barbera, DreamWorks, and many others. Dandi; her husband, Joe; their three children (Jen, Katy, and Dan); and their horses, dogs, and cats live in rural Ohio.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thirsty (March 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414309783
• ISBN-13: 978-1414309781
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,457,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dandi won her first writing contest as a 10-year-old tomboy. Her 50 words on "Why I Want to Be Batboy for the Kansas City A's" won first place, but the team wouldn't let a girl be batboy. It was her first taste of rejection.
Since then, Dandi Daley Mackall has become an award-winning author of over 400 books for children of all ages, with sales of 4 million copies in 22 countries. Recent picture books with Sleeping Bear Press include Legend of Ohio, Rudy Rides the Rails: A Depression Era Story (Notable Book 2008 - Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People National Council of Social Studies & Children's Book Council; winner of the Angel Award, 2008; Winner of the "Award of Excellence" from Chicago Book Show 2007) and 2008 release, A Girl Named Dan (her own "batboy" story, and a lesson on Title IX), 2 Mom's Choice Awards & Amelia Bloom Award. Eva Underground, Harcourt young adult novel, nominated ALA Best Book 2007, starred Kirkus review, awarded a Top Teen Read by New York Public Library, finalist for Ohioana Award, was based on the author's experiences behind the Iron Curtain. Love Rules was awarded Romantic Times' Top Pick. Middle-grade fiction, Larger-than-Life Lara, Dutton/Penguin, which teaches how to write, while tackling the problem of bullying, is on the KY Bluegrass Award List 2007-8; William Allan White Award list, 2008-9; KS and KY Children's Choice lists. Her Winnie the Horse Gentler series has sold over half a million books and Starlight Animal Rescue is a Gold Medallion finalist. Dandi received the 2009 Helen Keating Ott Award for distinguished contribution toward promoting high moral and ethical values in children and young adult literature. She also received the Distinguished Alumna Award in 2008 from the University of Missouri. Dandi is a national speaker, keynoting at conferences and Young Author events, and has made dozens of appearances on TV, including ABC, NBC, and CBS. Visit Dandi at www.dandibooks.com, winniethehorsegentler.com, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85oaIUbJ8j8

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, April 2, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maggie's Story (Paperback)

He heals the sick and feeds the poor. He raises the dead and has charisma that attracts people to him from all walks of life. Those in his inner circle believe he is the Son of God. This is not Jesus Christ; instead this is Josh Davidson. Christ never came to earth as claimed by those in the first century, but now God sends his Son to protect and preach to the masses.

Maggie is a sinner who uses sex, drugs, and alcohol to dull her pain. She once tried suicide but failed and now just tries to numb her anguish. When Josh's path crosses hers, she walks away from him, but then returns to him as she is drawn to him and his message of forgiveness. Maggie becomes a devoted follower preaching with him in Ohio. She knows deep in her heart that Josh forgave her sins even if she cannot forgive them herself. Yet she is the one who sees him first when he rises from the dead and when the time is right she will be one of hiss followers to spread his message.

Although this book is aimed at young adults, older readers will enjoy reading Maggie's story immensely. Everything that happened to Jesus happens to Josh in the twenty-first century. Josh's message spreads around the world rather quickly because of advanced communications, which also means he is a threat to the powerful. Maggie represents a modern day Mary Magdalene as Dandi Daley Mackall makes the case that the Son of God could have come at any time and attracts the same followers and detractors. MAGGIE'S STORY will be cherished by readers.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Marybeth Williams, March 8, 2007

By 

Kevin C. Schottler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maggie's Story (Paperback)

Everyone's been through a time in their own lives where struggles seem to never fade and sometimes get the best of you. For Maggie these struggles overcame her life and trouble just kept knocking at her door, well at least until she met Joshua Davidson.
Maggie like a lot of teenagers fell into the wrong crowd in high school. Testing out everything from drugs to boyfriends, which led her to become a drug addict and having an abortion. That's pretty overwhelming for anyone to go through you'd think, but Maggie didn't stop there. She ended up not going to college and becoming a full time bar tender. To her advantage bar tending was an open door to meeting the right people (drug dealers), making new friends (other drug addicts), and keeping her mind off Chance, her aborted baby.
Maggie's now at her lowest point and thinks no one can change her. But to her surprise that is exactly what's going to happen. Her buddy from high school decides to through a big party but not the usual ones where she can score big on what she wants. This time she will score big on what she needs. Joshua Davidson a traveling evangelist wants to share the good news and by chance ends up at the same party Maggie is at.
Watching people's lives be changed for the good can be so empowering. This book is full of inspiration and is at a level that everyone can seem to relate to. Whether you are like Maggie, were like Maggie or know someone who is like her. That is why Maggie's Story seems to engross you while reading it. In my opinion Maggie's Story is an easy read and is great for everyone, but i believe teenagers would enjoy it the most. I enjoyed it and give it two thumbs up!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!!, February 11, 2007

By 

Deborah Dieleman "Jen D" (Ca.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maggie's Story (Paperback)

This is an amazing, and ming boggoling story about the life of Jesus. Some of the reviws for this book say it was unrealistic and that it couldnt have happened. I am 18 and this story showed me the real depth of our fathers love, and forgiviness. I think this is a must read for any teenager who wants to better understand God.