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Saving Maddie

Varian Johnson

Ages 14–18

Readers rate it 4.0 (1 on Hardcover)

242 pages · Released Mar 9, 2010

Content report card

Saving Maddie parent’s guide: what’s inside

Medium confidence

Violence

LGBTQ+ themes

What it offers

Educational value

A note for parents

This YA novel explores themes of judgment, redemption, and moral complexity through a relationship between a sheltered preacher's son and a troubled girl from his past. The story examines faith, identity, and whether people can change, with some mature content including drinking, sexual references, and language. It's best suited for mid-to-older teens who can engage with moral ambiguity and religious questioning.

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From the publisher

Joshua Wynn is a preacher’s son and a “good boy” who always does the right thing. Until Maddie comes back to town. Maddie is the daughter of the former associate pastor of Joshua’s church, and his childhood crush. Now Maddie is all grown up, gorgeous—and troubled. She wears provocative clothes to church, cusses, drinks... Joshua Wynn is a preacher’s son and a “good boy” who always does the right thing. Until Maddie comes back to town. Maddie is the daughter of the former associate pastor of Joshua’s church, and his childhood crush. Now Maddie is all grown up, gorgeous—and troubled. She wears provocative clothes to church, cusses, drinks, and fools around with older men. Joshua’s ears burn just listening to the things she did to get kicked out of boarding school, and her own home. As time goes on, Josh goes against his parents and his own better instincts to keep Maddie from completely capsizing. Along the way, he begins to question his own rigid understanding of God and whether, as his mother says, a girl like Maddie is beyond redemption. Maddie leads Josh further astray than any girl ever has . . . but is there a way to reconcile his love for her and his love for his life in the church?

Shelved under

  • Young Adult Fiction

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ISBN 9780375895920 · Delacorte Press

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