Book Review: Maggie's Story

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Maggie's Story     Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Dandi Daley MacKall
Class/Genre:   Fiction   Religious Fiction   Juvenile   Young Adult
Tyndale, Apr 2006, $9.99, 303 pp.

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

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner