"Michelle Buckman's Maggie Come Lately has real characters in real problems with real faith. A page-turner with an important message that is anything but preachy, Maggie Come Lately is one to be read and shared for many years to come." ~ Barb Huff, The On Tour Series
~ Review from ArmChair Interviews
"Maggie Come Lately is a provocative unfolding of sixteen-year-old Maggie McCarthy's perilous journey toward self-discovery when forced to deal with mankind's darkest side. Like a master artist, author Michelle Buckman chips away at stereotypical notions while slowly unveiling the hope, faith, and rich familial bonds that guide us and sustain us." ~ Jody Ewing, The Weekender
"This is such a great read. Maggie Come Lately is so awesome real, I can't wait for book two..." Sarah Knight, 17 yo
"...A Piece of the Sky pours the healing balm of compassion and understanding upon anyone fortunate enough to open it..." ~ Deborah B. Dunn
I read Maggie Come Latelycover to cover in the past twenty-four hours. And it was amazing. I was glued to the book…. your novel truly touched me. Thank you SO much for writing such an amazing book…I plan to suggest Maggie Come Lately to all of my friends and family!... I am already looking forward to My Beautiful Disaster!
Your newest big fan,
Randi Coker
"Despite everything that's going on, I had time to read another amazing book by Michelle Buckman. With Maggie Come Lately, I was completely drawn in by her characters and real life issues that she tackled in the story. In her second book, My Beautiful Disaster, she drew me in even more with her compelling story about Maggie's best friend-turned-sister, Dixie. In Dixie's story, she goes through love, loss, fear, and redemption. I can honestly say that I felt her emotions when I read her words. I felt my chest puff up with pride as if I knew her myself. I felt connected.
I could not put the book down for three days straight.
You want a good read? You're looking at it."
- Jordin Sparks, American Idol 2007
Review by Earl Hamner
Creator of The Waltons and Falcon Crest, author of Spencers Mountain and The Homecoming
That wise and wonderful Southern writer, Lee Smith, once observed, “I was at a point in my life where all my friends, women I had grown up with, were suddenly floundering, because we were following someone else’s idea of who we ought to be and what we ought to do.”
I remembered Lee Smith’s remark soon after I began reading Michelle Buckman’s excellent new novel, “Maggie Come Lately.” How well it dramatizes the predicament of young Maggie McCarthy. We are present at that moment when she was four years old and her entire life shifted. We meet her later in present time - a perfect daughter, a perfect substitute mother to her siblings, a perfect student, and a perfect friend. There is only one problem. Influenced by to the pressure of society, submitting to the circumstance of her position in the family, responding to every demand made upon her to conform to what is expected of her, Maggie has neglected to become her true self.
That voyage of self-discovery begins on her sixteenth birthday when she first assumes the role of surrogate mother to her orphaned siblings, of willing housekeeper to her widower father, of compliant friend to her schoolmates. Under Mrs. Buckman’s skilled hand we live through Maggie’s longing for someone to love her and her eventual discovery of that love. We share her dismay when her father courts a totally inappropriate second wife, and we experience along with Maggie’s her deep concern when a younger brother begins to retreat from life.
A shocking event early on, the murder of one of her classmates, shadows the action and the fabric of the book.
The suspense is intense for a work primarily intended for youthful readers, but the author knows what she is doing and the reader is compelled to keep reading until the surprising climax.
While this book is directed toward a younger readership it can also prompt each of us to reflect on who we are and how we got that way. As Lee Smith asks, “Are we someone else’s idea of who we ought to be,” or are we our true selves?
Maggie Come Lately wasAMAZING! I couldn't put it down!I can't wait to get the next one!
God Bless!! -Mandy Lawrence, Oklahoma
I LOVE THIS BOOK... Maggie Come Lately is the most awesome book I have ever read and I have read ALOT of books. READ this book... YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID! (Unsigned)
Wow!Maggie Come Lately was AMAZING! It opened my eyes to how common rape really is, and I thank you 1,000,000 times for writing this book. It is going to help SO many girls that are struggling with the same problems that maybe Billy, Maggie, or Sue were struggling with. You are a truly amazing and talented writer. Thank you SO much and God bless you,
Olivia
Your book has been a true "eye-opener"… it is most definitely the best book I have ever read….
I am absolutely in love with it; the ending COMPLETELYsurprised me! I think I read the last 14 chapters about 3 times… Thanks for writing such an awesome book! Respectfully,
That wise and wonderful Southern writer, Lee Smith, once observed, “I was at a point in my life where all my friends, women I had grown up with, were suddenly floundering, because we were following someone else’s idea of who we ought to be and what we ought to do.”