More or Less Maddy: A Novel

Maddy is the protagonist of the novel, which centers around her experiences in discovering she has bipolar I, and the steps she goes through to accept and live with it. As a young woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Maddy’s life is heavily influenced by the ups and downs of her condition. Her manic episodes lead to impulsive decisions, such as attempting to fly to Houston to open for Taylor Swift, while her depressive episodes leave her feeling empty and unable to function, at one point leading to a suicide attempt. Maddy deeply rejects The Impossible Expectation of Normalcy: Even for neurotypical people, “normal” is an artificial and oppressive concept, and her disorder only places her further from the traditional life she is expected to lead. At the beginning of the novel, Maddy struggles to fit into the expectations placed upon her, particularly by her mother, who insists on that “normal” life for her. This pressure to conform creates significant tension in Maddy’s life, making her question her worth and her place in the world.

Maddy’s arc is one of self-acceptance and discovering Personal Challenges as a Source Strength. Initially, she seeks to reject her bipolar disorder, and stops taking her medication, telling herself it must have been a temporary issue.