If there is anything I know to be true, it is that the universe or god or whatever is out there is urging us to go through the wilderness and see where it takes us, and stay true to who we are, no matter what others may say.


As a young adult, Maddy Garrett started to question her religion. Previously a devout Christian, she realized that she no longer wanted to feel ashamed of her body, sexuality, thoughts, and lifestyle. She turned to poetry to capture her uncertainty as to whether or not the belief system she grew up in was able to grow with her.


The Unlearning is a poetry collection that offers an intimate look into Maddy's decision to leave her faith. Broken into five sections, this book details Maddy's journey in chronological order, from "Growing Up in It" to "The Rebirth," and concluding with "What I Would Go Back and Tell Myself." Maddy's poetry feels familiar yet analytical as she reflects on her past without a yearning to return to it.