All the Colors Came Out: A Father, a Daughter, and a Lifetime of Lessons

When her father receives a devastating medical diagnosis, Fagan (What Made Maddy Run) leaves her job as an ESPN reporter and returns home to help care for him as he navigates life with ALS. As she watches him face his own mortality, Fagan reflects on the once-strong bond they shared, worn thin by time and distance. Fagan’s memories (seeing him in the stands as she played basketball, one-on-one games between them in the driveway, and following their beloved New York Knicks together) help her unfold the life lessons her father imparted over the years, knowingly or not. Ultimately, their shared love of basketball helps to restore the ties that had been lost between them. Also part of this deeply moving story are Fagan’s experience as a gay woman, the challenge of parents’ aging, and the enduring power of unconditional love. The author’s singular talent for relating her internal struggles and growth shines in this exquisite tribute to her father and family, and to the game of basketball.