Paula Forcade, 10th Grade

In a world where the spotlight shines on actors, we can’t help but be captivated by their charm, talent, and the amazing characters they bring to life. From their mesmerizing on-screen performances to their red-carpet appearances, we are often fascinated by the personas they portray. But have you ever paused to consider what lies behind the radiating and perfect surface of fame? What unknown experiences and personal struggles do these actors bear, hidden from the public eye? One such story is the one of Jennette McCurdy, a former Nickelodeon star known for her roles in shows such as “iCarly” and “Sam and Cat” as a brash and funny character. Now, two years since the release of her first “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” McCurdy’s millions of fans still appear to be clueless when it comes to her journey from child actor to memoirist that has brought light on the often unseen realities of the entertainment industry.

The controversial memoir that goes by the same name written by McCurdy details the before and after of her life before and after her mom died. It goes on to topics like eating disorders, addiction, and the complicated relationship with her smothering mother. She also talks about how she took control back from her mother, detailing her life and the recovery process she had to go through because of all the trauma she had experienced. Though some might say that all of this is disrespectful and off-putting, it seems like she is right and should be praised for being able to continue and surpass the abuse she went through.

“I yearn to know the people I love deeply and intimately—without context, without boxes—and I yearn for them to know me that way, too.”

As she discusses her childhood as a successful child actress, you will be able to explore the little aspects of her life and her career. She starts her story when she was raised in a religious household, and her mother being a devout Christian. Jeannette’s mother forced her to do diets from a very young age and was constantly criticized for her appearance. When she was 10 years old she was cast in the Nickelodeon series iCarly. She quickly became a household name once the show took off. Despite all her success she was often judged and sensationalized by the media. Her mother also constantly told her that she was not good enough by comparing her to other girls.

As time passed by, this had become worse and worse for her while she developed an eating disorder, and started to self-harm. In the end Jenner describes that she was relieved, how she was finally free from her mother’s control, when her mother died from cancer, when she was 18 years old. Although she experienced some kind of relief, it was sort of a short-term thing when she started to suffer again with her mental health while she suffered from anxiety and depression. She also started using alcohol and drugs to cope with the pain. Finally, she eventually went to therapy and started to heal from all that she’s been through, while also learning how to love herself.  

Jennette McCurdy was able to do the unthinkable, show society the deep truths of being a child actor and show the world the truth behind what is seen on a TV screen. What had seemed a dream to all, was not what McCurdy had thought of her child actor career. The book was her first step towards achieving a life outside of acting and today we can see that she’s found a place outside of it, one of which is the creation of a podcast called “Hard Feelings.” Additionally, she seems to be receiving treatment for her trauma and eating disorders. This book was not only a journey for Jenette herself but also for the readers who have resonated with her life story. Hopefully, the actors within the industry who have gone through similar hardships will find light in her bravery and we’ll see others share their experiences as well. But why trust my words when you can see how great of a story this is yourself? The book is everything you’d want to know about the hardships of child acting and is recommended to those who look for personal growth, and resilience and are on a journey of self-discovery.

“Mom didn’t get better. But I will.”