I'm Glad My Mom Died, by Jeanette McCurdy

 I'm Glad My Mom Died written by child star Jeanette McCurdy, who most famously played Sam Puckett on iCarly and Sam & Cat. It's an autobiography that follows her on the path to stardom, and how it was not as glamorous as it seemed. Growing up with a toxic mother who projected her dreams of fame onto her daughter, McCurdy was pushed into a career in acting that she didn't really want. Her mother's control continued as McCurdy was encouraged into an eating disorder, and countless other traumas.

When I read this book, I had coincidentally just finished watching iCarly for the first time and it was really eye-opening to me how McCurdy had to fake her personality so strongly. I was also sad because she had been so young when she started the show but was already being controlled by her mother. I don't usually read memoirs because life is rarely more interesting than fiction, but McCurdy's writing, spacing and diction made the book always engaging. I especially liked how her writing style changed as the narrator grew older. When she was writing about her childhood, the words sounded like they could have genuinely come out of a young kid's mouth, and as she detailed her life chronologically the writing style grew up with her. These small choices in tone & style overall made the book really engaging & interesting.

Reviewed by Lucy, Grade 11

Glendale Central Library