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A review by gwenolabarr
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
5.0
There are no words that can adequately acknowledge, respect, and honour the trauma and healing that McCurdy has gone through. To say this woman is brave, and a survivor is an understatement. I am very glad that her Mom died, too. Unfortunately, the downside to this is that her Mom will never be held accountable for her actions in the way that she deserves.
McCurdy's memoir shook me to my absolute core - whether it be from the shock of the abuse that happened, or the shock of how relateable the people-pleasing, perfectionist, "you have a duty" anxiety she harbours is. While at varying degrees, this is a very common headspace for many women whose mothers, after feeling robbed of their own identity, made motherhood and the success of their children a reflection of their self-worth.
Having been born in 1990, I was well beyond Nickelodeon by the time iCarly was airing. However, as a teeny bopper, I do remember watching several Dan Schneider shows on air before it (All That, Keenan and Kel, The Amanda Show). Prior to reading McCurdy's memoir, I was aware of the controversy (nothing to debate, he did it) around Schneider and his well-paid out (a disgusting $7mil) from Nickelodeon (be ashamed, Nick).
McCurdy's book just cemented my views and highlights many issues with child acting that still needs to be worked out. McCurdy is not the first one to speak out about experiences like this, and her Mom and Schneider are not the first or last people of power to exploit children.
The guild needs to work on the better industrial representation of minors as an industry standard - and let's start with hiring child wellbeing and protection officers on set (one per child), and saving more than 15% of what a minor earns in trust for the minor so families cannot exploit their labour by taking 85% of their earnings.
I do not understand the labels of "funny" plastered around in reviews. Sombre, dark, cynical humour does not read as "funny" to me. This is the reality of trauma, and there are millions of children who experience this type of trauma who aren't on screen. It's up to us to fight to change this through policy and action.
Read this book. Share this book. This book needs to be a lesson in the long-term consequences of actions and the power that guardians have over their children.
McCurdy's memoir shook me to my absolute core - whether it be from the shock of the abuse that happened, or the shock of how relateable the people-pleasing, perfectionist, "you have a duty" anxiety she harbours is. While at varying degrees, this is a very common headspace for many women whose mothers, after feeling robbed of their own identity, made motherhood and the success of their children a reflection of their self-worth.
Having been born in 1990, I was well beyond Nickelodeon by the time iCarly was airing. However, as a teeny bopper, I do remember watching several Dan Schneider shows on air before it (All That, Keenan and Kel, The Amanda Show). Prior to reading McCurdy's memoir, I was aware of the controversy (nothing to debate, he did it) around Schneider and his well-paid out (a disgusting $7mil) from Nickelodeon (be ashamed, Nick).
McCurdy's book just cemented my views and highlights many issues with child acting that still needs to be worked out. McCurdy is not the first one to speak out about experiences like this, and her Mom and Schneider are not the first or last people of power to exploit children.
The guild needs to work on the better industrial representation of minors as an industry standard - and let's start with hiring child wellbeing and protection officers on set (one per child), and saving more than 15% of what a minor earns in trust for the minor so families cannot exploit their labour by taking 85% of their earnings.
I do not understand the labels of "funny" plastered around in reviews. Sombre, dark, cynical humour does not read as "funny" to me. This is the reality of trauma, and there are millions of children who experience this type of trauma who aren't on screen. It's up to us to fight to change this through policy and action.
Read this book. Share this book. This book needs to be a lesson in the long-term consequences of actions and the power that guardians have over their children.