I’m Glad My Mom Died is a groundbreaking memoir by former famous Nickelodeon child actress Jennette McCurdy, who shares her story of journeying into acting, her strained relationship with her mother, and the later struggles she had with food and alcohol.
Her mother, who had the dream of becoming an actress, but couldn’t, does everything possible to make Jennette one, despite struggling with cancer and undisclosed mental health issues.
It gives Jennette a turbulent childhood – putting up with an absent father, grandparents, and two brothers in their small home packed full of ‘stuff’ her mom hoards.
Jennette shares how acting made her feel exposed, ashamed, and constantly under watch, whereas writing gave her the opposite feeling.
She proves this in I’m Glad My Mom Died, bringing the reader close to her innermost feelings with her simple language and brilliant storytelling abilities. From her mother homeschooling her to The Creator, her work director with abusive tendencies, she effortlessly draws the similarities and contrasts between characters who shaped her life.
Jennette explores child abuse from a simple-minded perspective, but toward the end of the book, you can feel how her stand shifts when she allows herself to get help and begins to see things differently.
She also gives an insider’s view of the film industry and its effects on children. Mental health is another substantial aspect of the book, which every character encounters at some point.
The memoir is a subtle message for people to identify the cause(s) of their problems and get help as early as possible. It also broaches true happiness and how it is in living your life and not the life of others.
I’m Glad My Mom Died is a personal 5/5. I recommend it to those struggling with acceptance – acceptance of body images, acceptance of family, and whatever form that could potentially spiral into a problem.
