Semi-well-adjusted despite literally everything a memoir
"Actor-dancer Alyson Stoner's revelatory and incisive memoir-from family violence and betrayal, to eating disorders and religious trauma-may begin in Hollywood, but its chilling relatability will resonate with anyone navigating identity, privacy, purpose, and mental health in a digital age. Raised o...
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| Format: | Books Print Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
New York :
St. Martin's Press,
2025.
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| Edition: | First edition. |
| Subjects: | |
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| Summary: | "Actor-dancer Alyson Stoner's revelatory and incisive memoir-from family violence and betrayal, to eating disorders and religious trauma-may begin in Hollywood, but its chilling relatability will resonate with anyone navigating identity, privacy, purpose, and mental health in a digital age. Raised on soundstages and studio lots from the time they were six, shuffling between auditions for Disney Channel, Cheaper by the Dozen, or a Missy Elliott music video, Alyson experienced their defining moments of childhood inside the bizarre fishbowl of Hollywood. From being eight with an 80-hour work week, differentiating fan inquiries from kidnapping plots, and TV execs telling them they're "not anorexic enough" to stop working and get help, they struggled to find stability and sanity in a chaotic world. In Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything, Alyson shares their powerful story for the first time, detailing a turbulent home life with addict parents, harrowing accounts from rehab, the messy process of discovering their sexuality in church, rebuilding a life after an early professional peak, and charting a path of self-discovery and advocacy. With striking introspection, Alyson connects the dots across the entertainment industry ecosystem, child development, and media culture, exposing the "toddler to trainwreck pipeline" of child stars and sparking timely conversations about success and society's enchantment with fame. Bold, entertaining, warm, and galvanizing all at once, Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything is more than a personal memoir: it's a beacon for industry reform, a roadmap for breaking the bonds of generational trauma, and a testament to the freedom and strength that come from finally trusting your own voice and power"-- Provided by publisher. |
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| Physical Description: | x, 306 pages ; 22 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |
| ISBN: | 9781250353498 1250353491 |
| Author Notes: | Alyson Stoner (they/them) is a multi-disciplinary entertainer, author, and the founder and CEO of Movement Genius, a mental health company providing therapist-led content to improve well-being. As the writer and host of the award-winning Dear Hollywood podcast, Stoner advocates for industry and policy reform centering the protection of children in traditional and digital media. With multiple certifications and fifteen years of group facilitation experience, they've led and contributed to programming for the United Nations, the World Health Organization, LGBTQIA+ centers, and leading universities. |
