Half His Age – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Half His Age

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2026

70%

WISE Score

Jennette McCurdy pivots from memoir to a sharp, messy, and deeply uncomfortable novel about a teen's obsession with her teacher.

Half His Age

book

2026

70%

WISE Score

Jennette McCurdy pivots from memoir to a sharp, messy, and deeply uncomfortable novel about a teen's obsession with her teacher.

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Screenwise Verdict

If you’re looking for a wholesome coming-of-age story, keep walking. Half His Age is the literary equivalent of a raw nerve. Jennette McCurdy is leaning hard into the 'unlikable protagonist' territory with Waldo, a 17-year-old who is as perceptive as she is impulsive. It’s going to be a must-read for the prose alone, but the subject matter—a student-teacher obsession—is designed to make you uncomfortable.

This isn't for kids who remember her from Nickelodeon; it's for the adults they've become. It’s a book about the 'internet-poisoned' brain and the desperate, often misguided ways we look for intimacy when we feel invisible. Expect it to be polarizing, brilliant, and deeply messy.

Age Fit

This is strictly for older teens (17+) and adults. It’s a sophisticated, dark character study that deals with mature themes of obsession and power imbalances.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's a raw, messy dive into obsession and power imbalances. While honest, it deliberately avoids 'wholesome' territory in favor of grit and emotional turbulence.

Imaginative

McCurdy’s prose is expected to be sharp and original, offering a distinct, 'internet-poisoned' perspective on modern loneliness.

Safe

The central plot involves a 17-year-old pursuing a married teacher. Between the predatory dynamics, explicit language, and sexual themes, this is not for younger readers.

Enriching

A high-level character study that explores the complexities of desire, class, and the human need to be seen. Great for critical analysis.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

McCurdy’s signature voice is the big draw here—expect the same blunt, mordant humor that made her memoir a massive hit.
It promises a raw look at the internet-age psyche, exploring how loneliness and the desire to be 'seen' manifest in 2026.
The book is set to be a cultural touchstone for the 'New Adult' genre, tackling power dynamics with zero filters.

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What to Watch For

The central plot involves a 17-year-old pursuing her teacher, which is inherently predatory and may be triggering for some readers.
Expect explicit language and sexual themes; the synopsis doesn't pull punches about the protagonist's 'ravenous' and 'horny' state of mind.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Waldo feels like she needs to be 'seen' by someone like Mr. Korgy?"
"How does the power imbalance between a student and a teacher change the nature of 'consent' or 'connection'?"
"Does the internet make us feel more connected or just more desperate for a real-world anchor?"

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