Im Glad My Mom Died – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Im Glad My Mom Died

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2025

88%

WISE Score

A brutally honest, darkly funny memoir about the high cost of child stardom and the messy road to reclaiming your own life.

Im Glad My Mom Died

book

2025

88%

WISE Score

A brutally honest, darkly funny memoir about the high cost of child stardom and the messy road to reclaiming your own life.

Jump to

Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)

Screenwise Verdict

Jennette McCurdy’s memoir is a cultural touchstone for a reason. It’s the final word on the 'Nickelodeon era' of the 2010s, but more importantly, it’s a stunningly written account of a woman finding her voice after it was suppressed for decades.

If you have a teen who grew up on her shows, they are likely already seeing clips of this on TikTok. Don't ban it—read it with them or right after them. It’s the perfect bridge for talking about body image, the 'fake' nature of social media/celebrity, and why your mental health matters more than your career.

Age Fit

This is strictly for ages 16 and up. While younger fans of iCarly might be drawn to the cover, the content is mature, heavy, and requires a level of emotional distance that younger kids just don't have yet.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

While the ending is one of recovery and self-actualization, the bulk of the narrative deals with deep emotional abuse, disordered eating, and the dark side of child stardom. It is emotionally heavy, though ultimately cathartic.

Imaginative

McCurdy’s voice is distinct, sharp, and creatively structured. She uses humor as a scalpel to dissect trauma in a way that feels fresh for the memoir genre.

Safe

This is a book for adults and mature teens. It contains graphic descriptions of bulimia, anorexia, alcohol abuse, and intense psychological manipulation. It is safe in the sense that it is a book, but 'unsafe' for younger readers due to triggering content.

Enriching

An masterclass in empathy and survival. It provides a vital perspective on the exploitation of children in media and the difficult process of setting boundaries with toxic parents.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Unflinching honesty regarding the reality of being a child star on massive hits like iCarly.
Deeply empathetic look at the complexities of grief when the person you lost was also your abuser.
Humor as a tool for survival; McCurdy manages to make horrific situations both readable and bitingly funny.
Advocacy through narrative, offering a mirror to anyone who has struggled with eating disorders or controlling family dynamics.

⚠

What to Watch For

Detailed descriptions of purging and calorie counting are central to the story and could be highly triggering for anyone with a history of ED.
The portrayal of parental manipulation is intense; it’s not just 'strict parenting,' it's emotional and physical boundary-crossing that is hard to read.
Frequent strong language and discussions of alcohol abuse as a coping mechanism.

Conversation Starters

"Why do we as a culture often ignore the red flags of child actors being exploited?"
"Can you love someone and still recognize that they were bad for your well-being?"
"How does the pressure to be 'perfect' for an audience affect how someone sees their own body?"
"What does it actually look like to set a boundary with a family member who doesn't respect them?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Writing about Im Glad My Mom Died? Put this WISE score on your site