Gripping and moving, heartbreaking and hopeful, this memoir is a must-listen. Child star Alyson Stoner details their life from childhood in Ohio to a move to Hollywood at age 7 to chase a dream of stardom. From a breakthrough performance as a dancer in Missy Elliot's "Work It" music video to a host of Disney Channel appearances and one of the Baker children in the Cheaper By the Dozen remakes, Alyson was a familiar face in the early 2000s. But behind the adorable smile, a much different life was unfolding—they worked without a break for 10 years.
The adults in their life did not look out for Alyson's best interests, and Alyson suffered emotional abuse, developed an eating disorder, and dealt with untreated mental health issues. Thankfully, as the title suggests, Alyson is Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything (2025) after years of work and self-advocacy. Because of their experiences, this memoir serves as a call to action to better protect working children and to improve access to mental health resources for all.
If you were moved by Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died (2022), listen to this memoir next (you may recognize Alyson’s voice from their work on Phineas and Ferb).