Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything: A Memoir

＂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 [this book], 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. ... 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＂--Provided by publisher.

Alyson Stoner is a multi-disciplinary entertainer, author, the founder and CEO of the mental health company Movement Genius, and the host of the award-winning Dear Hollywood podcast. Alyson holds certifications in the mind-body space and has created and participated in programming for the United Nations, World Economic Forum, World Health Organization, TED, LGBTQIA+ centers, leading universities, and others. During childhood, Alyson performed in 200+ films, TV shows, and tours, including Disney Channel’s Camp Rock, Phineas & Ferb, Step Up, Cheaper by the Dozen, and music videos with Missy Elliott and Eminem. They’re currently working on concrete solutions that support artists and entertainers who face unique psychological, physical, professional, financial, and social challenges.