Description

The instant New York Times Bestseller

You knew their name. You didn’t know the real story.

The world knew Alyson Stoner as the charming tomboy from Cheaper by the Dozen, the iconic kid dancer with Missy Elliott, and the friendly face on Disney Channel hits like Camp Rock and Phineas and Ferb. But behind the scenes, a different story was unfolding-one of relentless pressure, family trauma, and a lonely battle to get help.

Semi-Well-Adjusted is more than a Hollywood memoir, it’s a fierce and unflinching look at what it takes to heal in a society that seems determined to break us. With bravely and hard-earned wisdom, Alyson shares their harrowing journey from an eighty-hour work week at age eight and stratospheric child stardom, to navigating religious trauma and rebuilding a life on their own terms.

Now a mental health advocate, Alyson offers a masterclass in self-reclamation for anyone ready to break free from the narratives that have defined them. Semi-Well-Adjusted is a roadmap for finding your own voice and power-despite literally everything.

* The instant New York Times Bestseller, based on sales from week ending 16/08/2025

Publisher Review

How can a book be so heart-breaking and yet so hopeful? Alyson’s memoir is a bracingly honest and necessary examination of what it actually means to be a child in the spotlight, and everything that happens after. Candid, insightful, and healing in ways I didn’t know I still needed — JoJo Levesque, New York Times bestselling author of Over the Influence A ballsy page-turner that puts the greed of the entertainment industry on blast, while simultaneously being a grounded narrative of incredible tenacity, courage and healing. A compelling argument for the abolition of child stardom — Stephanie Foo, New York Times bestselling author of What My Bones Know Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything is an intimate and compelling view into Alyson Stoner’s unique developmental journey as a child celebrity. Stoner courageously shares the challenges of a demanding professional life through family fractures, self-doubt and personal discovery. Stoner is a gifted storyteller; this book is a perfect mix of reflection, humor, generosity and empathy. It is the rare book that can carry so many important lessons without being shrill or preachy. Highly recommended — Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., Principal of The Neurosequential Network and #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of What Happened to You Alyson is one of those exceptional people who brings so much hope into the world. They have turned navigating a childhood surrounded by addiction and the negative side effects of fame into a journey of discovery and a guide to breaking generational trauma and finding personal truth. I highly recommend this wonderful book! — Dr. Caroline Leaf, neuroscientist and bestselling author of Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything peels back the glittering facade of childhood stardom to reveal the complex and often hideous realities that lurk beneath the surface. With raw honesty and remarkable insight, Stoner crafts a narrative that’s both deeply personal and universally resonant. A must-read that empowers, educates, and illuminates — Blair Imani, author of Read This to Get Smarter I read Semi-Well-Adjusted in one gulp. Stoner’s memoir demands that we reimagine the lives of the children who entertain us. The book will make you want to scream at the adults who failed Alyson and you will also revel in their joy, resilience and humanity. This memoir is a queer coming-of-age story woven with empathy, where Stoner reckons with a toxic industry and the ways that family and faith can support us or fail us. Their coming out is also a coming in – coming into the world after the social and educational isolation of round the clock entertainment labor. Their empathy – learned over time for themself – and their passion to protect kids – comes through on every page — Devorah Heitner, author of Growing Up in Public