Alyson Stoner Reveals The Untold Truths Of Growing Up In Hollywood

Alyson Stonerhas worn many hats over the years, Disney Channel star, dancer, singer, entrepreneur, but now the "Camp Rock" and "Step Up" alum is using their voice in a different way.

In their new memoir, "Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything," Alyson Stoner digs deep into their past, reflecting on their journey as a child performer and the systemic issues that shaped their experiences.

During a recent appearance on "Totally Booked with Zibby," Stoner revealed that writing has always been their most natural form of self-expression, though they never initially planned to share their private processing with the world.

“Writing actually was my preferred form of personal processing from a young age, so I wasn’t ever planning on sharing it in this way,” they explained. “While it’s very trying to dig into the deep crevices of your own psyche and relay them to the entire world, it also was really beautiful that I could couple my processing with the medium that comes most naturally.”

But what compelled them to finally publish their story was the greater purpose they saw in breaking the silence around the child star ecosystem.

“There’s been this repeated pattern of memoirs and documentaries highlighting the experiences of former child performers, and they repeat very similar cadences, downward spirals, and yet no one has unpacked the surrounding ecosystem,” Stoner said.

“Now that I’m a mental health practitioner, I thought I can not only share some of these untold stories from sets growing up, I can also present ideas that hopefully connect new dots across media culture, child development, industry protocols," they continued. "Come for the childhood chaos but stay for the cultural critique.”

One issue Stoner highlights is the lack of protection and training for those working with children in Hollywood, something Zibby admitted shocked her when reading the book.

“I think there are assumptions that children are simply adults in training, and that the cognitive structure of a child’s brain is the same as an adult,” Stoner explained. “In reality… you obviously haven’t formed your own sense of identity. A lot of your behavior is based on whatever is modeled or normalized or feels like a strategy to make sure your essential needs are met.”

To help close these gaps, Stoner has already designed resources like the Artist’s Wellbeing Essentials Toolkit, a guide equipping young performers with exercises and strategies tailored to the performing arts. But they stressed that responsibility shouldn’t fall solely on kids and families.

“There are a lot of ways that I think we can create preventative resources — onboarding manuals you would receive at any job,” they said. “And then we also have to look at larger solutions, of course, around policy and legislative protections. Because when you can’t rise to your values, you’ll fall back on the structures. And the structures right now aren’t sufficient enough.”

While Stoner’s book dives deep into their past, they are also mindful of how sharing such vulnerable stories can impact them in the present. Zibby pointed out that in the memoir, Stoner discusses the tendency to push aside their own needs, something they are determined not to repeat as they promote "Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything."

“That is a great question and I set up some systems and structures before entering the campaign,” Stoner said, noting that they have slated to do between 50 and 100 interviews and appearances in a short time. “If I aspire toward the ideal morning routine and perfect quote unquote self-care, according to social media, I will set myself up for failure. So I’m not aiming for perfection here."

They continued, "What I am doing is trying to pick a few key ways to stay afloat. And for me, it’s the basics. It’s sleep, it’s nourishing my body, and it’s having someone as a support lever in case I need to say, hey, something’s gone awry.”

With a laugh, they added that the book’s title itself feels fitting for today’s world.

“I think we all need that at this point, modern life and pace and oof, it’s a lot to be alive in 2025. I think the name of the book, 'Semi-Well-Adjusted,' is the unofficial mood of this year.”

As they step into this new chapter, Stoner says their ultimate commitment is to advocacy, using their lived experience and professional expertise to help create a safer, more sustainable future for the next generation of performers.

"Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything" is out now.