Half His Age
Jennette McCurdy
HarperCollins, 2026
Jennette McCurdy’s debut fiction novel, Half His Age, is bold and disturbing. However, I could not put it down. After reading McCurdy’s 2022 memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, I was fascinated by her brutally honest writing style that is veiled in a cynical tone, so I couldn’t wait to read her next work. While Half His Age is a remarkable book that explores the complexity of girlhood and parental relationships, readers should be warned that it contains very explicit descriptions of grooming between a teacher and student.
The story follows 17-year-old Waldo, who is initially unlikeable, as she is primarily self-centred and judgemental of the world around her. However, as the story progresses, I couldn’t help but feel for her. Waldo’s actions throughout the novel are frustratingly justifiable, as her world is rooted in neglect, abuse, loneliness, and misogyny.
Waldo’s relationships with her dysfunctional mother, absent father, and 40-year-old teacher are clear examples of authorial intrusion, as these issues were also highly prevalent in her memoir. While the teacher-student relationship that centres the novel made me extremely uncomfortable, it was an important commentary on power imbalances that still pervade society today, particularly between men and women. Waldo’s overconsumption and constant focus on altering her appearance in order to please her teacher were an unfortunate but realistic depiction of the misogynistic standards that are embedded into our modern world. As the predatory relationship progressed and her teacher continued to manipulate her, I felt myself clenching my fists at the end of every chapter in the hopes that Waldo saw it for what it truly was. When this finally occurred, Waldo’s sense of freedom was magnetic, and it was empowering to see her start to become her own person.
McCurdy writes with a crude, unflinching, and satirical style that explores deep-rooted societal issues that must be talked about. This novel captures female rage so powerfully that you feel it as the reader, a rarity in today’s fiction.
