Former child star Jennette McCurdy, known for her role in Nickelodeon’s iCarly, has released her first novel Half His Age, drawing on a relationship she had as a teenager with a much older man on the show’s set. In a podcast interview, McCurdy described the entanglement as “creepy” and “twisted”, revealing that the man would show her films and play music she pretended to like, and that he was in a long-term relationship which he used to control her.
The novel follows 17-year-old Waldo, a high school student in Alaska who begins an affair with her creative writing teacher, Mr Korgy, a man nearing 40 who blames his wife for his failed writing career. The story, told in first person, explores themes of power, desire and exploitation, with parallels to Lolita but giving the teenage protagonist agency and voice.
McCurdy’s previous memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, spent over 80 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and is being adapted for an Apple TV series starring Jennifer Aniston. Her novel, released on 20 January, has been described as provocative and daring, though some critics note that the protagonist’s character development feels superficial at times.
