I hate her mom, and she needs to be medicated for everyone's benefit. Her poor kids.

Not even halfway through and girl I’m glad your mom died too, in fact I wish she’d hurry up and die already. All kids deserve parents but not all parents deserve kids.

Crying on cue is the skill you want in child acting. Everything else pales in comparison. If you can bring the tears on command, you're a real player...

This book is making me realize how much the entertainment industry thrives on trauma. People are "rewarded" for having loose boundaries (e.g. obediently doing what they're told even if it's uncomfortable) and developing skills that are actually trauma responses, ignoring anxiety and pain for attention/affirmation. I see this dynamic with adults too, but it's especially harrowing to watch a child navigate that mix of praise and misery. It really shows how twisted the whole system is.