Another book about a child actress is the memoir of Melissa Gilbert, the beloved Laura or "half-pint" from the drama "Little House on the Prairie". Growing up watching the antics of Laura and Mary, living a simple but sometimes difficult life on the prairie surrounded by a loving, understanding family and a close-knit, supportive community, it seemed that Laura had the perfect life.
However, this memoir reveals that like Jodie Sweetin, Melissa's life was less than idyllic. Both Jodie and Melissa, adopted into their families and playing characters on a popular TV show, struggled to find their true identities. Substance abuse and unhealthy relationships followed.
The other Melissa on set who played Laura's sister Mary didn't really get along well with her on-screen sibling but nasty Nellie Olsen, Alison Arngrim, and Melissa Gilbert really hit it off. That was interesting to read after all the years of watching the animosity between Nellie and Laura. It's so easy to believe that what you see on the movies is real when in fact that is never the case. I can see why both of these young actresses and others child stars have had so much difficulty having a normal life.
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