Thank you to #NetGalley and #ECWPress for letting me read this book.I wanted to read this book because I am fan of the Degrassi Franchise.Linda was very open, and honest and that made a great read.

I received an eBook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As a long-time fan of Degrassi I was really excited when I seen that the creator had written a memoir! LInda Schuyler takes us throughout her life as well as some behind-the-scenes of the show itself. I think fans will be equally fascinated by her own personal tellings as they will be when reading about the show that was a staple for so many pre-teens/teens.

Linda also brings us through the journey of being a woman in the 70s. Of course we know television was absolutely a male-dominated area back then, yes, even for Canadians. I found these bits of the story to be highly interesting considering the climate for women in the past decade especially. It also did not detract from the story for fans of the show who may not be interested in this, however, this IS a memoir about Linda herself.

I think any fan of Degrassi would enjoy the read. The topics discussed in the book, the show itself and what they covered in nearly every episode - for sure every season, and the pace made for a great memoir from a television legend in her own right.

Degrassi has been a part of my life for the majority of my life. I remember watching it with my brother, then friends, then my fiancé, and again with him as my husband. So I was really looking forward to reading this book.
I enjoyed learning the history behind the creation and development of Degrassi but it wasn't as entertaining as I expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and EVW Press for allowing me early access to the ebook version of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Really for Degrassi fans or I guess people interested in the tv industry? It was an interesting peek into how she got the idea for the show, what they wanted to accomplish and getting it on the air. Lots of fun behind the scenes peeks, lots of drama, casting info etc. It would be a fun present to give a mega fan!

I have loved Degrassi since I first saw it in middle school. My brother and I constantly talked about it. This behind the scenes look a the creator was incredibly interesting!

This is likely a very niche book (although maybe there are lots of Degrassi lovers out there!) and I am part of that niche. I love Degrassi in all of its nostalgic Canadian glory. And, I love memoirs that offer a peek behind the scenes of cultural institutions (and I think Degrassi counts as a cultural institution!). It was a fascinating read, and learning more about Linda Schuyler, who I frankly knew nothing about before reading, was a great bonus.

To learn where the Degrassi teen series came from, you must start from the source, The Mother of All Degrassi, Linda Schuyler. This is also the name of the book by the creator of Degrassi who doubles as the author. In this book, you'll find out about the origin of the famed Canadian teen show and how it has evolved throughout the years and continues to enthrall teen and adult viewers alike.

I, for one, could not wait to get my hands on this book because, since the series began in the mid-1980s, when I was a teen, I watched it. A co-worker friend and I used to meet up at the bookstore where we worked to discuss plotlines and characters. She even subscribed to a newsletter, provided by PBS, that detailed upcoming episodes and more. Fast-forward to 2002, and I caught the Next Generation series on cable. Now my daughter and I binge-watch old and newer episodes and cannot wait for its latest iteration on HBO Max next year.

Linda Schuyler is a dynamic woman who pioneered this series from the beginning. She started out as a teacher and began documenting some of her students in a film that focused on students who had immigrated from parts of Africa to Canada--a true culture shock down to the snow. From that point, she was drawn toward telling the stories of what we now call tweens and teens to help them and give them a voice regarding the many serious topics that infiltrate their lives and those of their friends and family.

What Schuyler did was revolutionize television to include everyone. Her ingenuity in plotting the series, finding ways to get it made, and building her own sometimes faltering confidence was inspiring. She immigrated herself from England and felt secondary but understood adjusting to a new culture and new place. She confronted traumatic situations in her past and present from a serious car accident to her struggles to have children. She can relate to teens who struggle with their own issues, no matter how minor or major they may be. And she doesn't treat them like they're secondary.

Even if you have no knowledge of her other TV series that, I believe, only aired in Canada, you'll marvel at how she put these shows together, faced cancellations, and earned multiple awards. Amid those failures and successes, she learned about the TV industry and how to succeed. She's very humble about her success and grateful for it, and she's an excellent role model for women. Obviously, she couldn't do all this alone, but with her colleagues, her family, and her friends, she kept fighting to accomplish her goals. When they didn't work out, she went back to square one and devised a new path despite any roadblocks in her way.

Although a lot of the book covers Degrassi, I really wanted to hear more about the episodes, the issues in more controversial stories, and how the kids she worked with felt. You do get an inside look at Aubrey Graham's comical audition (yes, I'm talking about Drake). It's Schuyler's book, but I was hungry to hear about Degrassi in more detail. But she does cover quite a bit about the series, so fans will be satisfied to a degree. This calls for a dedicated Degrassi book that covers the entire series if anyone's game to tackle this with multiple seasons, tons of actors, and episodes over 30+ years.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and think other fans of the Degrassi series should take a look. Schuyler is a force in the television industry and should inspire other women with her incredible list of accomplishments.

I have recently started another re-watch of Degrassi: TNG and have been introducing it to my husband for the first time and when I saw this book I was instantly intrigued. I never watched any of the earlier Degrassi series and I also haven't watched in a long time, but The Next Generation was coming out when I was in middle and high school and I loved it.

This was such an intriguing story of how Degrassi came to be, how it evolved through the years and the different iterations of the show, and how it has become such a staple of Canadian teen culture. I found this book very personal, while also sharing so much of the details of the show and moments that I remember vividly. I really enjoyed this book and am even more excited to continue with the re-watch as well as the new series coming next year and see what happens with that.

Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is primarily for fans with an interest in Degrassi, a legacy of Canadian television. Anyone with interest in filmmaking may also find some appeal. As a longtime Degrassi fan from way back in the days of Degrassi Junior High, it was fun to read the story of its origins; the casting, the behind the scenes, the drama-behind-the-drama. It also led me to some related shows and episodes of talk shows I was unaware of. A treasure trove of nostalgia for all Degrassi fans!

I remember watching Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High when I was growing up. I remember thinking even for a TV show the issues that they were dinner with at the time it was made really reflected what was happening in general life. Linda Schuyler's memoir brought this all back, so much so I binged watched DJH!

Linda created a groundbreaking show that pushed boundaries and addressed particular issues. Her book delved into how some of these issues were researched and formed into episodes and some backlash against some of them as well. Linda was also a strong person, working in a very male centric industry in the 1970s and 1980s. She didn't Take no for an answer and she really made sure that she thought hard what she believed in. She stood firm on her beliefs, even among those she closely worked with.

Linda covered a lot of her own life and her journey into becoming interested in film and also her heartbreak in not being able to have children. She became the mother to all the kids in the Degrassi series', and took the interests of the children casted in the TV shows to heart. Her passion is captured in every page as well as in her drive to secure funding for every series. Her accolades printed at the end of the book stream for pages and reflect Linda's determination to succeed and make an impact in Canadian TV and film industry. Loved reading about her collaboration with Kevin Smith too!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. Published today- if you are a Degrassi fan, grab it today!

** Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. **

Linda is a world class storyteller, and an excellent teacher. Her passion for her work beams from every page.
I've read many memoirs, (including one by Kevin Smith) but there's something so elegant in the way Linda writes and delivers her memories. I adore and admire her wonderful work.
Linda's book The Mother of All Degrassi is a brave and intimate account of the past and how Linda used her career to share stories with the world. It was a touching and endearing secret shared from surrogate mother to every lost and lonely child that found love and acceptance and their own place at Degrassi Community School.

Pleased to include this memoir in the Oct/Nov print edition, a spread highlighting the season’s most anticipated celebrity memoirs, for the Books section of Zoomer magazine. (see mini-review at link)

Degrassi has been a mainstay of Canadian television for over 40 years. This memoir delightfully brings to light the journey of this iconic television show (or series of shows, really) and its creator, Linda Schuyler. Schuyler's personal struggles, curiosities, and drive were key in the success of a franchise that triggers special memories for generations when they now hear just one word: DEGRASSI.

As a US citizen lucky enough to have worked with the Degrassi: Next Generation cast and the Epitome team for various projects, I felt a honored when telling the Customs officer in Toronto I was traveling into the country for a meeting about Degrassi. Such a national treasure recognized by all.

An immigrant from England, Schuyler was bullied immediately upon starting school in Canada. There's no wonder her experiences led to what she refers to as the "longest running anti-bullying campaign." Starting out as a teacher, she found ways to bring visual storytelling to her students by making them the focus of a documentary, Between Two Worlds. The passion she felt as she observed conflict and challenges facing her students powered her to take chances in an industry (film & TV) that is far from stable but she was irrefutably drawn to.

This memoir does a lovely job balancing the deeply personal experiences from Schuyler’s personal life with the ups and downs of building the Degrassi legacy. I found myself appreciating the content over the structure in which the memoir was delivered. A bit of time jumping in order to tie points in her life together from across decades sometimes left me a bit discombobulated. I occasionally found myself flipping the page back to make sure I was clear on which project/person/era she was finally referring to.

Champion and nurturer, an all around bootstrapper, the title of this memoir is incredibly fitting. Schuyler graciously recognizes and appreciates the people around her who were priceless in building such an incredible legacy, but we all see she is the true Mother of all Degrassi. So appreciative she shared her story with us all.

Thank you to ECW Press and NetGalley for this advance copy. All opinions expressed here are my own.

As a huge Degrassi fan, the title of this book immediately captured my attention and I was excited at the prospect of reading this book, which is a memoir written by one of the creators of Degrassi. Degrassi was always one of my favorite shows growing up because of how the show dealt with some really tough topics like eating disorders and teen pregnancy. Degrassi was definitely a show that taught us a lot of life lessons. This memoir was very insightful and I found myself reading through it rather quickly and wanting to learn more about Degrassi and how such a unique and impactful show came to be created. I also found the aspects of the memoir that did not have anything to do with Degrassi to be interesting as well (such as the journey of the author, Linda Schuyler, throughout her career, which began in the media). I loved learning interesting tidbits about the different Degrassi shows, and how they are all related to each other. I think this memoir is perfect for fans of Degrassi who want a behind the scenes look at this iconic series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

When I was younger I remember watching repeated episodes of Degrassi on one the children’s channels. For those not familiar with it, it’s a bit like a Canadian version on Grange Hill. It was very ahead of its time dealing with story lines such as drug abuse, alcoholic parents, teenage pregnancy and even someone being diagnosed with HIV. Creator of the show, Linda Schuyler, had been a teacher and understood how television could open-up conversations in the classroom and also appreciated that children also dealt with hard topics in their real lives and shows like Degrassi could help them deal with those issues.

The book is an autobiography of Schuyler’s years as a teacher and how she moved into television during the 70s and 80s when it was a very male dominated environment. As soon as I saw this book I knew I had to read it, as I can still sing most the theme song of Degrassi Junior High (full lyrics are in the book). It was also a show that portrayed real working class children and most of the actors in the shows were recruited from the local area rather than drama schools.

If you like books about women breaking through in a male dominated world, or books about the social history of the 1980s, or those about television then you can’t go wrong with this. I really enjoyed it. The book is published in November.

As a HUGE Degrassi fan, I was so excited for this look at Linda Schuyler’s life and creation of the Degrassi franchise. I loved seeing how different parts and relationships of her life influenced different storylines. I found her relationships with Kit Hood and Stephen Stohn especially fascinating. There were fun anecdotes about Aubrey Graham’s (yes, Drake) audition for Jimmy Brooks, coming up with the lyrics for the iconic theme song after 9/11 and how they named Emma after the Emmy that the show won for Spike’s pregnancy episode. I did find that the focus was mainly on the production side of Degrassi instead of storylines and cast members, which was a little disappointing, but at the same time, I do recognize that this was about Linda and Degrassi, not just Degrassi. We certainly didn’t need a gossipy tell all of who liked or didn’t like who, but I would have liked more of a look on how and why they chose different storylines, the casting process, developing characters and such. I would have LOVED an in depth look at Cam Saunders and his story specifically. I will say though, I had tears in my eyes when Linda talked about filming Time Stands Still (the school shooting episode) and how jarring it was to see Jimmy fall and then get right back up to film again. There were a few times she would be telling a story in the “present” and then next paragraph, start a memory from the 70s which was a little jarring at times and did take me out of the original story. Overall, it was different than I was expecting, but I did find Linda’s life and story beyond Degrassi very interesting and inspiring. I think fans of any Degrassi reiteration will take something away from it.


Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

The idea behind this book was so wonderful. I loved getting to see how Degrassi came about - TNG was a defining show for me growing up. This also provided a great insight into her life and how the show grew from her first ever film to the legacy it holds now.

I do wish though that the book was either her autobiography/memoir, or a book about the franchise. I felt like some of the transitions were a bit jerky between Degrassi content and her own life experiences. I think having the focus in one place or the other or having the book truly run chronologically would have helped the flow a lot and would have made me like the book much better.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I watched Degrassi when it was on. I was their age at that time. I had no idea about the prequel show. I wish I had seen it. I always related to what they were going through as i was going through it at that same time as well. Being young and finding yourself. I always knew I could turn on Degrassi and i would see my "friends" and get my advice from the show. I was sad when it ended and so happy when the New Generation came out.

I’ve been a fan of Degrassi for almost 20 years at this point. So when I saw that Linda Schuyler, one of the creators of the Degrassi franchise, wrote a memoir I knew I had to read it. It was so interesting to read about her journey starting out in media, the other shows and documentaries she created, and of course all of the behind the scenes information about the different versions of Degrassi over the years.

I loved learning about the different things in her life that inspired different storylines in the show. I think that fans of Degrassi will definitely enjoy this memoir. It is by far the main focus of the book and there are so many fun tidbits about the series.

Linda Schuyler highlights a lot of the different progressive storylines that Degrassi had and how it tackled topics that weren’t always seen in other shows for young audiences. However, I wish she spent time in the book reflecting on the ways that Degrassi fell short. For example, she writes a lot about having Adam as a trans character on the show. But she doesn’t mention how it could’ve been better if he was played by a trans actor instead of a cis actress. Or she could’ve addressed the criticism of how Hazel and Terri were always underutilized. Don’t get me wrong, I love Degrassi, but I just wanted a bit more critical analysis of the show from a modern perspective.

But overall this was a great reading experience, if you loved any iteration of the franchise then I definitely recommend picking this up.

Degrassi was one of my favorite shows as a young teen. I loved reading about how it al came together and the ups and downs of creating/producing/filming such an iconic show. I really enjoyed the memoir and that we really got a feel for who Linda is and the dedication she put into her work.