Jessica Alba Opens Up About Her Childhood

Jessica Alba has enjoyed her success as an actress in her adult life, but her childhood was not as glamorous as she describes it in a new book entitled If I'd Known Then.

According to Access Hollywood, the book includes a collection of letters and essays written by respected women in their 20s and 30s to their younger selves. In the book, Alba tells her story of when her school principal and other students' parents called her a slut when she was very young.

The actress wrote to herself, consoling her younger self by explaining the adult's unjust criticism and ignorance. She explains they called her that particular derogatory name because she was developing into a woman earlier than most girls and other children thought there was something wrong with her.

Alba also wrote about what it was like coming from bi-racial parents and living with her mixed racial background. The star's father is Mexican and her mother is Caucasian.

The book is scheduled to be published this May by the publishing company Da Capo.