Go Ask Alice

Anonymous. Go Ask Alice. Simon Pulse, 1971. ISBN-13: 978-1-41691-463-1.

Plot
Alice is a normal teenager when her life is turned upside down. At a party she accidentally takes some LSD and suddenly she finds herself struggling with a drug addiction. The book follows her journey as her life is changed from her drug addiction and her struggle to get it back on track.

Critical Evaluation
The book is written in diary form which makes it easier to read and the narrative flows pretty smoothly. What is interesting is being able to read the story from the perspective of Alice and what is going on in her head while her life goes through some drastic changes. Her emotions are also raw and readers are able to clearly see the emotional changes in her life.

Reader's Annotation
Alice was just a normal teenager until she accidentally goes to a party to find that she gets tricked into taking LSD. Alice's life is then thrown off track as she tries to deal living as a drug addict.

About the Author
There is controversy over who is the author of the book. At first this book was presented as a nonfiction work with the author listed as anonymous. Later, Beatrice Sparks, an American and Mormon youth counselor presented herself as the editor. She has also written other books about serious teen issues. This book is said to be based on teenagers dealing with drug issues.

Genre
Fiction

Curriculum
Drug Abuse
Diaries

Book Talking Ideas
How did drugs impact Alice's life?
Why did it seem that Alice had less and less choices going on?
Who was in control of Alice's life?

Reading Level/Interest Age
12+

Challenge Issues
Language, sexual references, young people acting out

Challenge Answer
All of the challenge issues are used to show the negative impact of drugs in a young adult life. The negative behavior is not glorified or encouraged, it acts as a warning to readers.

Why Included in Selection
An interesting book about drug addiction told in a unique format.