Go Ask Alice

Anonymous

"I wish I were popular and beautiful and wealthy and talented." - from Go Ask Alice

What's it about?: Originally published in 1971, this is the diary of a 15-year old girl. She's called Alice, but her true identity isn't known. What is known is that she encounters the same self-esteem, emotional and sexual issues that most teens face. When her family moves to a new town, offering a fresh start, Alice is happy. But she finds out quickly that she doesn't fit in there either, and her descent into drug and alcohol abuse is chronicled throughout. Alice parties, hitchhikes across the U.S., turns to prostitution and both makes and loses many relationships along the way. She tries breaking free from her destructive ways multiple times but circumstances, such as the death of her grandparents, only serve to speed her descent further. Eventually her life spirals completely out of control and she winds up in a mental institution. Alice eventually gets her life back on track, unaware of how fragile her stability truly is.

Why your child should read it: It's been debated as to whether or not Go Ask Alice really is the diary of a real girl or a well-written work of fiction. Regardless, it's a haunting, vivid, all-too-real account of a teenager whose addictions take her to extreme ends. And while this book illustrates the horrors of drug/alcohol abuse and the destructive life such abuse can lead to, it's not preachy or condescending. And regardless of whether it's a "real" diary, millions of readers can attest to the power and emotion of Alice's story, and the lessons to be learned from her experiences.

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