Tell a friend about this book...
Friend's Email:
Subject: I have found a book that I think you would enjoy
Member $avings: $16,050,112.44
|
Books Available: 4,139,488
|
Members Online: 747
Your source for swapping books online - Read...Swap...Save!
How To Swap Books?
Sign Up
Search 
Kiosk
All Books
Book Browser
Advanced Search
Books Posted Today
Member Book Reviews
NYT Best Seller List
Newbery Medal Winners
Pulitzer Prize Winners
Most Traveled Copies
Club Wish List
Login
Community
Member Directory
Discussion Forums
Blog
Live Chat (1)
Box-O-Books
Book Journal
Maps
The Eclectic Pen
Fun Stuff
Top 50s
Pulse of PBS
Spread The Word
Photo Gallery
Recipes
Club Tag Cloud
Member Testimonials
Friends of PBS
Help Center
Kiosk
Need Help?
Search - Go Ask Alice
|
Go Ask Alice Author: |
|
|||
Book Information
|
|||||
Other Versions of this Book: Paperback, Hardcover
Book Description:
First published in 1971, GO ASK ALICE was presented as the diary of a real teenaged girl whose descent into drug addition ushered her into a dark world of debauchery, abuse, and prostitution that eventually led to her death. Riding on the coattails of the 1960s, this provocative recipe of peer pressure, sexual experimentation, and crazed drug use reflected America's increasing curiosity regarding drugs and addiction--particularly among the middle class. The first entries tell of Alice's trials and tribulations as a typical high school student fretting over boys, her looks, friends, and her relationship with her parents. Then, while attending a party, Alice is unknowingly given a drink spiked with LSD. Although confused by the experience, she is also liberated by the lack of inhibition she feels on acid, and eagerly begins experimenting with various drugs. The diary follows Alice's ever-increasing drug dependence, her deteriorating relationship with her family, and her life on the streets after she repeatedly runs away from home. Throughout, Alice faces many difficult, dark experiences and makes several attempts to free herself from her addiction. There has been a great deal of debate over whether or not there was a real Alice or if the character is actually a composite based on the experiences of several people. Editor Beatrice Sparks is said to have significantly embellished many details. Regardless of its authenticity, Alice's harrowing experiences continue to fascinate and intrigue teenagers because the story delivers a stern lecture about drugs within the format of a "real" teen's diary.
Members who requested this book also requested:
Similar books to this author and title:
 |  |  |  |
Genres:
Top Member Book Reviews
Amy M. (
5 member(s) found this review helpful.
I read this book probably 10 times as a teenager, and was fascinated by the deviant behavior of the protagonist. It would be interesting to read it again as an adult. Here's a link about the book being an urban legend, rather than an actual diary: http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/askalice.asp
Janet W. (
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
excellent true-life journal of adolescence gone down the wrong trails, a bit dated [late 60s/early70s] but not too much even for todays kids...if you want a scary but heartning anti-drug example, this is reality
Karen U. (
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
Originally published in 1971, this book has sold millions of copies. Most editions say on the front cover "A real diary."
From the back of my copy:
"You can't ask Alice anything anymore. But you can do something -- read her diary. Strong, painfully honest, nakedly candid. The actual story of a desperate girl on drugs and on the run who almost made it.
'An extraordinary work... A document of horrifying reality.' The New York Times"
Actually, it's a fake, written by Beatrice Sparks. Read more at Snopes.
Trivia: In the 1973 made-for-TV version, William Shatner starred as the doomed girl's father.
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is a great book that will take you into the heart of a teenage girl struggling with her addiction with drugs. I highly recommend it.
Jodi F. (
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
As others have said, this is a fictional piece and, in my opinion more propaganda than an interesting memoir. When I read it at the age of 12 it made me curious to experiment with drugs more than it did deter me. I don't recommend it.
Penny H. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I read this as a teen, now my daughter read it as a teen for a report. No matter how long ago this book was written, it seems to give an accurate account of drug abuse. That begs the question, we change evolve and things improve or get better, but drugs when abused have the same outcome and travel down that spiraling staircase to nowhere????
A good read for any teen I think. Although this is an extreme case of drug abuse by a young teenager.....it is still worth paying attention to.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Disturbing, but real. This diary follows the demise of a teenage girl, when she enters into the dangerous world of drug abuse. Sometimes hard to read, but very powerful.
Margaret P. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I just got done reading this book, and enjoyed it very much. It really hit my heart. And I never wanted to ever try drugs, after reading this. I know for a fact I don't want to. It is very sad. I most likely will read it again. But I am disappointed that it is a fake. The author Beatrice Sparks did a good job writing it though. It does seem as if it really was written by a 15 year old drug addicted. They said that High School teachers like for their students to read it, and well if I was a teacher, I would highly recommend it. It is a good example of the slow down fall from being an innocent teen in the late 1960's and becoming the thing you could never imagine you would become. I really do think this is a wonderful book for teenagers to read, and I recommend it for everyone. Even adults.
Jason R. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Very, very good. I loved that the format of the book was actually in diary form. This book is moving and very emotional. The ending catches you very offguard as well. I would suggest giving this book a try!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I first read this book when I was 13 years old and I do credit the book with keeping me away from hard drugs. I also had my daughters read the book as well. I just recently re-read the book to see how I would view it as an adult. I still view it as a very enlightening book. Whether the book is a real diary of a 15 year old girl, or a work of fiction is not important here. The book shows what it feels like to be a teenage girl facing the problems all teens face. Its a good book for all ages, but I would encourage parents to have their daughters read it around age 12-13. I don't have any sons so I don't have any idea if this book would be good for them to read. I still highly regard this book 35 years after I first read it.
Read All Book Reviews of "Go Ask Alice"
Please Rate these Book Reviews
I love this book, I will not give anything away though but I will say it is a must read. Adults and teenagers alike will find this book moving and painfully real. Be warned though this book is not for the young as it contains "adult themes", it deals with drug use.
Emily L. (I thought this book was really good. Every now and then the language seemed a bit odd, but I suppose that's because I wasn't around in the '60s, '70s. In my opinion, it's a good way to teach teens the different forms of drugs. When I read it as a 13-yr-old I didn't know about LSD or dropping acid or any of that, all I really knew about was cocaine and marijuana. So for me, it was a good way to learn about the drugs without being influenced to actually try them out.
Heather S. (This book was written in Diary form, which I think was the best way to read it. This girl had gone through so much mixed up with the world on drugs. I don't want to spoil anything but I was so heartbroken at the end of the book....Short quick read, but in my opinion, not to be taken lightly. Great book!
Shanna V. (Great book about a girl in the 1960's who is strung out on drugs. I think it is a true story. I read it in the 70's.
Jeannie H. (I read this has a teenager many years ago.After my teenage daughter read it I decided to read it again. Still has engrossing as it was when I was young. a quick read but well worth your time.
Read this book long ago in high school and got it for my daughters to read. They very much enjoyed it.
Jessica L. (A powerful look into the mind of a teenager that got tangled into drugs. I read it in a day, couldn't put it down.
I loved this book. There are no words to describe how powerful this book really is. A must read for everyone - teenagers and adults.
Read All Book Reviews of "Go Ask Alice"
Book Wiki
Common Title
Series
Original Publication Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
People/Characters
Real Places
Fictional Places
Important Events
Awards and Honors