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Parents' Guide to

Go Ask Alice

By Monica Wyatt, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Authentic, tragic tale of teen drug addiction -- a classic.

Book Beatrice Sparks Historical Fiction 1971
Go Ask Alice Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 31 parent reviews

hannah R.
hannah R. Adult
July 30, 2023
age 15+

read her diary.

I will admit, I am 16 years old, but I must be heard. This book is a great look into the life of a teenage girl, made for both parents and teenagers. "Go Ask Alice Anonymous" really puts everything a girl thinks, says, and acts like into its pages, authentically. This story talks of drug addiction and rape, but thats not all there is; this girl clearly had a rough go of it and needed help. If she just had somebody to talk to maybe things would have been different for her and I believe that most teenagers feel this way. These days its adults yelling at us to act like adults but react maturely when they treat us like children. Grow up but also don't go there your not old enough. All of that and more is highlighted in this diary, and it made me feel so much less alone.` I feel heard, I feel as though I know this girl personally and I just want to reach out and give her a big hug. People need to realize that this is not a story, or something meant to entertain you. Its meant to educate. Do not call this girls life "cheezy", don't say it is just the parents way of scaring kids out of drugs. This girl needed help and never reciev
Lusa S.
Lusa S. Adult
October 30, 2023
age 13+

Very intense so judge your own kid’s maturity to read, but I read as a 13yr old kid and it actually kept me from doing drugs!

Keep in mind this is intense so judge your kid’s maturity level to read. I read as a 13yr old kid and it was a good read and actually kept me from doing drugs etc . I smoked a little weed later on in life but that’s it. So glad I didn’t head down that same road as Alice in this well written book for teenagers.
See all 31 parent reviews

What's the Story?

We never learn her name. She's 15, the daughter of a college professor. She's given LSD at a party and loves it. She dives into the drug world, and soon begins selling to children to pay for her own drugs. She runs away and is again drawn into drugs. She returns home determined to stay clean, but takes drugs one night and hitchhikes to Colorado.

She drifts, sick and in a stoned fog for months, trading sex for drugs. A priest calls her parents and she returns home again, but the druggie students at her school torment her. One puts LSD into some candy and she has a horribly bad trip, ending up imprisoned in a mental hospital. Home again with no desire to return to drugs, she feels hopeful, but fears returning to school. The story ends with tragedy.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (31 ):
Kids say (67 ):

This book socks readers in the gut. Only parents can decide if they want their children to read GO ASK ALICE; they know their children best, and may wish to read the book themselves before deciding. Clearly, the book is intense: It graphically describes the waking hell into which the main character descends, her heartfelt but futile battles to return home and stay clean, her pleas to God to save her, her trust and love for her family, and her ultimate failure.

Many realistic young adult books use frank language, but none more so than this book. Purportedly based on the real diary of a middle-class, nice teen girl who became a drug addict in the 1960s, this story is nothing short of harrowing -- and that's why it works. Teens who read the book easily sense that it tells the truth.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about drugs in our culture. Why do people think they are cool? What forces in media make drug taking look better than it is?

  • How does the main character view herself when she's sober?How does her self-image change when she uses drugs? Do you think she really believes her excuses for her actions?

Book Details

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