Wow. Go Ask Alice is my current read for Banned Books Week. And all I can say is: Wow. Seriously. Supposedly based on a diary of a young teenage girl, the book had me gripped from beginning to end.
I’m sure the book was banned due to its drug use and sex references. But, unlike some books (and many movies) these experiences are NOT glamorized at all. At ALL. The main character (whom I do NOT believe to be named Alice, although she references an Alice) complains and suffers bitterly because of her drug use.
If she could do a PSA I’m pretty sure she would say “don’t use drugs. ever!” But, alas, she does not get the chance.
Multiculturalism is a sticky wicket in this book. I am 100% certain that all the characters in this book are Anglo, however, the main character does interact with her Jewish friend. The setting is a middle class neighborhood in the early 70s where mothers still stayed at home, etc. The sticky wicket is the drug activity. A few references to homosexuality bump this book up to slightly more pluralistic viewpoint than many of the other books I’ve read recently.
Something scary about this? I just NOW noticed that there is a face on the cover of this book. Wow. Never saw that before and I look at this book OFTEN.
I HIGHLY recommend that you read this book with your children. Young teens (13+) need to get this lesson.
I wonder why it wasn’t made into a movie?
This is a Four Paw read if there ever was!
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Banned Books Week sort of passed me by, I just completely missed it…wish I hadn’t, because I would’ve loved to read something new on the list. Go Ask Alice seems like a heavy read…worthwhile, though, I imagine. Sometimes I think this frankness is necessary when dealing with teens, I have family members who got into major drug problems as teens and the family was at a loss as to how to help them. It was very sad, because I used to be close to them but because I was younger by 6 years my mom started keeping me away from them. She didn’t want the same thing to happen to me. I’m happy to say that they beat the addiction after ten years, but they missed out on so much. I wish I had a book like this to read or to get them to read.
On a happier note, AT&FFS is absolutely hilarious! I LOVED this book series in high school. In fact I still find them damn amusing, but I reread them many, many times. I only recently found out there was a movie and I STILL haven’t seen it.
Happy Blogging!
Maischeph´s last [type] ..Book Blogger Hop- October 1 – 4
I am SO glad to hear that your family members beat that addiction. i would hate to hear otherwise (as in Alice). So far, I’m REALLY enjoying AT&FFS! My daughter (13) turned me onto it initially and it reminds me of a much younger Bridget Jones!
Read this book in Jr. High. And back then it was “OOOOH, you read ‘Go Ask Alic’?” It was such a controversial book. I really hoped she kicked the habit. Now that I’m a parent, I see the parents side of all this. The frustration and sadness they must have gone through watching their daughter just waste away, then try to come back. A truly moving book.
Irene´s last [type] ..Be Sure To Drink Your Olvatine
yes from the parent side its truly upsetting.
I think I read this book in eighth grade…I even owned a copy of it! The book was scary and depressing. It definitely sent an anti-drug message to me! While its a harsh topic, it definitely needs to be read and discussed with teens.
Diane´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday
Unfortunately, Go Ask Alice is a hoax. The book was published and marketed for years as “a real diary,” ostensibly the diary of a psychiatrists’ client now being published after the diarist’s death from an overdose as an object lesson to young people. But it turned out to be (and was finally admitted to be) a complete fabrication. (See )
I read it when it first came out, when I was 14, and even then I was highly skeptical. It just didn’t pass the “sniff test” for me, and seemed too obvious a cautionary tale, designed to be all negative and all scary–just a couple of rungs above “Reefer Madness.” I wasn’t surprised when it turned out to be fraudulent.
I would never recommend this book to anyone, for this reason. I don’t agree that it, or any other, should be “banned,” but people who read it–especially young people–ought to know that it was created as a form of manipulation and was published under false pretenses.
It was made into a movie, BTW: an ABC Movie of The Week broadcast in January, 1973.
I, too, have heard the rumors over the years about this book. Regardless of it’s origins, I still feel that this is a book worth reading as it still shows the negative side effects of this kind of lifestyle. There are probably many other manipulations in the form of books today and in the past.
Complete fabrication or not, the book sounds gripping and raw. I am going to look into it. Thanks for the review.
Jasmine´s last [type] ..Funny Things Friday: Yo, Is This Racist?
So. Way back in the day there was something called “Afterschool Specials” on ABC. These specials would highlight some issue: drug abuse, drinking, bullying etc and would be quite riveting to my 11 year old mind. At the time I didn’t have instant access to everything that happens as it happened and thought these Afterschool specials were enough to keep me on track. My grown up mind most certainly can see the obvious manipulation but as a mom I think my kid needs some guidance away from the glamour filled look at drugs and wild behavior and a grittier look at what the real deal is.
Rachee´s last [type] ..Friday Favorites
Go Ask Alice was one of the most memorabel books that I read in high school. Definitely a must read for girls!
Becky´s last [type] ..TV Free Friday: Pete the Cat
I read go ask Alice many times as a teenager and thought it was a good book then and still think it was a good book now. I last read it a year ago. Whether it was a real diary or not doesn’t matter. The story was good, it was engaging and a real pager turner. I understand that the drug and sexual references were abundant, but banning the book seems extreme.
Janeane Davis´s last [type] ..Sensational Saturday – Better Blogging and Better Buisness
i couldnt agree more, Becky.
Great synopsis of the book, I’m looking for more books to read. I’ll be sure to pick write this down on my list && I’ll be back for more suggestions!
I agree with Becky, it’s one of the most memorable books I’ve ever read. I’d always assumed it was fiction, and still, very gripping.
so…you don’t care if its nonfiction?
I’m surprised to see how many books are on the banned list; I may have to check this book out, not sure how my sisters will feel if I bought it for their kids though :/
Djrelat7´s last [type] ..Do you often think about doing something for others?
do check with the parents before gifting this book.