Revisiting Go Ask Alice: I know schools are still requiring this book. Since my original post I’ve discovered that research suggests that this book is truly a work of fiction and not based on a real person.
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!
