In the 35 years since its original publication, this acclaimed, bestselling diary-format account of a teenage girl's harrowing descent into the nightmarish world of drugs has left an indelible mark on generations of teens readers. This special anniversary edition includes a readers' group guide. Original.
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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.
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