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jillian1218's review against another edition
"Isn't that sad, to be in a spot where everything is so unbelievable you'd believe anything? I think it's sad, dear friend, I really and truly and desperately do."
The author doth profess too much.
The author doth profess too much.
kayhem502's review against another edition
1.0
Go Ask Alice was a strange book and I was pretty conflicted while reading it. I went in knowing the backstory of how this book became popular, was supposed to be the anonymous work of a real teen, and then the "shocking" truth (I don't know how anyone was fooled by this but I'll use a spoiler anyway, just in case) .
This book was difficult to get through, not because it was a difficult read, but because the language was so unbelievable for a teenager. Maybe teens talked like that back in the day, but I doubt it. At times it was so "cute-sy" I thought I would get a cavity just reading the lines. Then the language would shift to the point of sounding like an entirely new person. The lack of a consistent voice was bizarre.
I feel like knowing the history of this book does highlight some bigger issues of the times it was published in, and maybe it gives some insight on things that people, especially parents, were genuinely worried about at the time. However, this was so over the top, and so unbelievable that it was just a bit too much for me.
Spoiler
the fact that this was actually just a fantastic piece of propaganda written by an adult woman about a made up teenThis book was difficult to get through, not because it was a difficult read, but because the language was so unbelievable for a teenager. Maybe teens talked like that back in the day, but I doubt it. At times it was so "cute-sy" I thought I would get a cavity just reading the lines. Then the language would shift to the point of sounding like an entirely new person
Spoiler
which makes sense since this wasn't a teenager at allI feel like knowing the history of this book does highlight some bigger issues of the times it was published in, and maybe it gives some insight on things that people, especially parents, were genuinely worried about at the time. However, this was so over the top, and so unbelievable that it was just a bit too much for me.
bitsysbooks's review against another edition
5.0
“Go Ask Alice” by Beatrice Sparks is an amazing work of fiction. Because its main character is “anonymous”, you could put any person in their shoes. This is what makes this story so powerful and true to life; “Alice” could be anyone.
This book consists of a series of diary entries that express how dehumanized “Alice” feels. “It’s my birthday. I am 15. Nothing”(3). This brief journal says so much. She thinks so little of herself that her own birthday doesn’t bring her joy. When “Alice” attends a party, she experiences her first interaction with drugs. She thinks getting high will improve her quality of life and begins to use drugs to change the way she feels. “Alice” is disillusioned to the fact that these drugs are slowly driving her to the point of no return. She ends up leaving home and her life continues to spiral out of control. She hangs out with the drug crowd and stoops so low as to deal to children at the elementary school. In the end, these drugs that she thought were her savior drive her to take her own life.
Overall, “Go Ask Alice” was an eye opening read. It shows what drugs can do to you, especially a young person. “Alice’s” fate was a tragedy. If only she realized what drugs were doing to her before it was too late. I hope that someday we will have a world with less “Alice’s.”
This book consists of a series of diary entries that express how dehumanized “Alice” feels. “It’s my birthday. I am 15. Nothing”(3). This brief journal says so much. She thinks so little of herself that her own birthday doesn’t bring her joy. When “Alice” attends a party, she experiences her first interaction with drugs. She thinks getting high will improve her quality of life and begins to use drugs to change the way she feels. “Alice” is disillusioned to the fact that these drugs are slowly driving her to the point of no return. She ends up leaving home and her life continues to spiral out of control. She hangs out with the drug crowd and stoops so low as to deal to children at the elementary school. In the end, these drugs that she thought were her savior drive her to take her own life.
Overall, “Go Ask Alice” was an eye opening read. It shows what drugs can do to you, especially a young person. “Alice’s” fate was a tragedy. If only she realized what drugs were doing to her before it was too late. I hope that someday we will have a world with less “Alice’s.”
kalpalreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is dark, emotional, and tense. It doesn’t have a trigger warnings list and it needs some, that’s my only critique (I’ll include one at the end of my review).
This book is short, like less than 300 pages, and it’s YA so I thought “oh I’ll be fine this can’t possible tear me to shreds in less than 300 pages” WRONG. SO WRONG.
This book deals a lot with addiction. The writing may seem juvenile but that honestly works for this because it’s a teens diary. It makes it feel that much more authentic.
It being written like a diary makes you feel like you’re a friend being confided in. It makes you want to hug the character at times, give them advice, or scream at them in frustration. But you can’t, you just have to sit a watch what happens next. That is extremely powerful given that the main theme is addiction and you often want to do all these things to a loved one struggling with addiction, but you can’t, or it won’t matter if you do.
I honestly forgot this was fiction, it feels so raw and real. I became extremely attached to the character, she felt like my friend, which made this all the more heartbreaking to read.
Because it’s written in diary format and not chapter format, it’s hard to find a “marked” stopping point, which makes this such a quick read.
The most powerful book I’ve read this year thus far. It’s one of those that sticks with you.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
(ED,) drug use, drug addiction, SA, SI, Bullying.
This book is short, like less than 300 pages, and it’s YA so I thought “oh I’ll be fine this can’t possible tear me to shreds in less than 300 pages” WRONG. SO WRONG.
This book deals a lot with addiction. The writing may seem juvenile but that honestly works for this because it’s a teens diary. It makes it feel that much more authentic.
It being written like a diary makes you feel like you’re a friend being confided in. It makes you want to hug the character at times, give them advice, or scream at them in frustration. But you can’t, you just have to sit a watch what happens next. That is extremely powerful given that the main theme is addiction and you often want to do all these things to a loved one struggling with addiction, but you can’t, or it won’t matter if you do.
I honestly forgot this was fiction, it feels so raw and real. I became extremely attached to the character, she felt like my friend, which made this all the more heartbreaking to read.
Because it’s written in diary format and not chapter format, it’s hard to find a “marked” stopping point, which makes this such a quick read.
The most powerful book I’ve read this year thus far. It’s one of those that sticks with you.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
(ED,) drug use, drug addiction, SA, SI, Bullying.
hurricaneflora's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
taylor_the_creator's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
_shortcake22's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
racheltrow_'s review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Cannot believe I bought this propaganda as a child.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Rape
Moderate: Incest
sassacass's review against another edition
1.0
I'll take "That Never Happened" for 1000. This was unbearable! The beginning almost had me fooled, if felt authentic, but as soon as the drugs for involved it was a mess. Don't do drugs kids, it makes you gay. Learn to cook, clean, and take care of a husband instead.
cosmicbeth21's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
What an utterly devastating diary. I was hopeful for her even in her darkest of times.