Go Ask Alice

Go Ask Alice
Company type	Book
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1971
Founder	Beatrice Sparks (credited as editor)
Products	Young adult novel

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Go Ask Alice, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 2025

Go Ask Alice is a 1971 publication portraying the life of a fifteen-year-old girl who falls into drug addiction and escapes from home, embarking on a destructive path. Credited to "Anonymous," the book is structured as the edited diary of the unnamed main character. Doubts about its genuineness and true authorship emerged in the late 1970s; today, Beatrice Sparks is commonly identified as the actual writer behind this fabricated diary. Sparks subsequently authored several other works presented as authentic journals of troubled adolescents. Some accounts also cite Linda Glovach as a co-writer. Despite ongoing debate, the book has remained continuously available in print for more than forty years.

Aimed at young adult readers, Go Ask Alice achieved bestseller status and received acclaim for its compelling cautionary message regarding drug abuse. It has repeatedly been among the most frequently challenged titles due to its use of profanity and explicit content involving sex, rape, and drugs. The story was adapted into a 1973 television movie featuring Jamie Smith-Jackson and William Shatner. Additionally, in 1976, playwright Frank Shiras published a stage adaptation based on the book.

Title

The name derives from a phrase in the 1967 song "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane, written by Grace Slick: "Go ask Alice/ when she's ten feet tall." These lyrics allude to scenes in Lewis Carroll's 1865 novel Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, where Alice consumes substances that cause her size to change. Slick’s composition uses Carroll’s narrative as an allegory for drug experiences.

The title Go Ask Alice was proposed by Kathy Fitzgerald, editor at Prentice-Hall working with Sparks. Initially, Sparks had chosen "Buried Alive" as the title, but Fitzgerald rejected it. She conceived the new title after overhearing a colleague singing "White Rabbit" in an office corridor.

Plot summary

Beginning in 1968, a fifteen-year-old girl starts maintaining a diary chronicling her challenges with romantic feelings, body image, sexuality, social belonging, and family dynamics. The entries cover events from 1968 to 1970 across locations including California, Colorado, Oregon, and New York City. The protagonist’s father, a university professor, accepts a dean position that necessitates relocating the family.

At her new school, she forms a friendship with Beth but inadvertently consumes LSD at a party, which initiates severe drug use and leads to losing her virginity while under the influence. Worried about potential pregnancy and family health concerns, she begins taking sleeping pills. Her relationship with Beth deteriorates as they drift apart.

Subsequently, she becomes friends with Chris; together they date college students Richie and Ted, who are involved in drug dealing and recruit them to assist in school sales. Upon realizing Richie and Ted’s manipulative behavior, the girls report them to authorities and escape to San Francisco. There, introduced to heroin at extravagant parties by an older woman named Shelia, they suffer sexual assault while intoxicated. Traumatized by this experience, they relocate to Berkeley and start a prosperous jewelry business but eventually return home for Christmas.

Back in their hometown, social pressures and family conflicts continue. Despite efforts to quit drugs, relapses occur leading to probation following a police raid. The diarist runs away again, hitchhiking with Doris—another abuse survivor—and continues using drugs until homelessness forces her to seek assistance from a Catholic priest who contacts her parents. She commits to changing her life.

Confronted by former acquaintances who harass her and administer drugs against her will—causing physical injuries and psychological trauma—the diarist is hospitalized. There she develops a friendship with Babbie, another recovering addict who was previously a child prostitute.

After discharge, she returns home sober, mends family relationships, builds new friendships, and begins dating Joel, a student at her father’s college. Although apprehensive about school life, she feels supported and opts to stop journaling in favor of openly discussing her difficulties.

The epilogue discloses that three weeks after ceasing her diary entries, the diarist died from a drug overdose—whether accidental or intentional remains unclear—underscoring the persistent problem of overdose fatalities nationwide.

Diarist's identity

The diary's author remains unnamed throughout the book. In one scene, a bystander's comment hints that her name could be Carla. Although a character named Alice briefly appears as another runaway in Coos Bay, Oregon, she is not the diarist herself.

No concrete proof links the diarist to the name Alice; nonetheless, several editions have implied this by featuring taglines such as "This is Alice's true story" and "You can't ask Alice anything anymore. But you can do something—read her diary." For convenience, critics and commentators often refer to the diarist as "Alice."

In various adaptations, the main character is explicitly called "Alice": Jamie Smith-Jackson portrayed her in the 1973 TV movie, while the 1976 stage adaptation named her "Alice Aberdeen."

Production

The text that evolved into Go Ask Alice was prepared for publication by Beatrice Sparks, a Mormon youth counselor in her early fifties with prior writing credentials. Sparks sought to raise awareness about teenage drug abuse, likely motivated by educational and moral concerns. She asserted that the book was based on an authentic teenager’s diary; however, this claim was never substantiated, and the girl's identity remains unknown (see Authorship and veracity controversies). The 1982 Avon paperback edition categorizes the work as "fiction."

With assistance from Art Linkletter, a talk show host for whom Sparks had ghostwritten, the manuscript was passed to Linkletter's literary agent and subsequently sold to Prentice Hall. Linkletter, an anti-drug campaigner following his daughter Diane’s suicide in 1969, actively helped promote the book. Before its release, Go Ask Alice had already garnered significant advance orders amounting to 18,000 copies.

Public response

Upon its debut in 1971, Go Ask Alice rapidly became a publishing phenomenon and international bestseller, translated into sixteen languages. Its popularity aligned with heightened public concern about drug use during the psychedelic era. Alleen Pace Nilsen described it as "the book that came closest to being a YA phenomenon" of its era, though it did not reach the fame of later series like Harry Potter, Twilight, or Hunger Games. The readership encompassed both teenagers and adults.

Libraries faced challenges maintaining sufficient copies to satisfy demand. The 1973 television adaptation further increased interest, leading to multiple reorders. By 1975, sales surpassed three million copies; by 1979, the paperback had seen forty-three printings. The book remained continuously available for decades, with sales exceeding four million by 1998 and five million by 2009. Actual readership likely exceeded sales figures due to library circulation and shared copies. Go Ask Alice is recognized for revealing young adult fiction’s commercial viability and pioneering the anti-drug novel genre targeted at youth, becoming "one of the most famous anti-drug books ever published."

Critical appraisal

Initially, Go Ask Alice received positive critiques; Webster Schott of The New York Times described it as an "extraordinary work" and a "document of horrifying reality [that] possesses literary quality." It earned recommendations from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and The Christian Science Monitor, topping the American Library Association's 1971 Best Books for Young Adults list. Some reviews emphasized its realistic content over literary craftsmanship. According to Nilsen and Lauren Adams, it largely escaped typical literary analysis because it was believed to be an authentic teenager’s diary. Lina Goldberg suggested that attributing authorship to "Anonymous" partly shielded it from critical scrutiny.

In later years, the book continued receiving praise, often defended against censorship efforts (see Censorship). In 1995, Nat Hentoff called it "an extraordinarily powerful account of what it's actually like to get hooked on drugs" that "doesn't preach."

However, from the 1990s onward, critiques intensified regarding its melodramatic tone and questionable authenticity amid evidence pointing to its fictional nature (see Authorship and veracity controversies). Marc Oppenheimer’s 1998 review in The New York Times labeled it "poorly written" and "incredible," although some readers still found its themes believable or engaging for youth. The rapid escalation depicted—from accidental LSD use to injecting speed within days and swiftly transitioning from marijuana to heroin—has been regarded as unrealistic. The book has also faced criticism for associating homosexuality with "degradation," illness, sinfulness, and guilt. Ethical issues have been raised concerning presenting fiction as fact to young audiences. Despite these criticisms, Go Ask Alice remains widely cited as a classic within young adult literature.

Use in Education

Although opinions among school boards differed regarding the literary merit of Go Ask Alice, educators generally regarded it as an effective anti-drug cautionary narrative. It was recommended to parents and incorporated in certain educational settings as a tool to discourage drug use. Many readers, particularly adolescents and pre-teens, connected more deeply with the diarist’s emotional experiences than with the explicit anti-drug theme, often vicariously engaging with her acts of rebellion. This form of indirect engagement has been proposed as a safer alternative to actual substance experimentation. Additionally, the book has been utilized within curricula focusing on emotional fluctuations and themes of mortality.

Debates Over Authorship and Authenticity

Initially promoted as the genuine, edited journal of a teenage girl, Go Ask Alice is now largely considered by scholars to be a fictionalized memoir created by Beatrice Sparks, potentially alongside co-writers. Despite compelling evidence attributing authorship to Sparks, some readers and educators continue to regard it as an authentic personal account.

Controversy Surrounding Beatrice Sparks’ Authorship

When first released by Prentice Hall in 1971, Go Ask Alice was attributed to an unidentified "Anonymous" writer. The first edition included a disclaimer explaining that the content was drawn from the diary of a fifteen-year-old drug user, with names and events modified for confidentiality. The 1972 Avon Books paperback version bore the phrase "A Real Diary" on its cover, reinforcing claims of authenticity.

At the time of publication, the majority of critics and readers accepted it as a true teenager’s diary. Only Publishers Weekly expressed skepticism about its genuineness, pointing to its polished prose style. Reviews generally portrayed it either as an authentic journal or a lightly fictionalized narrative, reportedly published posthumously by the subject’s parents. However, some reports implied that legal threats from the family led to the author’s anonymity.

Soon after its release, Beatrice Sparks began identifying herself publicly as the book’s editor. Ellen Roberts, an editor at Prentice Hall during the early 1970s, was also credited with editing or consulting on the work. When Sparks’ name became publicly associated with the book, copyright documentation listed her as sole author rather than editor—casting doubt on the true origin of the text. These concerns intensified when Sparks was named author of subsequent works about troubled youth, such as Voices and Jay's Journal, which were marketed under her name.

In a 1979 article for School Library Journal, Sparks stated she had obtained the diaries from a girl she met at a youth conference who wished to hide them from her parents. According to Sparks, this girl later died (not due to overdose), and Sparks claimed she transcribed and edited the diaries while incorporating fictional elements including an overdose death. Sparks admitted she sought parental permission by presenting the diaries as a foundation for added incidents inspired by case studies. The original diaries remain sealed in the publisher’s archives, unavailable for independent verification.

Sparks appeared to assume authorship in order to promote similar titles within this genre, including Jay's Journal, which she was also accused of largely composing herself. The precise balance between genuine diary content and Sparks’ fictional contributions remains unclear. Journalist Melissa Katsoulis observed that Sparks never provided proof supporting her claim that the book was based on an actual diary; copyright records continue listing her as sole author.

Urban legend researcher Barbara Mikkelson noted that even prior to doubts about authorship emerging, there were indicators that Go Ask Alice was not an authentic diary. Its advanced vocabulary and emphasis on drug-related experiences rather than typical adolescent issues suggested adult creation. No acquaintances or friends of the purported diarist have ever been identified or interviewed.

Commentators propose that publishers may have presented the book as an anonymous deceased teenager’s diary to shield themselves from criticism, enhance credibility for an unlikely story, and engage young audiences by conveying anti-drug messages through a peer rather than an adult narrator. Sparks cited increasing believability among youth as her main motivation for maintaining anonymity. Although officially categorized as fiction (see Treatment of book as fiction and non-fiction), publishers continue to credit the author as "Anonymous".

Disputes surrounding other works by Sparks

Sparks encountered comparable disputes regarding the legitimacy of her 1979 publication Jay's Journal, which was marketed as the authentic diary of a teenage boy who died by suicide following involvement with the occult. Early promotional materials sparked uncertainty about whether it was a genuine diary with editorial changes or a fictional narrative, reminiscent of the controversies surrounding Go Ask Alice. Alden Barrett’s family asserted that only 21 entries originated from his actual diary, while Sparks fabricated the remaining 191 entries, additionally denying any occult involvement by Barrett.

Sparks authored numerous other books presented as diaries penned by anonymous troubled adolescents (such as Annie's Baby: The Diary of Anonymous, a Pregnant Teenager and It Happened to Nancy: By an Anonymous Teenager) or as edited transcripts of therapy sessions (like Almost Lost: The True Story of an Anonymous Teenager's Life on the Streets). These titles share stylistic and thematic elements with Go Ask Alice, including tragic conclusions tied to harmful influences and consistently negative depictions of premarital sex and homosexuality. Although credited as editor or compiler, Sparks’ prolific output has led to her being regarded as "arguably the most prolific Anonymous author in publishing," which has fueled speculation that she authored Go Ask Alice herself.

Claims regarding Linda Glovach’s authorship

In a 1998 review by The New York Times, Mark Oppenheimer proposed that Go Ask Alice may have had at least one additional author besides Sparks, naming young-adult writer Linda Glovach as a potential co-author or "forger," though he did not provide sources for this assertion. Likewise, a review in Publishers Weekly referred to Glovach as "a co-author of Go Ask Alice" when discussing her 1998 novel Beauty Queen, which also employs a diary format to depict heroin addiction. These allegations remain unsubstantiated and are not broadly accepted within literary circles.

Classification as fiction versus non-fiction

After Sparks acknowledged incorporating fictional components, the publishers reclassified Go Ask Alice as fiction—a status it retained as of 2016—accompanied by a disclaimer stating: "This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or persons is entirely coincidental."

Despite this classification, the book has frequently been marketed and taught as non-fiction. Publishers reinforced the illusion of authenticity by including an "Editors' Note" asserting it was based on a genuine diary and listing the author simply as "Anonymous," omitting mention of Sparks. As recently as 2011, a UK paperback edition published by Arrow Books promoted the book with the phrase "This Is Alice's True Story" prominently displayed on its cover.

Instances of censorship

Go Ask Alice has repeatedly faced censorship challenges due to its use of profanity and its references to runaways, drug use, sexual activity, and rape. By 1973, it was described as the book teenagers most desired to read yet adults most sought to ban; critics argued it glamorized sex and drugs rather than discouraging them. Challenges began shortly after its release and have continued over many years.

Some objections resulted in its removal from library shelves or required parental consent for borrowing. During the 1970s, numerous school libraries restricted access by removing it from general circulation and making it available only upon request—a practice criticized as censorship. A 1982 survey identified it as the most frequently challenged book in American high school libraries.

Even decades later, Go Ask Alice remained among the most contested titles; it ranked 25th on the American Library Association’s (ALA) list for challenges during the 1990s and rose to 18th for those in the 2000s.

The likely adult authorship rather than that of a teenage girl has not diminished controversy over censorship. Critics contend that presenting a probably fabricated memoir as truth should provoke greater concern than objections based solely on its provocative content.

Adaptations

The ABC network created a television movie titled Go Ask Alice, featuring actors such as Jamie Smith-Jackson, William Shatner, Ruth Roman, Wendell Burton, Julie Adams, and Andy Griffith. Additional cast members included Robert Carradine, Mackenzie Phillips, and Charles Martin Smith. Marketed as an anti-drug narrative inspired by true events, the film premiered as the ABC Movie of the Week on January 24, 1973, and was rebroadcast later that year on October 24. Copies of the film were circulated among educational institutions, religious organizations, and community groups.

Critical reception was mostly favorable; one reviewer described it as "the finest anti-drug drama ever presented by TV." However, some critiques noted the adaptation lacked the book’s nuanced depth and did not provide effective strategies to address adolescent substance abuse. Ellen Violett’s screenplay adaptation received a nomination for an Emmy Award.

In 1976, playwright Frank Shiras transformed the book into a theatrical production published by The Dramatic Publishing Company. This stage version has been frequently staged by high school and community theater ensembles.

An anonymously published 2012 novel titled Lucy in the Sky tells the story of a privileged Santa Monica teenager's struggle with drug and alcohol dependency. Critics largely viewed it as a derivative work, comparing it unfavorably to Go Ask Alice and considering it more of a contemporary imitation than an original narrative.

In popular culture

Comedian Paul F. Tompkins included a track named "Go Ask Alice" on his 2009 album Freak Wharf, where he humorously dismisses the book as "the phoniest of balonies," joking that it might have been penned by the writers of Dragnet. The album’s title references a segment in the book describing a psychiatric hospital as a "freak wharf."

The American metal band Ice Nine Kills drew creative influence from the book for their song "Alice," featured on their 2015 album Every Trick in the Book.

Singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez composed an unreleased song called "Birthing Addicts" in 2011 inspired by the book. Originally crafted for a school project and intended for her shelved EP Take Me to the Moon, the track was ultimately discarded.

External links