GO ASK ALICE BOOK TALK

By Nga Nghiem

"Go Ask Alice" title was inspired from the lyrics Jefferson Airplane -White Rabbit

Information

Title: Go Ask Alice Author: Unknown 15 years old girl Type: Diary Published By: Prentice Hall Publication Date: March 5, 1971 Genre: Realistic Fiction, Drug Abuse

Fiction, Diary Fiction

About the Author:Anonymous 15 Years Old Girl

based on true story of a 15 years old anonymous American girl who is a drug user

Written by her Consists of 2 of her diaries Her parents published her diaries no one knows anything about the

original author, authors or editors Everything in the book is altered

Characters

The Protagonist -has no has no name - can be named as “Alice” - American girl who was 14 and died when

she was 16 - written in first person - sometimes she is called Alice - Alice in Wonderland

Protagonist’s Family - Mother -Father who is a professor at a university -Brother name Tim

Protagonist’s Friends/Acquaintances - Beth, Jewish girl - Jillian, popular girl - Tim and Bill, 2 drug dealers - Chris, a girl who ran away with “Alice” - Dolores, a girl whom “Alice” met in LA - Priest, turned her life around - Joel, her father’s student/ her boyfriend

Settings

West Coast of the USA From Washington to Oregon to California

to LA Home High School Church University Rehab Hospital

Conflict

Character Vs. Herself -a pill - decisions affect her A LOT -scared, lonely, desperate

Character VS. Society -After she left her comfortable home, she ended up on the

mean streets of an unforgiving city -no one forgave her - the school treated her like nothing - Her principal even said - " You are a disgrace to young

American womanhood” - Beth neglected her after she heard all of the stories.

Events

Summer Break Jillian's party Running Away Meeting Joel for the first time Meeting the priest Her first time getting stoned

Author’s Message

Well, the protagonist was the author so she probably didn't know about anything at the time. Her parents published the book because they thought that "Alice" might of wanted an audience. The book doesn't offer and solution but if you think about it, you would never deal with drugs. They do say "Sugar and Spice everything nice, Smack and crack no way back”. A lot of teenagers, back then and now deal with drugs and runaway. But some can never find a way back. Ever.

Passage

Page 36 – July 14Page 82 – December15

Official Poster from Movie - 1975

Why I chose these two passages

really short and both show how the protagonist’s life is a beautiful disaster

dream the reason why she’s in all of this mess. shows that the protagonist is very feminine -she can’t wait for a date -Cries -soft -runs away from home

Recommendation

1/ It's real and it's from a drug user's perspective so this shows you the reality of using drugs and how it affects you.

2/It's full of content which gives you a lot to think about

3. It's exciting because it's dramatic. Dramatic chronicling of addiction that comes across with a power that creates a strong anti drug message.

Recommendation

12 years old + because of the content about an addict and her life so the

drugs, abuse and alcohol are required to tell the story

Teen Reality