Go Ask Alice

A brief introduction from the “editors” presents Go Ask Alice as an “actual diary of a fifteen-year-old drug user” (i). The Prologue includes a disclaimer establishing that the text makes no authoritative statement about substance abuse disorder and American teens but that the editors hope to establish awareness of worldwide complications pertaining to drug use. In addition, the Prologue claims that because those involved in creating the text wish to remain anonymous, the editors have changed names and locations.

An anonymous author, Alice, writes in her diary as if talking to a friend. She notes that she purchased the diary hoping to write about her first date with Roger, a boy she likes. However, when Roger fails to appear for their date, Alice is devastated. Her diary entry is interrupted as Alice’s mother sternly instructs Alice to clean her room. The following day, she suffers through embarrassing moments at school, trying to avoid Roger and explaining the ordeal to her friends. Alice feels that her parents belittle her and think poorly of her intelligence and maturity. She feels profoundly dissatisfied with herself.

Aside from noting her and her father’s birthdays, Alice hardly records anything in her diary over the next week.