Go Ask Alice

Alice’s diary concludes by emphasizing the importance of speaking honestly with other people. Which characters show Alice empathy and build meaningful connections with her? Does a connection exist between Alice ending her diary and her death? Explain why or why not, using evidence from the text.

Consider the differences between Alice’s generation and other generations. In what ways would her story differ had she been born in an earlier generation or in Generation Y (Millennials) or Generation Z? What different conflicts would she have faced depending on the era? Conversely, what challenges prove timeless for adolescents regardless of the era in which they come of age?

Would Alice have found happiness had she married Joel? Why or why not? Which other characters might have made a successful romantic partner for her? What evidence suggests that Alice might have been happy as a single woman, free from conventional monogamy?

Alice sees herself eventually becoming a child psychologist; her experiences allow her to empathize with troubled youth. Would this have been a good career option for her? Why or why not? In what other careers and life plans might she have been successful?

Explore Alice’s relationship with God and Christianity. How do her religious beliefs influence her actions? Although she fears death, how does thinking about and talking to God comfort her? Explain, using evidence from the text.

How do Alice’s relationships with Tim and Alex change over the years? How might her death have impacted them? Would she have had close adult relationships with them? Explain why or why not, using evidence from the text.

Alice’s fixation on worms and maggots symbolizes her fear of unwanted change and uncontrollable circumstances. In what ways does Alice lack control over her life? How does she assert authority over her choices and actions? Explain, using evidence from the text.

Although Go Ask Alice cautions against counterculture and bohemianism because of their association with drugs, what aspects of these movements (if any) can be beneficial? Cite any sources you use in developing a response.