Editorial Review

When we first meet 19-year-old Samantha, she sounds like a normalteenager, writing in her diary about an ex-boyfriend: "I will never fall in love again, never, ever! Why is life so cruel? Why do people like to hurt each other?" But a mere three months later--after moving into her own apartment, taking a job as a topless dancer, and becoming addicted to heroin--her tone takes on that of a grizzled drug abuser: "I've been shooting in my bony hip area... toward my groin, so no one can detect the needle points on my rear when I wear my G-string, and I'm getting terribly numb there." Samantha's story is told entirely in the form of her journal entries, which vividly reflect this young woman's rapid descent into the seedy world of addiction. Read more

Reviews (63)

Are you kidding me?
The back of the novel said that the author bought $1,500 worth of heroin, and started to shoot up 10 times a day.
Beauty Queen
The book was very good and interesting. But at the end of the book it was very sad and I enjoyed it very much.

Loved this book.
This book is different from most the books i've read before. The first sentence made me want to read more and more. It was never boring. When I finished it I was sad the book was over. I recomend reading this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Drug abuse    4. Drug use    5. Fiction    6. Heroin abuse    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Issues - Adolescence    9. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    10. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    11. Women    12. Fiction dealing with drugs & addiction    13. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse    14. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse   

Editorial Review

The torture and hell of adolescence has rarely been captured as clearly as it is in this classic diary by an anonymous, addicted teen. Lonely, awkward, and under extreme pressure from her "perfect" parents, "Anonymous" swings madly between optimism and despair. When one of her new friends spikes her drink with LSD, this diarist begins a frightening journey into darkness. The drugs take the edge off her loneliness and self-hate, but they also turn her life into a nightmare of exalting highs and excruciating lows. Although there is still some question as to whether this diary is real or fictional, there is Read more

Reviews (1150)

True Story?
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous is a story about a teenage girl written in the format of a diary. Not much is told to us about the setting but the culture seems late 60's and the girl has no name, so we'll call her 'Alice'. Lots of spoilers on this lens.
Amazing book
This is one of the best books i have ever read. This book should be read by every teen out there. Alice has a very hard life for a teen and i think this could be self related to a bunch of teens out. I am 13 years old and when i read this book it woke me up. I have learned so much fomr it and everything. I recommend this book to everyone of the age of 13 and older. This is an amazing story of a teen. This is an easy reader i have read this book in about 5 days because its so good and you just cant put it down! The one law the book has is the ending when she stops writing in her journal and decides to move on. I understood the whole book but the end how she died (if she was addicted to drugs again or not). This is a wake up to the world with drug.

Liked it until i read the last page
I watched the movie first most recently then found out there was a book.I thought it was just some cooky movie from the seventies with Captain Kirk from star trek starring as the father.I got to reading the book and at times wondered about it mainly because it was so different from the movie, but in most cases thats what happens to movies, they chop the book up to shorten it.Anyways, I read the whole thing at work in 2 days and I sort of liked it because I like these types of drug books, they are interesting to see how a person goes through their "drug stages", but the last page of the book bothered me.It said that she dies and I just didn't understand because she was so happy during the last several pages that it made no sense.Was her death just played off to make people think that once you use, you will always use and eventually die.But then i got to reading some of the reviews other people have left on here and it began to sink in that this book might actually be a hoax.Funny though, I think as a teenager, had I read this book, I would have tried drugs because of how they were described and how feelings were described in the beginning of the book, nevertheless, i enjoyed the book although I can really see how it just might possibly be a hoax to conform or keep away kids from drugs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography - General    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Drug abuse    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Issues - Adolescence    9. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    10. Substance Use / Abuse Education (Young Adult)    11. Addiction: social aspects    12. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General    13. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse   

Reviews (5)

Awesome book!
I really love this book. I've been trying to live a drug free life, but the stress and pressures I feel sometimes make me think that it would be easier if I just started drinking beer and smoking weed like everyone else does. But after reading this book and incorporating some of the exercises into my life, I've found it easier to stay away from drugs. This guy has a great sense of humor and really seems to understand kids. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a way to releive stress without using drugs. Thanks, Alex. You rock!

The Ultimate Health Book For Intelligent Young People
It's all here - what every teen and young adult needs to know about how to feel really well and really good about themselves.On the premise thathuman beings like to get high, and that getting high is good, Dr. Packer'snewest book tells us how to do it - without relying on alcohol, drugs orother substances.Written and illustrated in an engagingly contemporaryway, "Highs" provides the reader with fresh, usable insights on suchmatters as serenity, nutrition, exercise, and relationships.Organized inthree sections and 11 well- outlined chapters, it is possible - perhapseven recommended - that the reader turn to an area of particular interestfirst.Literate, witty, insightful, and irreverent where it should be,"Highs" is highly recommended to young people and parents alike.

Very Highly Recommended.
In Highs!, Alex Packer presents more than one hundred and fifty ways for teenagers and young adults to feel good, really good, without resorting to alcohol or other drugs. Packer's detailed suggestions are divided into"Serenity Highs" (meditation, T'ai Chi Chuan, Yoga);"Physical and Sensuous Highs" (sports, relaxation exercises,food, massage); "Social, Spiritual, and Creative Highs" (nature,fasting, roleplaying games, music, dance, art). An especially recommendedcompendium of ideas and suggestions for today's youth seeking to avoid thepitfalls of alcohol consumptions and substance abuse in their personal andpeer group recreational activities, Highs! is enhanced for teen and youngadult readers with a bibliography, as well as suggestions for additionalreadings and resources. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Altered states of consciousnes    2. Altered states of consciousness    3. Body, Mind & Spirit    4. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    7. Happiness    8. Happiness in adolescence    9. Health & Daily Living - General    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Mind and body    13. Social Issues - New Experience    14. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    15. Social Problems (General) (Young Adult)    16. Social Science - Psychology   

Editorial Review

Was it a one-night stand or true love? What are the symptoms ofchlamydia? How do I know if my drinking is out of control? While questions likethese may be a parent's worst nightmare, they weigh heavily on the minds of today's teens and twentysomethings. Thankfully, Read more

Reviews (4)

Kids, sex, life -- they all gotta come together somehow
At www.goaskalice.columbia.edu, there is one of the best sources for advice on sex, relationships, and health for people ages 14 and up. This book is the print version. Excellent factual information
This book fills a definite need for adolescents. It presents the facts, not fallacy, to all of the questions they have that parents and other caregivers may be too embarrassed to talk about. It is from an extremely reputable source (Columbia University), and is readable and accessible to the average teen. Kudos to the people who put together "The Go Ask Alice Book of Answers".

Read T-h-i-s GO ASK ALICE Book For Info On Health Issues
The review dated May 9, 1999 is not germain to this book, having a similar title to an earlier fictional book simply titled Go Ask Alice.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Diet / Personal Health    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    3. College students    4. General    5. Health & Daily Living - General    6. Health & Fitness    7. Health - General    8. Health and hygiene    9. Health/Fitness    10. Mental health    11. Sexual behavior    12. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    13. Social Situations - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    14. Emotions & feelings    15. Sex education & the facts of life    16. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse   

Reviews (3)

My Review
Erica is a normal teenager, ok she graduated high school? she works at a community college, she worrys about boys. you know, normal teenage things. the thing that i dont understand, is how she is like a maid to her boyfriend,danny. she's there at his every beck and call. and if i was her i wouldnt be doing that? i would feel bad for him though only because he lost his mom. and you know, no one deserves to lose thier mom. but anyway, erica got raped by her boyfriend best friend, and danny was drunk when this happened,and at the scene at the crime, ok if im not wrong, arent you supposed to protect your girl/boy in any situation like that? yea you should. ok and second of all, all danny wants from erica is sex...basically, i woulda dump long time ago. im glad erica was real smart, and broke up wit danny at the end.

Interesting Read!
Erica is a typical teen girl.She sticks up for her boyfriend, even when she starts to doubt him.She lies to her parents about their relationship, but it all comes out in the end, as all secrets do.Since I teach eighth grade, I felt the need to share this book with my students.I always tellthem to not get hooked on one person,to look around, and not become tooserious.This book shows exactly what could happen to anyone.

Another Great one by Marilyn Renolds
I have read almost all of the True to Life series books and I have enjoyed every one.It tells the stories of a young girls choice to stick up for her boyfriend and lie to her parents.This book also tells the effects rape has on it's victums.This, as well as all True to Life Series Books, is a sure read for teenagers growing up in the changing world around them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Conduct of life    4. Fiction    5. High schools    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Schools    8. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    9. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    10. Social Issues - Violence    11. Social Situations - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    12. Social Situations - Violence    13. Teenagers   

Subjects:  1. Alcoholics    2. Alcoholism    3. Children of alcoholics    4. Children's 4-8    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Family relationships    7. General    8. Health - Substance Abuse    9. Juvenile literature    10. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse   

Subjects:  1. Alcoholics    2. Children's 12-Up - Recovery    3. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    4. Devotional calendars    5. English    6. Prayer-books and devotions    7. Psychology    8. Self-Help    9. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    10. Social Science - Psychology    11. Social Situations - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    12. Teenagers    13. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    14. Self-Help / Substance Abuse   

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Drug abuse    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    9. Personal awareness: family, relationship & social issues    10. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse   

Subjects:  1. Alcohol use    2. Alcoholism    3. Children's 12-Up - Sociology    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Prevention    8. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    9. Social Situations - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    10. Teenagers    11. United States   

Reviews (2)

Children of Alcoholics
This book is a wonderful resource for children of alcoholics or treatment professionals working with children of alcohohilcs. It is a deeply moving collection of letters, poems and facts.

Insightful, Accurate, Helpful
I wish I'd had this book while I was growing up! I recommend it to young people as well as to their teachers and others who work with youngsters and need a better understanding of what children of alcoholic parents are going through. The poem on the dedication page is especially insightful.The author obviously has a thorough knowledge and understanding of this subject.Don't miss the eye-opening quiz at the beginning of the book! Sincerely, Deanna Hessedal Tiddle (author of "Hold On, Jessica, Don't Let Go," a novel about a child struggling to survive life in an alcoholic home) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alcoholics    2. Alcoholism    3. Child Care/Parenting    4. Children of alcoholics    5. Children's 12-Up - Recovery    6. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    7. Family & Relationships    8. Family - Parents    9. Family relationships    10. Juvenile literature    11. Parenting - Child Rearing    12. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    13. Addiction: social aspects    14. Personal awareness: family, relationship & social issues    15. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse   

Reviews (1)

I love this book...
Why hello everyone, If you have never read this book.. this book makes you wanna do drugs, it is a really good book... I toke up everyday now. I was a really good influence on me... Thank you for who has ever wrote this.. I have to go now so i hope you all still love me and i hope that you like to do drugs too.. BUH~BYE ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Psychology / Counseling    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile literature    6. Psychology    7. Smoking    8. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    9. Social Situations - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    10. Teenagers    11. Tobacco habit    12. Tobacco use    13. United States    14. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (3)

A must-have handbook for parents!
If parents play an active role in their children's lives, their children will come to know that they can depend on their parents, especially during times when difficult choices need to be made. Playing an active role involves discussing important matters, such as making choices about drugs and other important related issues that face our children today. Great conversation starter
I have two high school boys who are impossible to talk to. But this book gave me lots of ideas for starting conversations about alcohol and drugs. Actually the book got me thinking about what my parents said to me (or didn't) about drugs! Worthwhile reading.

I actually got my daughter to TALK!
Money well spent . . . I liked the no-nonsense approach. Tried several of the talks and SURPRISE my daughter actually responded. I also liked hearing from other moms about their experiences. It's a fast read and the illustrations are so much fun. I wish I would have had this book two years ago when my daughter started middle school and being exposed to drugs and whatever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adolescence - Drugs/Drinking    2. Children    3. Communication in drug abuse pr    4. Communication in drug abuse prevention    5. Drug abuse    6. Drug use    7. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    8. Family/Marriage    9. Prevention    10. Self-Help    11. Substance Abuse & Addictions - Drug Dependence    12. Self-Help / Drug Dependence   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Sociology    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Drug abuse    5. Drugs    6. Hallucinogenic drugs    7. Hallucinogenic plants    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    11. Social Situations - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    12. Social Studies - General    13. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse    14. Social Sciences   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Drug abuse    4. Health & Daily Living - Substance Abuse    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    8. Substance Use / Abuse Education (Young Adult)    9. Substance abuse    10. Body & health    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Situations / Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse    12. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse   

Subjects:  1. Alcohol use    2. Alcoholism    3. Children's 12-Up - Sociology    4. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    6. Health & Daily Living - Substance Abuse    7. Health - Substance Abuse    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Physiological aspects    11. Prevention    12. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    13. Social Situations - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    14. Teenagers    15. United States    16. Non-Classifiable   

Subjects:  1. Athletes    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Doping in sports    5. Drug use    6. Drugs    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    10. Sports & Recreation - General    11. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse    12. Sports & outdoor recreation   

Reviews (8)

Not afraid to talk about the tough stuff
A lot of Christian books for teens stay away from the real issues. This book doesn't and it's encouraging to know that God can change a life like this. Loved the quotes from teens, the stories, and especially the poetry written by teens. Very cool book.

Real Teens, Real Stories, Real life
I thought that these stories were not open to everyone because anyone who does not believe in God could not relate at all to these stories. I thought they featured strong people, but again was not open to all readers because of the focus on God. I questioned the validity of some of the stories because they seemed somewhat exaggerated although maybe it just had to do with the people's expieriences and how they felt at the time.

Honest, awesome, written just for teens - I loved it!
This book kept my interest from the first word to the last. It was honest and real and didn't talk down or preach about issues that matter to teens. It was open and honest and identified with the things that teens face, but showed God to be powerful and merciful. Perfect gift for a teen from a parent, grandparent or anyone who knows a teen who needs to know that God is not afraid of the tough stuff. In fact, he's HUGE in our lives and can walk with us through whatever we face and not only bring us out on the other side, but change our lives forever. He's awesome. This book is awesome. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Religion - Christianity    2. Animals - Birds    3. Biography    4. Children's Books/Young Adult Religion    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Religion - Christianity - General    8. Religious life    9. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    10. Social conditions    11. Teenagers    12. United States    13. Biography & Autobiography - Religious    14. Personal Memoirs    15. Personal narratives    16. Social Situations - Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse    17. Social Situations - Physical & Emotional Abuse    18. Social Situations - Sexual Abuse    19. YA: Grades 10-12   

Reviews (2)

Reader
I found this book disturbing.The author defines alcoholism most narrowly:basically one must be completely out of control and not functioning on any level to qualify. This book will provide refuge for thefunctioning alcoholic who is looking for a source to support his denial.The author takes "problem drinking" very lightly, suggesting thatit can and does cure itself at the drinker's will.Much of this bookcontradicts everything I have read or heard from all other sources (andcertainly my own experience with a "problem drinker.")Theauthor also seems somewhat hostile to AA, a bias he should have disclosedin the preface. It is hard to believe that this book represents "thefacts," any more than it represents the author's perspective.Readersshould not assume that the author's MD makes him anything more than a humanwith an opinion; and in this case, one that is not broadly accepted.

A superb and accessible look at a debilitating disorder.
Goodwin's accessible, effortless style, which he used so well in previous editions, carries the reader nicely through the intricacies of one of the world's most popular drugs and its associated disorders.Excerpts from literature and case studies provide a superb feel for the phenomenology of addiction.Numerous entertaining quotes appear from everyone from Kissinger to Humpty Dumpty.Goodwin provides a thorough look at alcohol itself, the problems associated with excess consumption, common theories designed to account for these problems, and many of the available treatments.Through simple explanations of the correct interpretations of available data, Goodwin not only provides a great deal of meaningful information, but he teaches the reader to become a good consumer of research.This book is refreshingly scientific and lacks the horribly moralistic tone many books on this topic take. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alcoholism    2. Diseases - General    3. General    4. Health/Fitness    5. Medical / Nursing    6. Neurology - General    7. Addiction: social aspects    8. Coping with drug & alcohol abuse    9. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    3. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse   

Subjects:  1. Counseling - General    2. General    3. Psychology    4. Addiction: social aspects    5. Alcoholism    6. Drug addiction & substance abuse    7. Schools    8. Schools & education centres    9. Smoking, alcohol, drugs & substance abuse