Go Ask Alice
What is go ask alice?
Key facts
Go Ask Alice is a 1971 book presented as the diary of a teenage girl struggling with drug addiction, but it is widely described as a fictionalized or fabricated anti-drug story rather than a real diary.
Context
Go Ask Alice is a 1971 book presented as the diary of a teenage girl, but sources describe it as a fictionalized or fabricated anti-drug story rather than a real diary [1]. The book is credited to 'Anonymous' and follows a teenage girl's descent into drug addiction [1]. Its title comes from the Jefferson Airplane song 'White Rabbit', which itself references Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland [1]. The book is often described as an anti-drug cautionary tale [2], yet later sources call it a fictional hoax [2].
Documented claims
- The book is presented as an edited actual diary of an unnamed teenage protagonist. [1]
- The title comes from the Jefferson Airplane song 'White Rabbit', which references Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. [1]
- It is described as an anti-drug cautionary tale. [2]
- Later sources describe it as a fictional hoax rather than a real diary. [2]
Questions and answers
Was Go Ask Alice based on a true story?
No, despite being presented as a real diary, sources describe it as a fictionalized or fabricated story rather than an actual diary [1].
What does the phrase 'go ask Alice' mean?
The phrase comes from the Jefferson Airplane song 'White Rabbit', which references Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland [1].
Is there a movie based on Go Ask Alice?
The sources provided do not mention a film adaptation.
Sources
- MaryBartlett-Go Ask Alice.pdf — scribd.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- The strange truth behind the teen ‘diary’ that shocked a generation — smh.com.au (retrieved August 3, 2026)