Go Ask Alice is a controversial 1971

1971 in literature

The year 1971 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*The Destiny Waltz by Gerda Charles wins the UK's first Whitbread Novel of the Year Award.-New books:*Hiroshi Aramata - Teito Monogatari...

 book about the life of a troubled teenage girl. The book continues its claim to be the actual diary

Diary

A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...

 of an anonymous teenage girl who became addicted to drugs, but this has been dismissed as false. Beatrice Sparks

Beatrice Sparks

Beatrice Sparks is an American therapist and Mormon youth counselor who is known for producing books purporting to be the 'real diaries' of troubled teenagers. The books deal with topical issues such as drug abuse, Satanism, teenage pregnancy or AIDS, and are presented as cautionary tales...

 is listed as the author of the book by the United States Government. The novel is presented as a testimony against drug use

Drug use

Drug use may refer to any drug use; or:* Drug abuse* Drug addiction* Entheogenic drug use* Medication* Performance-enhancing drug use* Recreational drug use* Self medication...

. The diarist's name is never given in the book.

The story caused a sensation when published and remains in print as of 2011.