Reading the Alice books out of order

I am a media specialist in a 7-8 middle school. Right now we have all of the Alice series beginning with The Agony of Alice. I have a few of the omnibus sets as well as the individual titles in those sets. I am starting something new called “Graffiti Books.” The students will be able to write notes in the books as they read them with each new reader writing notes in a new color. I’d like to include some of the Alice duplicates, like random titles from 15-24. Will a student enjoy starting with any of these titles as a first Alice book? I hope this makes sense (It does in my head!)

It’s difficult to answer because you’re numbering doesn’t include the very first three Alice books, Starting With Alice, Alice in Blunderland, and Lovingly Alice–which is fine, because those are Alice in grade school.  But beginning numbering at the Agony of Alice, these would take you through Alice in high school, so these include an unwanted pregnancy and other sexual situations.  As far as I’m concerned, I would let my own children read these if they were in middle school, but I don’t know your community.  As a general rule, the earlier a student begins reading the Alice books, the better, because the student can follow along as Alice involves herself in more and more complicated relationships and situations, and the reader will  see the growth and sophistication as the girls and their group of friends get older and face more serious problems.  If the books are arranged in order in the library or numbered, you might point out that Alice is entering 7th grade in Reluctantly Alice, and enters high school  in Alice Alone.