Alice Blog

The Girl on the Cover

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Letter from Germany

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At some point, your novels were not translated anymore. I was so upset about that. Alice was so much… well, me! While reading about her I felt like I was looking at a reflection of myself, even though of course we still had our differences. But she taught me so much about life, about love, about other people, about being kind and forgiving, and and and. I always tried to imagine what could’ve happened after her breakup with Patrick and Sam, and for a few years I just accepted that I had to get creative on that.

And now here I sit, right after finishing your very last book of Alice. I cried my eyes out. Even before reading this book I was so scared because Alice had always been the girl I’d grown up with. It even felt, crazy as it sounds, as though she was one of my closest friends, giving me advice and comfort, and making me feel like I wasn’t alone with the little and big problems we all had when we were in that age. And now, all of the sudden, she was supposed to be 60?! But of course, I had to read it anyway. I’m so happy and so sad at the same time. There’s nothing I can really say but thank you for giving me Alice. Thank you so much. You’ve definitely influenced and inspired me in many, many ways, and I feel like they are all positive. I’ll keep these books forever, giving them to my kids when I am a real grown-up (even though I already am, but with Alice I’ll always feel like a child I guess). Every human should have an Alice-book in their shelves. Everyone should carry at least a piece of Alice in him/her. Even my boyfriend does now, never reading the books but always listening to me when I talk about the girl I can und will always compare to so well. Virtual hugs from Germany. Always Alice.

Alice Books Still Helping

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I discovered the Alice books when I was in middle school. I have vivid memories of passing them between my friends – trading Alice in April for Alice the Brave and so forth. Once we caught up with all of the previously published books, my two best friends and I would wait eagerly each summer for the next one to be published. Throughout high school and college, the three of us held on to the tradition of sharing the Alice new novels each summer. Now, as a school counselor in an elementary school, re-reading the Alice books is like a visit with old friends. Memories of my own middle school experience come flooding back as I read about the adventures of Alice, Pamela and Liz. And in reliving their middle school experiences, and my own, I remember the twisty tumult of emotions of adolescence and bring those memories back to school and working with my students. I always feel like I can emphasize with my students better once Alice, Liz and Pam have helped me remember just how big a problem at home or school can feel when you’re a kid.

Phyllis replied:

I LOVE the idea of trading books with friends!  I hear that so much.  It’s one way to have the entire series at your fingertips.  And how wonderful that you can now recommend these books to your students.  Let’s face it: sometimes the problems at home or at school really are big ones, and can be overwhelming.  Counselors today are much more friendly and welcoming than the ones I remember; you mix much more with the students and let them get to know you before they come to you with problems, and that’s a good thing.

Alice Series

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I love your Alice books like crazy, filled with romance, friendships, drama, and just the every day life of a teenage girl, and would love for you to write more. You love to write them, and say they come easy to you, so why not write more and please all of your fans?! : D I’m thirteen and the Alice series has inspired me to start a novel. In my own words, if you asked me how reading was related to writing I’d probably say something like this: Writing takes time and cleverness. You need to make it interesting. When you read, you are brought into a new world filled with imagery. When writing, you remember these places that you’ve traveled to through books, and try to imitate what you have learned. By reading that of a good writer, you can enhance your skills by imitating the characteristics of a good writer.

You are my inspiration. You are that good writer. You are the one who made me want to become a great writer like you did. Thank you.

P.S. If you have any name suggestions for a 14 year old girl, a 7 year old girl, or a baby boy, pLeAsE wirte back! You are my biggest inspiration.

Phyllis replied:
Thanks so much for your email.  I am really humbled that you feel you have learned from me.  I’ve learned from so many writers myself, and seem to learn more easily by listening to audio books than by reading.  Perhaps because my parents read aloud to us far past the age when we were reading ourselves; we just loved the sound and drama of their voices.  I just felt it was time to move on.  I had taken Alice and her friends and family a long way, and there are so many other books I want to write!

Birthdays

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Hey Ms. Naylor, How are you doing? I want to say I was born January 3. If I am right you were born January 4. I was shocked one of my favorite authors birthday was the day after mine. How cool is that. I know its not interesting but it is cool huh. Well I love your Alice books. Alice has the romance I want.

Phyllis replied:

Ummmm…yeah.  Sort of cool.  Now if you tell me we were born in the same year, that would definitely be amazing.

Another Alice Movie?

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Hey, I’ve watched the Alice Upside Down and I was wondering if there would be another movie like based on the last book Now I’ll Tell You Everything and how everything all ended. I know you may not have control of making the movie, but are you allowed to ask some directors if they could make a movie for your readers? I really enjoyed reading the Alice series and I’m really sad that it ended but I loved how it ended.

Phyllis replied:

The same directors and producers who made this Alice movie, based very loosely on The Agony of Alice, made the three Shiloh movies also.  So they are aware of all the Alice books, but whether or not they want to do another, I don’t know.  Right now they’re focused on the possibility of a movie of A Shiloh Christmas.  They do know that the Alice books have a special place in my heart!

Grew Up Without a Mother

thanks!!!

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Good day!
first I’m sorry for my bad english.. I’m still learning 😉 But I want to say thank you very mutch for the really great Alice-stories! When I’m in a bad mood I read your fabulous stories and my little world is in the right order again 🙂

Phyllis replied:

I think you’re doing a great job with your English.  But I know how you feel, because I’m just learning how to post replies to your emails on this new website.  Sometimes writing those  Alice stories helped me get in a better mood too, especially when Alice and Lester were having one of their long conversations.

Why Wasn’t Alice Gay?

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Ok I’m writing this in the middle of the night after the first day of school I’m p tired and this is p long bear with me here Phyllis.

I read most of the Alice books when I was in middle school ish age? And now that I understand it more there were serious gay undertones in how she talk about women and what she sees as beautiful and who she wants to be like. I feel like her ‘crush’ on the sub-par neighbor boy (and follow up, was he supposed to be so… vaguely disinteresting? Like if he were a spice was he supposed to be flour or did he just sorta turn out that way?) anyway I feel like her crush on the dude Patrick was mostly just… heteronormativity and internalized homophobia. Like, she doesn’t ever meet a gay person as far as I’ve read? Why? lgbt+ people exist even in areas where cishets think they couldn’t. I feel like it was super damaging to me as a gay child to see such blatant erasure. I did eventually find some gay kids media (Steven universe is my favorite anything rn cause it treats issues like this as a serious part of your identity that should be found by you. But like, in your book, Alice never like, identified herself. We just sorta assumed she was cis and het cause that’s ‘the norm’ and no I promise Phyllis I’m not hating on you in any way (in fact I think your work was pretty progressive as it questioned things like relationships and bullying and differences in friends) but I feel like it really lacked…. Gays. And I’m not talking about the flamboyant gay man that cishets call friends to excuse their homophobia I’m talking about like normal characters who happened to be gay? Or main characters? Did you notice main characters who are lgbt+ have storylines that center around that? Like they’re nothing more than their sexuality. Idk tho I sorta feel jealous cause hets can go to space and conquer schools and have adventures but like, with stories about lgbt characters (sorry I’m using gay as an umbrella for lgbt here I mean no disrespect to members of the community btw) stories about lgbt characters are just like, an inner monologue of like… ‘Am I [whatever they so clearly are]? But, heteronormativity shows up here so I’ve got to be faking the whole thing. Nope nvm I’m gay’

Tbh that’s sorta what my childhood was like. I’m getting off topic. My main question is, why was Alice not openly wlw? To me it’s pretty obvious she wasn’t het. Maybe not cis. Idk. I really don’t want a four word reply about ‘the characters create themselves, I couldn’t change them’ Because you totally could. Like a character arc or a redemption arc. It’s all about growth. Are you like homophobic? Oh holy shit authors write themselves into the story are you closeted that is so cute I love gay old people they completely destroy the idea that being lgbt is like a trend now. Anyway I would really appreciate an answer about why you simply couldn’t write an lgbt character into your books cause I think they really make the story better and yeah one day I am gonna write a story the way I want but i wanted answers about why heterosexuality was shoved down my throat in every piece of media a child could get their grubby little paws on. Like honestly wth.

In conclusion I am petty and gay and your character Alice is totally gay (and tbh I think she’s on autism spectrum and probably has Aspergers as well cause of how smart but socially awkward and introverted the is but that’s for another email probably this is getting old) but yeah it’s 1:59am now and I have to be awake in 5 hours to go to school for 8 and a half more hours and repeat this process every weekday for 179 more weekdays so I’m gonna be p busy but thanks if you read this far ttyl Phyllis vaguely enjoy your work even though it’s heavily gender binary coded and heteronormative and fails to address racism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, or any other oppressive system in America because they fail to apply to Alice and are therefore nonexistent nevermind Phyllis sorry I was totally hating for a sec but I’m trying to keep an open mind thx

Phyllis replied:

Ohhh, your email made me smile, thinking about all the Alice books you have yet to read and enjoy!

No, Alice isn’t gay, but you haven’t met Lori and Leslie yet!  I’m not sure in what book it was that Alice first met Lori, but you will find more about these lesbian girls in alice on the outside,  alice alone, including alice, and alice in the know.  No, I’m not gay, but my brother is, and you will see a photo of him on my website here.  I have many friends and acquaintances who are gay or lesbian, but you know what?  To remember all of them, I actually had to think awhile, because the first thought that comes to mind when I think of most of them is musician, editor, college friend, artist, great story teller, beautiful woman, etc.  Their sexuality is only one part of them.  I’m so glad you wrote to me, and I hope you got a good night’s sleep!

Asked the Same Questions I Wanted Answers to

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I have been reading the Alice books since I was in 5th or 6th grade. I am now going into my Junior year of college and I just finished the last Alice book. I’m sad that the series is over but I am so happy and grateful for the way things ended. I grew up along with this girl. Alice went through similar things that my friends and I went through as we grew up. Alice is someone who was relatable and funny and who asked the same questions that I wanted answers too. I love Alice Mckinley, Miss Phyllis, and I cannot tell you how much she means to me. Thank you for giving her to me and all of your other readers. I hope to start buying the entire series, book by book and reading the whole thing over again. And if I have children one day I want to give the series to them too. Thank you for giving me this wonderful, fictional best friend. She was extremely real to me.

Phyllis replied:

It was such a pleasure reading your email. I’ve been so gratified to know that no matter when readers first started reading the Alice books or in what year they were born, Alice still seems current and relates to their own lives. The complete Alice collection is now available in bookstores, and has been published in 3 boxed sets–her elementary school years, middle school years, then high school and beyond. You can look them up on the Internet. I’m glad that Alice seems to real to you, because she seems real to me as well, and I find myself speaking about her sometimes as though she still lives there in Silver Spring, just a short distance from where I am now.