Alice Blog

Never Been Offended by One of Your Books

Questions:

First of all, I wanted to thank you for writing your book series.  I
read “The Agony of Alice” when I was in fourth grade and I’ve been
reading them ever since, even though I’m 27 now.  I will be so sad to
see the series end next year, as I’ve grown very attached to Alice and
I sometimes feel like she is a real person after spending so many
years with her.

I was very surprised with how many people on your Alice webpage seem
upset by the content of your books.  Let me start by saying that I
consider myself a conservative person.  I go to church every week,
didn’t drink alcohol until I was 21, and I vowed for myself that I
will not have sex until I am married.  All that being said, I have
never been offended by one of your books.  They are a very real
portrayal of what happens to teenagers today.  And I feel that I can
say that because I was reading the Alice series while I was actually a
teenager.

What your offended posters don’t seem to grasp is that for every
perhaps questionable moral decision that, say, Pamela makes, there is
another more conservative viewpoint through Elizabeth.  Alice herself
has stayed pretty conservative, not having sex (even though she’s had
the opportunity), because Alice didn’t feel right about the
circumstances.  I think that is a great message to send out to young
teen girls–explore ideas, but do not do something that you don’t feel
comfortable with.

And yes, your books cover STDs, teen pregnancies, molestation, drunk
driving, and other serious topis.  But guess what?  Teenagers are
going to run into these issue in the real world, whether it is at
school, on TV, and yes, even at church.  I feel like you handle these
issues respectfully and realistically.  And since my virginity is
still intact at the age of 27 after reading your whole series, I think
it’s safe to say that you are not corrupting young girls with your
books.  Instead, perhaps these mothers should read the books with
their teenages and then together openly discuss the issues presented.
The mothers might gain more insight into their very own children.

Thank you again for your series!

Phyllis replied:  

 Thank you so much for your email.  You mentioned what I’ve often

suggested before–that mothers read these books first and discuss them with their

daughters when they read them.  What better way to instill values than to discuss all current

attitudes, and explain why parents believe as they do.  I very much appreciate your email. 

Could you tell us about “doing it”?

Question:

Thank you for answering emails

Why so much sex?

Question:

When I was a bit younger, I read the first Alice book, and I loved it. Then I read a few books later in the series and I was suprised Why so much sex?

Phyllis replied:

Is there really so much?  If you add up the number of paragraphs dealing with sex and compare it to the rest of the manuscript, isn’t it only a fraction of what a teenage girl thinks about? 

A 32-year old reader

Should be ashamed

Question: 

 Phyllis replied:

I’m sorry that you are disappointed, but I am not in the least ashamed.  I do understand that some people feel that books for children and teens should be inspirational, and while I believe there is a place for such books, I also believe in books that give a presentation of real life, and how people of various ages deal with emotions and experiences unique to them.  I hear from hundreds and hundreds of readers of all ages.  Girls who have never been kissed, never have a boyfriend write to me quite happy or not with their lives, and I hear from others who are sexually experienced, equally happy or unhappy with theirs.  My aim is to give honest presentations of one girl’s life, along with her friends, the choices she makes, both wise and foolish, and my publisher supports my efforts.  I felt that I portrayed Alice and Patrick in realistic terms, they are long-time friends, and I do not think they acted irresponsibly.  If you have followed the Alice series, you will see that there have been situations that either she or her friends have regretted, but this was not one of them.  The comment I receive most from my teen readers is “Your books are so realistic!”  I think you will find many parents and teachers and librarians who recommend this series to the young people they know.

Song lyrics

Question:

Like all your fans, I absolutely LOVE the Alice book series that you write. <3 You’re on of my favorite authors. I read most of your books right now and am only in sixth grade (going on seventh grade next year). I can’t wait for your other books to come out! Well, even though I’m still young . . . kids this century listen to inappropriate songs. I just don’t understand. Why? They might not even understand what the song mean. It’s just gross. My music teacher even told us about it. To make the story short in explaining: We’re doing a music presentation (50% of our grade) and the boys were asking if they can use the clean version of an inappropriate song. And the teacher said no. And so, she told us about her nine year old son singing a lyric of “I’m Sexy And I Know It.” Anyway, since you were a teen child before I think that you might understand these kinds of things. So I’m just asking you. Why do kids (at a young age) listen or sing along to inappropriate songs?

Phyllis replied:

You should be asking this of each other, not of me.  Maybe kids just like the music.  Maybe they like to see just how bad the language can be.  Also views of what is appropriate or not change from generation to generation.  When I was in high school, I relaxed after coming home by sitting down and playing popular songs by ear, and singing the words along with them.  The song my mother didn’t like was “Night and Day,” especially the lines, “…and the torment won’t be through, till I spend my life making love to you…night and day, day and night!”  I have to admit I liked the idea of making love with a handsome man.  My mother much preferred another song I played, “The Bells of St. Mary’s.”

Super Sad

Love the Covers

Question:

My name is Shelby, and words can not explain how much of a fan I am of the Alice series. I first noticed your books when I was in school, and a girl in my class had “I like him, he likes her”. I would always tell myself that I should try out the book. I also thought to myself how pretty the cover of the series were! If the cover of a book catches my eye, and I feel I can relate, it has to be amazing! I finally bought ALL of the books in the Alice series from her 9th grade year up. When I started to read the books, I felt like I could relate to alice and her life.  I felt that whatever she went through, I went through in a part of my high school experiences. The boyfriends…the friend drama…the family issues…high school romances that you think will last forever…and everything else alice has went through, I felt that I could defiantly relate to her story! I’m her # 1 fan! 

Born in a Foreign Country

Question:

First of all, I want to say I truly enjoy all of your Alice novels.
Through the happiness and sorrows, picking up an Alice book just
brightens my day or gives me company when I am bored.  Though I cannot
say I can relate to every situation Alice encounters in life, I can
relate to at least one in each novel.  I find myself laughing with
Alice and her friends constantly.  The series has helped guide me
through numerous high school dramas and daily life issues, making me a
more confident and outspoken person.

I finished Alice in Charge in one day.  I thought this installment
was, by far, the best out of all.  One of my favorite moments was when
Amy stood up for herself.  I was particularly shocked when coming
across the multiple episodes with Bob White and Alice’s locker.  Like
Kay, I was also born in a foreign country, but I also immigrated to
the States at a very young age.  Therefore, the events that unraveled
in the novel made me relate to both her and Daniel.  Like Kay’s
parents, I come from a conservative family, but I have assimilated to
the more liberal views after living here for over 15 years.  However,
I still feel lost once in a while, like when it comes to things like
dating and dances, much like Daniel.  Since my parents were born are
brought up in India, and I am the oldest sibling, everything is an
experimental run for me.  I hope I will be able to advise and guide my
little sister through her own high school experiences.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you very much for providing such a
realistic book series to be able to read!  I cannot wait to read the
last three novels in the series.  Though I will be quite upset when
the series ends, I will be glad to have all of Alice’s adventures and
experiences with me to guide me through my senior year of high school,
college, grad school, and the rest of my life.

Phyllis replied:

It’s wonderful to hear how different readers relate to the Alice books.  We know that even though cultures are different, people all over the world feel the same emotions–sadness and anger and jealousy and embarrassment.  Thank you so much for writing to me!