Reluctantly Alice is a young-adult novel by American author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. It is the third book in the Alice series, consisting of twenty-five books. Published in 1991 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, the novel continues exploring Alice's life as she comes of age. On her first day of junior high school, Alice is determined to be friendly with everyone she comes across.
Unfortunately, her plans are sabotaged when she becomes the target of the school bully. Alice has to be strong and act fast if she is to have a harmonious time in her new school. On top of that, she has to deal with her father's failing love life and her brother's messy relationships.
Alice will prove to be wise beyond her age as she juggles so many things at once. Deep inside her heart, she has to deal with the lack of a female role model. Alice's mother died when she was young, so she visibly struggles with this in her young-adult life.
The novel has a solid plot and the character development is impressive. The main focus is Alice's journey as she discovers herself as a woman without a female role model. Throughout the novel, she is desperately looking for someone who can play that role for her. Reluctantly Alice was nominated for the 1993 Vermont Golden Dome Book Award.
