Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska

By: John Green

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska: A novel. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Summary: 

In a world where we are predispositioned to have at least our storybooks end with happily-ever-afters, John Green writes a perfect coming of age story that does not fit this age old mold. Instead his characters do suffer and each have to come to their own closure. In Looking for Alaska, Miles a.k.a Pudge, decides to attend the Culver Creek Boarding School. Here he becomes friends with an eccentric cast of people; the Colonel, Alaska, Takumi, and Lara. The novel is split into two sections, Before and After and as you turn the pages you see their friendships take twists and turns through school pranks, sexuality, drinking, smoking, basically getting into mischief. Miles falls in love with Alaska even though he knows he cannot have her. As you near the end of the Before section, the chapters have been counting down, and you are finally to the "The Last Day". At this point your brain and heart know that all is not well and you can only hope your inferences are not correct. Then...... you being the "After" section of the novel. Here we see Miles, Takumi, and the Colonel try to make sense of Alaska's tragic death (which some claim to be a suicide and others just an accident, you are left to determine). By the end of the novel, the characters have put you through the ringer and in Miles' style you are left with some famous last words to chew for thought.

Response: 

Looking for Alaska has been reviewed and critiqued more than most young adult novels. It could be because of John Green being the author or maybe it is because the cover and synopsis are that enticing. You will find those that love it and those that absolutely hated it. I believe that this is normal, one specific novel cannot please the masses. I do feel that you cannot argue with John Greens strengths in character development. As you read this novel, or any of his novels, you feel that you know his characters inside and out. You know what makes them tick. It is as if they have come and bared their souls to you. You shed tears when you go along with Miles and Alaska to the Colonel's trailer home for Thanksgiving and see the pride that he has in his mother. You pity Miles when his parents throw a going away party and no body shows up. you are connected to the characters and no matter the story line, if you can see parts of yourself and your friends in the characters you will be hooked and the story will mean something to you.

Check out some more of John Green's novels!