Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska 

By Mackenzie Elam

John Green’s debut novel Looking for Alaska is a young adult coming of age story, published in 2005, centering around Miles “Pudge” Halter. “I go to seek a Great Perhaps” are the seven words that change Miles Halter’s life. These were the last words of Francois Rabelais. Miles knows the last words of many people in history, but the ones of Francois Rabelais made him realize that things need to change and he can’t wait until he dies to find what he's looking for. 

He moves from Florida to Alabama to attend Culver Creek boarding school as a part of his search for “the Great Perhaps”. Upon his arrival his life changes completely when he meets Alaska Young, who is living down the hall, and Chip “The Colonel'' Martin, with whom he shares a room. Miles gets pulled into their world and truly becomes one of them. Things are perfect until one night when everything changes.

The book is separated into two parts, Before and After, and there is a countdown, but it isn't made clear as to what event is separating these times which creates suspense throughout the book.

The plot of this book was different to anything that I have read before and once I was a third of the way through the book I couldn't put it down. Alaska’s character is what mainly kept me reading because she's impulsive and passionate.

This can be attributed to the book's candid portrayal of life without any sugar coating. The book explores themes of grief, life, love, and friendship. This book shows when tragedy strikes and how people deal with it. It also shows that not everything can or will be answered.

I would recommend this book to readers who are fans of John Green's other books and also people who want a story about the adventures of life that not only includes the good but the bad and the ugly.

Looking for Alaska is a thought provoking story that shows a side of life that isn't usually put in the spotlight. This book highlights the hardships of life and how it can affect people. While this book doesn't necessarily have a "happily ever after”, each character finds their own version of closure and it leaves readers with a question: How can they escape this labyrinth?

3.5 stars out of 5