Independent Reading Book Review

Looking For Alaska, published in 2005, is the first novel written by the author, John Green, who at the time was only 28.  It was a powerful debut, winning the young author the Michael L. Printz Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.  John Green would go on to write five more novels and become a prize-winning, best selling author.  Similar to this book, his books are directed towards teens with a focus on the idea of coming of age.

            Looking For Alaska is a melancholy story about a boy named Miles Halter and what he experiences and learns during his junior year at boarding school.  Miles Halter did not have many friends at his old school and is not notably adventurous, so when he comes to Culvert Creek in pursuit of “The Great Perhaps,” he discovers more about himself than he ever imagined.  From the moment he sets foot on campus and meets his roommate, his old safe life becomes a distant memory.  He gets entangled in both alcohol and cigarettes, and the most interesting person he has ever met, Alaska Young.  Alaska has a playful personality and is never afraid to stand up for what she believes is right, but she is an extremely troubled person, with more complications in her life than Miles can even comprehend.  Alaska lives life to the fullest; living everyday as if it were her last.  Unfortunately, it proves to be a short one.  During the winter she dies tragically in a car accident.  This is the central event of the novel and gives the book its structure of “before” and “after” that is noted in the chapter headings.  This event leaves Miles with many questions of how and why she died, which he just can’t come to terms with right away.  He and his roommate, the Colonel, need to do some detective work to answer their queries.

            This book is full of interesting and well-developed characters, each of whom has their unique traits and attractions, but everything orbits around Alaska. She is the magnet that draws the reader’s interest into the novel.  Alaska is my favorite character because she is the embodiment of many contradictions like youth and maturity.  Most importantly, while she is friendly and exceedingly mischievous, she also has a deep and pensive side that brings up many thought-provoking questions. The most powerful question that she brings up is “how will we ever get out of this labyrinth of suffering.” She answers this question with only three words - straight and fast. On the other hand, Miles finds a completely different answer.  He realizes that the way out of the labyrinth is to forgive.  After all, if one never forgives you will never truly be light of heart because you will only be given more anguish and constant nagging.  I feel the same way as Miles, because if he is never forgiven by Alaska, he would always be haunted by the sense of guilt that he let her go and never he would never forgive himself.  Earlier in the book this is what tortures Alaska - the feeling that she could have done something to save her mother.   She never realized that her mother would have forgiven her and that the last thing she would want Alaska to do is cause herself more agony.

            Looking for Alaska is a powerful and compelling book.  It explores topics that resonant with young adults with a deep sympathy and a wry sense of humor that makes it a thoroughly enjoyable read.   All the characters in the novel are well developed and fully rounded.  They have their flaws and good traits that one would expect in people. Sometimes They feel like real people and during the course of the novel the reader grows to deeply care about them.  I highly recommend this book to all readers whether adolescent or adult.