Looking for Alaska by John Green

Bibliography:
Green, J. 2005. LOOKING FOR ALASKA. New York, NY: Dutton Books. ISBN:0525475060

Plot Summary:
Motivated by the last words of writer Francois Rabelais, 16-year-old Miles Halter leaves his home in Florida to attend Culver Creek Prepatory School in Alabama where he is in search of “the Great Perhaps.” Leaving home catapults Miles into another world where he meets Chip and Alaska, the friends he never had. Alaska, Miles’s crush, is an engaging girl who has serious emotional issues. Despite these issues, Miles still yearns to understand her and her decisions that affect both him and his friends. The friendship between the main characters drives this novel as it explores issues of drug usage, sexuality, regret, loss, and acceptance.

Critical Analysis:
John Green’s novel is presented in entries counting down the days before and the days after an event. This ominous setup prepares the reader for a big event that changes the lives of Miles and his friends. The first half of the book explores Miles acceptance into the group of friend including Chip, Takumi, Lara, and Alaska. The dynamics of the group motivate Miles to make decisions regarding smoking, drinking, and sex which have repercussions later in the novel.

The characters fall into roles, but none seem stereotypical. The author even makes fun of Asian stereotypes when the Japanese character Takumi says that he doesn’t know anything about computers. Alaska Young, our main female character, is full of life but haunted by past mistakes. She never really becomes a fully dimensional character like Miles and Chip, but that does benefit the story because her friends never really understand her.

Miles’s voice is at different times self-centered, confused, ecstatic, scared, and sad. He runs through the gamut of emotions stereotypically related to teenagers yet it doesn’t feel forced because he appears authentic. After the tragedy occurs, Miles reveals his vulnerability when he calls his parents for comfort and is grateful that they answered the phone. Growing up can feel lonely and scary while still being exhilarating, but the novel shows that our decisions have repercussions which carries a large responsibility.

LOOKING FOR ALASKA addresses multiple issues from the search for identity, interest in the opposite gender, and belonging within a group. In conjunction with the other issues of sexuality and drug use (which might make some parents uncomfortable), it is a novel that represents the teenage experience. There is a lesson to be learned from LOOKING FOR ALASKA which is that there are repercussions for our actions. This lesson is saved from being overbearing by the emotions expressed in the aftermath of the event. Overall the book expresses honest teenage emotions and concerns. And as we are left with Miles’s final thoughts, readers will see that tragedies do occur, but forgiveness, acceptance, and sometimes understanding is possible.

Awards:
Bluegrass Award 2006
Michael L. Printz Award 2006
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2005

Review Excerpts:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
“This novel is about real kids dealing with the pressures of growing up and feeling indestructible. Miles's narration is alive with sweet, self-deprecating humor, and his obvious struggle to tell the story truthfully adds to his believability.”

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES
“Once the tragedy plays out, the last third of this provocative, moving, and sometimes hilarious story counts up slowly from grief as Miles tries to find his way through the fallout of depression and guilt that he suffers. Green has a writer's voice, so self-assured and honest that one is startled to learn that this novel is his first.”

Connections:
-Other books by John Green: PAPER TOWNS and AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES
-Read-alikes that address teen issues among them suicide, popularity, and mental illness are: STAYING FAT FOR SARAH BYRNES by Chris Cutcher, YOU DON’T KNOW ME by David Klass, and INSIDE OUT by Terry Trueman
-Supplemental readings about death and loss: WHEN A FRIEND DIES: A BOOK FOR TEENS ABOUT GRIEVING AND HEALING by Gootman & Espeland, THE COLOR OF ABSENSE: 12 STORIES ABOUT LOSS AND HOPE by J. Howe, and WHAT HAVE YOU LOST by N.S. Nye
-This is an excellent book for an open discussion about the issues of drug use, loss, sexuality, guilt, responsibility, etc.