Looking For Alaska is the fantastic, witty, an utterly heart-breaking debut novel by John Green published in 2005 by Dutton Juvenile. This is a novel that will stay with you long after you have finished the last page (provided you can see through your tears long enough to actually finish). The bestseller, topping book charts, has been translated into more languages than you could count and is distributed worldwide, and has also been awarded the Michael L. Printz Award in 2006.
This teenage boy is called Miles Halter (or ‘Pudge’ to his friends). At the beginning of the novel he isn’t very sure of himself, and has no real friends to call his own. All of this changes when he moves to Culver Creek, though. There he meets his roommate, Chip Martin (The Colonel), Takumi Hikohito, Lara Buterskaya, and most importantly of all, the spontaneous, rebellious, outgoing Alaska Young.
What made this novel special to me is the fact that it is so true to real life. John Green’s novels are known to be tear-jerkers, and this one is no exception. In fact, I think this one is possibly even sadder than The Fault in Our Stars, and THAT, dear readers, is saying something (comment if you agree/disagree!)
We find out a lot about Alaska in this book. About who she is and what she is like and why she is like this. She is a very impulsive person, probably due to events that happened in her childhood that changed her life forever. She is also the type of character who could take very
Drastic mood swings which lands herself and also others in some trouble. Nevertheless, Miles becomes infatuated with the idea of Alaska Young.
Without giving too much away, this book is a must read. Not only is it hilariously funny, but it deals with issues that will get teenagers thinking and keep readers engaged. Looking for Alaska really is a masterpiece by John Green in my eyes, and as his first novel, it was certainly a very emotional, enjoyable read.
If you are interested in more of John Green’s books, visit his Goodreads page: Clickey!
Want to buy Alaska for yourself? Find it on Amazon! :Clickey!