Fiction, Fantasy, and YA Review #2- LOOKING FOR ALASKA

Looking for Alaska by John Green

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Green, John. Looking for Alaska: A Novel. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 2005.

ISBN 978-0-525-47506-4

2.     PLOT SUMMARY

Miles Halter is a sixteen-year-old with a fascination for last words.  He transfers to a boarding school in Alabama and becomes fast friends to his roommate Chip "Colonel" Martin. The Colonel introduces him to Alaska Young, a beautiful, literate and intellectually gifted teenager with a head full of elaborate pranks. Under the guidance of his new friends, Miles learns to drink, smoke, escape punishment, and understand people. Miles learns valuable lessons about loyalty, friendship, and life throughout the entire book.
 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The writing in this book is as great as I always expect from John Green, and the story unfolds with a great pace that makes you never want to put the book down. You will probably feel some excitement, sadness, and maybe even a little anger reading this book, but I think this book will be memorable. This is an outstanding coming-of-age novel that does not resort to a "happily ever after" ending, but the characters each seek closure on their own terms. The characters are well drawn, witty, and full of individual quirks. This book also includes some fun pranks, some great humor, and some shocking turns of events. I loved the "before"/"after" and the whole countdown. I thought that was a really neat tool that helped build suspense. This book is for older or more mature teens who can handle raw truth presented with none of the rough parts buffed off.  Also, this book is on many schools “banned book lists” because of the drinking, smoking, and sex, so be sure that you do not present this book to your students if your school has a banned book list.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Michael L. Printz Award

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults - 2006

School Library Journal Best Books - 2005

From School Library Journal: “Green draws Alaska so lovingly, in self-loathing darkness as well as energetic light, that readers mourn her loss along with her friends.”

From Kirkus: “What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green's mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge's voice.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather read-a-like books to read such as:

Asher, Jay, Thirteen Reasons Why, ISBN: 978-1-595-14171-2

Hubbard, Jenny, Paper Covers Rock, ISBN: 978-0-385-74055-5

Gather other John Green books to read such as:

The Fault in Our Stars, ISBN:  978-0-525-47881-2

Paper Towns, ISBN:  978-0-525-47818-8

Some discussion questions:

Miles tells the story from his own first-person voice. How might the book differ if it had been told in Alaska’s voice or the Colonel’s? Or even in 3^rd person?

The Colonel says, “everybody’s got a talent.” Do you? 

What do you think “The Great Perhaps” means?