Looking For Alaska

Reader reviewed by Kristin

When I first read the inside flap of Looking for Alaska, I was a bit confused because it didn't really make any sense. That didn't stop me from continue reading the book because I heard it was awesome.

And it was.
Nothing short of awesomeness.

Okay, so I didn't enjoy the language or some of the things they did, but I truly enjoyed it. The main character--totally spaced on his name--was very relateable. However, I can only wish to have such exciting, charismatic friends like Colonel and especially Alaska. Plus, the pranks were totally awesome!

The climax of the book hit me like a raging bus. I was in shock. I should have picked up the clues, but...However, I felt pain when it happened.

John Green wrote a spectacular book--that's all I can say before I spoil anything.

Reader reviewed by Kelsey

Miles Halter (Pudge), the novel's protagonist, is fifteen years old and what parents and teachers would call a good kid. He's chicken-legged skinny, undeniably bright, and a bit of an idealist at heart. In addition to having a penchant for remembering famous figures' last words, Miles gets wrapped up in the significance of those words enough to leave his sheltered home in Florida in order to seek out Rabelais's Great Perhaps --- which oddly enough, translates into going to boarding school in rural Alabama.

There, he befriends a ragtag group of early teens, including his boisterous roommate, appropriately nicknamed the Colonel; Takumi, the soft-spoken and musically inclined Japanese whiz kid; Lara, the gorgeous and mild-mannered Romanian; and Alaska, the sexy, fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants leader of the group. For a while, not much happens to push the plot along aside from these characters' occasional mischief, i.e. getting busted for smoking cigarettes on campus, drinking liquor in their dorm rooms, sneaking out after curfew, and the like --- harmless behavior with harmless consequences.

Alaska Young's death. In an up-close and personal manner, the details of Alaska's last moments are chronicled through the eyes of Miles and his pals as they struggle to understand how something so unthinkable could have happened in their intimate community. Was it an accident, or did she kill herself in a selfish attempt to plow her way out of the labyrinth? Could her friends have stopped her, knowing what they knew about her past? Would life ever be the same, now that Alaska was dead?


This novel was good just not great. I felt the author, John Green, didn't capture teenagers all that well. The characters weren't very believable and it just didn't do it for me. I would of thought the reason for what had happened to Alaska would of been something really big. Mind-blowing big. But it was just about something she had forgotten. I don't think I'll be reading another one of his books.

Reader reviewed by Mairi

Miles is a different kid- not quite a full blown geek, but he certainly has some interesting habits, like memorizing last words. The last words of Francois Rabelais (I go to seek the Great Perhaps) inspire him to seek his own Great Perhaps in boarding school, where he will meet Alaska Young, a girl who cannot be described by anyone. She smokes and sells cigarettes, but there is an almost childlike innocence about her.

I first heard about this book in one of those online what-book-are-you quizzes and, though this was my result, I did not go right out and read it, possibly because of the freaky cover. A good friend and I were hanging out in the library before school one day, looking for books to read, and she recommended this author to me, and this book as one of his best. Truth be told it still did not look that great, but I really needed something to read so I checked it out and started it, after which I could not put it down.

The topics make this book middle school- high school, but it is a pretty easy read.

Reader reviewed by Allison

Miles is a high school junior who isfinally tired of his dull, run-of-the-mill life, the onyl enjoyment in it being his love of last words. He convinces his parents to send him to Culver Creek boarding school. There he meets new friends, new opportunities, and his new self-"Pudge". Pudge stumbles upon Tamukai(An Asian boy lost in his friends fun), Chip ("The Colonel"-intelligent leader, known for loyalty, memorizing facts, his hatred ofthe rich and snobby, and his mischief), and most inportantly, Alaska (the beautiful, funny, deep, passionate, ceazy, lustful, moody, selfish girl Pudge finds himself falling in love with.

It's so hard to explain to amazingness of this book. It's a must read, one ofthe bests out there. Hope, love, the future, death, suffering-all concepts in this book. It really makes you think aboutthe world you livein and howyou fit into it. Read. Read. Read.

"Damn it. How do i escape this labyrinth?" -read this book.

Reader reviewed by Kate

I found the beginning of this book to be slow, but I was VERY glad I kept reading. This book is one that I will not soon forget-- its message is one that sticks.

Friendship, betrayal, love, heartbreak-- you'll find it all in this story. It has very diverse and believable characters that were easy to identify and sympathize with. I especially enjoyed the fascination with last words-- kind of ironic and very cool. Alaska's spirit and sense of life made the whole story worthwhile-- her opinions and ideas are ones that really made me think.

This book will definitely get you thinking and make an impact on your whole life perspectives. I know it did for me :) must read!

Reader reviewed by Val

I think that what makes Looking For Alaska such a different and refreshing young adult novel is that the narrator although seemingly ordinary and normal has his own quirks& like his ability to remember peoples last words. This ability is obviously connected to the novel and is used to foreshadow and prepare readers for certain tragedy but it makes Miles Halter or Pudge interesting. Miles is a bored teenager who looking for more to life convinces his parents to let him go to a boarding school in Alabama known as Culver Creek. Miles soon realizes that Culver Creek is nothing like home in Florida when he quickly befriends his room mate named Chip or as he prefers to be called the Colonel. The colonel introduces him to the infamous and notorious Alaska who is beautiful inside and out. Her only flaw is her recklessness and Miles cant help but fall in love, the only problem is shes already taken. With friends like Alaska, the Colonel, he learns important life lessons like the pain of love, the strength in loyalty, the power of friendship and the hope that rises from tragedy. I loved this novel for its ending, which I thought, did the book more justice. The ending of the novel probably the last three pages were the best, satisfying without getting corny endings Ive read in a while.

Reader reviewed by Katrina

"Looking for Alaska" is one of my all time favorite book. I have read the book countless times and each time, I have been emotionally drained. Greene's style of writing is so desriptive and so into depth that I have quoted soo many lines from the book. I highly suggest anyone to read this book if they're looking for something that is real and not "cheesy" as some books are.

Reader reviewed by linda

Miles Halter is fascinated with last words, he seeks the Great Perhaps (from one of his favorite last quotes) and he knows he will need a change of scenery to find it. He heads off to boarding school and meets Chip, an arrogant and fun guy who introduces him to Alaska Young. Alaska is nothing like the girls Miles has met (though he hasn't had much experience with girls. She is infamous at the boarding school for being wild and care-free, or so she seems. She has something to hide and she too is obsessed with quotes, she seeks to escape the labyrinth and everyone is shocked by how she does it. Half the book is about Miles' experiences at boarding school and the other half is about Miles and his new crew trying to figure out the mystery of their lives.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

LOOKING FOR ALASKA has got to be one of the finest books I've read this year. 16-year-old Miles Halter, memorizer of famous people's last words, has never fit in at his Florida high school. He attends his father's alma mater, Culver Creek boarding school in Alabama, in search of Rabelais' "Great Perhaps." For the first time in his life, he makes an extremely close group of friends: the Colonel, who makes up in brains what he lacks in height; Takumi, the Japanese non-computer whiz; Lara, his sort-of crush/girlfriend/friend; and Alaska, the ineffable character.

To Miles, Alaska enbodies the Great Perhaps: she is hot AND smart, a master prankster and infamous bookworm. But Alaska's tortured by her childhood, and Miles (nicknamed "Pudge" by his friends for being so darn skinny) has trouble keeping up with her extreme mood swings. But when tragedy strikes Culver Creek, Miles and his friends must learn how to handle grief and find their way out of the labyrinth of suffering.

John Green made a brilliant debut with this smartly written book. The language is compelling to teens because everyone can relate to it. I couldn't help but wish I were friends with this amazing group of people. There IS a lot of profanity and sexual references, if that bothers you. But I felt that it lent itself to the story nicely. LOOKING FOR ALASKA should definitely be on every teenager's must-read list.

Reader reviewed by Leah



This book is one of my favorites because it kept me hooked and reading through out the whole thing. This book is about Miles (or pudge) moving to boarding school. He makes friends with the colonel, takumi, lara, and most of all, Alaska. He instantly falls in love with her but she has a boyfriend and a tendency to get into trouble. Just as things are about to go well, tragedy strucks and Miles thinks all is lost. This is funny, sad, suspenceful, and moving. All you could ever want in a book.