Looking for Alaska by John Green

Friday,October 15,2010

Divided into two sections entitled Before and After, John Green introduces Miles Halter (Pudge), the novel's protagonist- a fifteen year old boy who is liked and respected by his parents and teachers. He's a skinny, chicken-legged boy who is undeniably bright and has a realistic and at times, idealistic outlook on life. His thing is remembering famous people’s last words- found in the countless biographies he reads. He’d rather read a biography of an author, for example, than read any of the author’s actual work. Grappling with the meaning of Francois Rablais’ last words, “I go to seek a Great Perhaps," he leaves his sheltered home in Florida for a boarding school in rural Alabama.

There, he befriends a odd group made up of his roommate, Chip "The Colonel" Martin, Takumi, the Japanese whiz kid; Lara, the gorgeous, yet quiet Romanian; and Alaska, the provocative and impulsive leader of the group. Pudge is introduced to a world of pranking, danger, recklessness and love which, for him, seem to hint at a “Great Perhaps.”

Where the characters' occasional mischief of getting busted for smoking cigarettes, drinking liquor and breaking curfew seems like harmless behaviour with harmless consequence in the first half of the novel, Green reveals what he’s been building up to in the previous chapters: Alaska's death. Her friends begin to scrutinize Alaska's last moments as they struggle to understand how something so unthinkable could have happened. Pudge, the Colonel, Takumi and Lara show all the signs of grief and healing as they try to navigate life without Alaska.

John Green writes a poignant novel that explores life lessons in a way that speaks to young adult readers. This open and honest book should not be overlooked however parents do need to know that it contains mature subject matter including four-letter words, a frank sex scene, drinking and smoking.