Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=looking+for+alaska, accessed Dec. 1, 2008.Bibliography
Green, John. 2005. LOOKING FOR ALASKA. New York, NY: Dutton Books.
ISBN 0142402516
Plot Summary
In his debut novel, LOOKING FOR ALASKA, John Green tells the coming-of-age story of Miles Halter, a friendless, gifted Florida teenager who is fascinated by the last words of famous people, his favorite being Francois Rabelais’s, “I go to seek a Great Perhaps.” After persuading his parents to let him leave home to attend boarding school in Alabama, Miles befriends two equally gifted outcasts: Chip, aka the Colonel, his best friend and roommate, and Alaska, beautiful, spontaneous, and ultimately headed for disaster.
As the school year progresses and the three friends grow closer, the book moves towards a tragic climax that will change them forever and move Miles towards his “Great Perhaps.”
Critical Analysis
Green, who is young enough to clearly remember his emotional years of high school and talented enough to turn them into a book, writes an amazing story of tragedy and triumph, in LOOKING FOR ALASKA. LOOKING FOR ALASKA gracefully chronicles teenager Miles Halter’s first year of boarding school and the impact that one person’s actions can have on another. Determined to fit in, Miles embarks on a year of contraband, tests, pranks and realizations about life and family. The characters are appealing and young adult readers will be hooked from the first page of well-articulated, authentic dialogue.
From the first time that Miles, affectionately called “Pudge” by his friends, lays eyes on Alaska, “the hottest girl in all of human history was standing before me,” he is totally smitten. Alaska is smart, funny, sexy and unlike any girl that Miles has ever met before. As the semester progresses, so does Miles’ crush on Alaska, even though it becomes increasingly clear that her troubled past sometimes causes her to be self-destructive.
In religion class their teacher asks each student "What is the most important question facing people today?", to which Alaska answers: “How will we ever get out of this Labyrinth of suffering?” This is the question that each character must answer to be able to get through the tragedy and sadness that eventually surrounds them all.
Written in two parts “before” and “after,” and in headings such as “one hundred twenty-seven days before” and “the day after,” the reader lunges towards the books devastating climax that will leave them with many theological and philosophical truths, as well as questions about their own life and choices that they will make along the way.
Review Excerpt(s)
Winner of the 2006 Michael L. Prinz award
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: "The novel's chief appeal lies in Miles's well-articulated lust (for Alaska, the title girl) and his initial excitement about being on his own for the first time."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This novel is about real kids dealing with the pressures of growing up and feeling indestructible. Listeners will be riveted as the friends band together to deal with the catastrophic events that plague their junior year, and rejoice at their triumphs.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green's mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge's voice. Girls will cry and boys will find love, lust, loss and longing in Alaska's vanilla-and-cigarettes scent.”
Connections
Explore the ways that one person’s actions may affect another person’s life. Teachers may want to tie in the dangers of drinking and driving. There are many subjects in this book that will be too controversial to talk about, but there are plenty of opportunities to explore some of these in a positive manner.
Other books by John Green that you may enjoy:
PAPER TOWNS. ISBN 0525478183
AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES. ISBN 0142412023LET IT SNOW: THREE HOLIDAY ROMANCES. ISBN 0142412147
Green, John. 2005. LOOKING FOR ALASKA. New York, NY: Dutton Books.
ISBN 0142402516
Plot Summary
In his debut novel, LOOKING FOR ALASKA, John Green tells the coming-of-age story of Miles Halter, a friendless, gifted Florida teenager who is fascinated by the last words of famous people, his favorite being Francois Rabelais’s, “I go to seek a Great Perhaps.” After persuading his parents to let him leave home to attend boarding school in Alabama, Miles befriends two equally gifted outcasts: Chip, aka the Colonel, his best friend and roommate, and Alaska, beautiful, spontaneous, and ultimately headed for disaster.
As the school year progresses and the three friends grow closer, the book moves towards a tragic climax that will change them forever and move Miles towards his “Great Perhaps.”
Critical Analysis
Green, who is young enough to clearly remember his emotional years of high school and talented enough to turn them into a book, writes an amazing story of tragedy and triumph, in LOOKING FOR ALASKA. LOOKING FOR ALASKA gracefully chronicles teenager Miles Halter’s first year of boarding school and the impact that one person’s actions can have on another. Determined to fit in, Miles embarks on a year of contraband, tests, pranks and realizations about life and family. The characters are appealing and young adult readers will be hooked from the first page of well-articulated, authentic dialogue.
From the first time that Miles, affectionately called “Pudge” by his friends, lays eyes on Alaska, “the hottest girl in all of human history was standing before me,” he is totally smitten. Alaska is smart, funny, sexy and unlike any girl that Miles has ever met before. As the semester progresses, so does Miles’ crush on Alaska, even though it becomes increasingly clear that her troubled past sometimes causes her to be self-destructive.
In religion class their teacher asks each student "What is the most important question facing people today?", to which Alaska answers: “How will we ever get out of this Labyrinth of suffering?” This is the question that each character must answer to be able to get through the tragedy and sadness that eventually surrounds them all.
Written in two parts “before” and “after,” and in headings such as “one hundred twenty-seven days before” and “the day after,” the reader lunges towards the books devastating climax that will leave them with many theological and philosophical truths, as well as questions about their own life and choices that they will make along the way.
Review Excerpt(s)
Winner of the 2006 Michael L. Prinz award
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: "The novel's chief appeal lies in Miles's well-articulated lust (for Alaska, the title girl) and his initial excitement about being on his own for the first time."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This novel is about real kids dealing with the pressures of growing up and feeling indestructible. Listeners will be riveted as the friends band together to deal with the catastrophic events that plague their junior year, and rejoice at their triumphs.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green's mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge's voice. Girls will cry and boys will find love, lust, loss and longing in Alaska's vanilla-and-cigarettes scent.”
Connections
Explore the ways that one person’s actions may affect another person’s life. Teachers may want to tie in the dangers of drinking and driving. There are many subjects in this book that will be too controversial to talk about, but there are plenty of opportunities to explore some of these in a positive manner.
Other books by John Green that you may enjoy:
PAPER TOWNS. ISBN 0525478183
AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES. ISBN 0142412023LET IT SNOW: THREE HOLIDAY ROMANCES. ISBN 0142412147
