Looking for Alaska

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John Green: Looking for Alaska (Paperback, 2008, Speak)

mass market paperback, 221 pages

Published Aug. 14, 2008 by Speak.

ISBN:
978-0-14-241221-3
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5 stars (1 review)

Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then. . . . After. Nothing is ever the same

20 editions

Looking for Alaska

5 stars

Another in my tour of banned books. This novel brilliantly captures the essence of high school friendships: the people you don't want to be without, but who also can drive you crazy. Also explores how we deal with heartbreaking events that leave us with no easy answers. Yes, there is smoking and drinking and a fumbling sex act in the book, but all of it is honestly done. These are clearly kids finding their way, which Green treats with sympathy and respect.