Book Review | Looking For Alaska by John Green

“At some point, you just pull off the Band-Aid, and it hurts, but then it's over and you're relieved.”
― John Green, Looking for Alaska

Book Title: Looking for Alaska
Author: John Green
Publisher: Speak
Published: December 28, 2006
Rating: 5 ❤❤❤❤❤

Goodreads Description: 

Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. He heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, 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, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.
After. Nothing is ever the same.

My Thoughts: 

This book came highly recommended by my sister (ha!) She's a huge John Green fan girl. It took me a little while to read this book for some reason. I even stopped and read some books in between. Before I say anything, it sucks that Greene leaves us hanging at the end.

I've read some reviews on Goodreads by readers saying  the profanity and highly sexual content that is in this book is too much, but realistically? Teenagers say and do worse things than this book may even begin to describe. I think the realistic conversations and careless acts add to the story line instead of taking from it.

I loved the character Pudge and his obsession with people's last words. I love that he is young and going through teenage experiences while trying to understand the world and people around him. I love that he's falling in love and feeling the rush of emotions and I think Green really captures that well. I think he is spot on with what a teenage boy that is kind of in the shadows at a new school feels.

“When you stop wishing things wouldn't fall apart, you stop suffering when they do.” 

― John Green, Looking for Alaska

As for Alaska, I want to say she's the girl you know you are not suppose to entertain even in your late night thoughts but you can't help it. She's the girl the sends out the hook and reels you in before you can get away. However she is wildly brilliant as well as hurt by things from her past which you will get to know more about if you read the book! Sorry! No spoilers here!

There are a few more interesting characters in this book but each character can be relatable to any of the characters in your real life. These are the people you went to high school with and as you read you will find yourself thinking, wow - that sound awfully familiar to that guy that was in my math class. If you are still in high school - you are probably sitting right next to that guy right now reading this! Pay attention to math!

Overall, I would recommend this book to all YA readers. It's interesting and realistic. You can relate. In reference to young teenagers, people (adults) devalue their ability to go through real like issues and it's nice that Green writes a book that is not only entertaining but real.
Also, as a side note,  I know this book is on the banned lists of books from 2015, Find out more about banned books and the list here.


About the Author

John Green is the New York Times bestselling author of Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and The Fault in Our Stars. He is has also collaborated on other works such as Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances with Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson as well as Will Grayson, Will Grayson with David Levithan.

Paper Towns and The Fault in Our Stars have already hit the screen. Looking for Alaska is scheduled hit the screen, date not determined yet.

Amazon | Author's Website | Goodreads