Book Review: Looking for Alaska

LOOKING FOR ALASKA
 

 

 “Sometimes you lose a battle. But mischief always wins the war.”

(56)

Pudge is the new student at Culver Creek Boarding School. It’s not that he was a bad kid; he was just looking for something new, like friendship. Little does he know what he’s in for when he befriends Colonel and Alaska, the notorious campus pranksters. The more Pudge spends time with his new group, the more he finds himself learning about what it really means to be a friend and make the most of life. He finds himself becoming less of the timid, anti-social student, morphing into a more appreciated friend, willing to do more, see more, and risk more. The adventures with his friends create a strong bond between the three- until Alaska pulls the biggest prank yet… she disappears. Now it’s up to Pudge to try to find her, putting together the few pieces of the puzzle that only he has.

 

In his novel, Looking for Alaska, John Green (The Fault in our Stars) explores the unique relationship between love, loss and secrecy while leaving his readers on the edge of suspense the whole time. The books’ fragmented, almost diary-like structure leaves the reader to wonder what could happen next, and reflects Alaska Young’s character, a witty yet elusive, rebellious teen. Alaska’s personality combined with Pudge’s innocent curiosity creates a unique and suspenseful atmosphere in the text. As Pudge counts down day by day and memory by memory to find clues to Alaska’s disappearance, the reader is engaged in the thrill of the mystery, as they start to solve the puzzle alongside Pudge.

 

Green develops each character carefully, only giving minimal but sufficient detail to create the cliffhanger and keep the impending question above the reader and Pudge’s head, “To be continued?” (131). Green also paces the novel carefully, organizing Pudge’s memory day by day, allowing the reader to both more easily piece together the puzzle, as well as to create an opportunity to relate to each character. Although the novel may be directed to teens in general, Green does explore the basic and perhaps stereotypical teenage experiences, such as drinking and smoking; experiences that all people have come in contact with or can relate to. Green also creates a parallel to the teenage culture through language. Various swear words and innuendos are mentioned throughout the book; classic teenage behavior. However ‘vulgar' this may seem, it truly does create a connection between the characters in the book and its teenage (or older) audience. Green also explores the hardships that come with being a teen-the struggle with creating your own identity, social belonging, religious values and relationships. As Pudge reflects on each of these conflictions he faces, he seems to go about them in an “I guess,” (69) manner, uncertain but faithful that there will be a definite answer at some point.

 

Looking for Alaska indefinitely earned its place on the New York Times Bestseller list. Green’s ability to create a novel that is both suspenseful and relatable in the creative manner he has is brilliant. It contains a completely unique storyline, so thrilling and intriguing the reader may not be able to put it down. Readers will find themselves on the edge of their seat, laughing out loud, and hoping that Pudge will find what he’s looking for the whole way through. Each character is witty and clever, so much so that it will make the reader feel like and/or wish they were in Culver Creek themselves. In any case, Green has earned ten stars out of ten for his brilliant writing in Looking for Alaska.