BOOK REVIEW: LOOKING FOR ALASKA

By: Clarice G. Antatico

Introduction

Looking for Alaska is a work of fiction made by John Green. It was his (John Green) first novel, and was published on March 2005 by Dutton Juvenile. It won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award from the American Library Association. During the week of July 29,2012, Looking for Alaska, broke into the New York Times best seller list at number ten in Children’s Paperback. As of May 3,2016, it number four on the New York Times best seller listing for Young Adult Paperback (Wikipedia).

The author, John Green, is also an American vlogger, writer, producer, actor and editor. He won the 2006 Printz Award for his debut novel, Looking for Alaska, and his sixth novel entitled, The Fault In Our Stars, wherein it debuted at number one on The New York Times Best seller list on January 2012.

In 2014, Green was included in Time Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world. His others works includes; Paper Towns, Abundance of Katherines, Let It Snow:3 Holiday Romance, Will Grayson,Will Grayson, Kyle O’Reilly, This Star Won’t Go Out.

Looking for Alaska helps young readers to be independent and at the same time meet new people that may bring a big change in their lives. This novel is funny, sad and compelling.

Characterization

The novel contains weird but fascinating characters. Miles Halter is a teenage boy who is the main character in the novel. Miles, in Florida, was not that popular type and he does like social interactions he would rather reading biographies. He is very fond of “last words” and again, he loves to read biographies, only to know what the person’s last words were. He is from Florida and he decided to go to a boarding school in Alabama –Culver Creek. There he met this guy named Chip Martin “The Colonel”, the one who gave the name Pudge to him. The Colonel has a blunt and straight forward attitude. Like other friendship, The Colonel is viewed as a leader by his friend; Alaska, Miles and Takumi. They listen to him as if he has some sort of authority on his hands. He got his nickname Colonel, because he is the mastermind in all Alaska’s prank plans. Alaska is the Colonel’s best friend. Alaska Young is a gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, screwed up and utterly fascinating. As what Pudge said about Alaska, “In the dark beside me, she smelled of sweat and sunshine and vanilla, and on that thin-mooned night I could see her more than her silhouette, but even in the dark, I could see her eyes- fierce emeralds. And not just beautiful, but hot too.” She acts as confidants to her friends, frequently assisting them in personal matters including providing them a cigarettes and alcohol. The story also revolves around her and her mystery at Culver Creek. There is also a shy individual who is part of Colonel’s group of friends. His name is Takumi. A thin Japanese who is taller than Colonel. Takumi is very close with the Colonel and Alaska. Moreover, he helped Miles Halter in understanding how moody Alaska can get, and not to take it personally.

Plot

Miles Halter, a nerd student in junior high school, who looked for a Great Perhaps away from home to Culver Creek boarding school in Alabama. Miles arrived at the school and tried to learn the social order, make some friends, and pass his difficult classes. It’s not an easy situation to be in. His acquaintance with the Colonel, Alaska and Takumi eventually blossom into an unforgettable friendships and together they made mischief (pranks and smoking cigarettes) and drink alcohol. Even though, he survived in Culver Creek, Miles had got some troubles. The classes are harder than he used to, he is trying to figure out how to make and keep friends, almost died towards the Weekday Warriors, and falling to Alaska.

Alaska drives away from campus after the gathering with friends, she was crying and drunk. As the Eagle (dean of the students in Culver Creek) had announced the death of Alaska, everyone in the gym was silent. The same as Miles, who was speechless at that moment. She died instantly. Totally unexpected. And it changes everything. Miles and the Colonel are consumed with Alaska’s death and what really happened to her – did she commit suicide or it was car accident? It’s not an easy question to be answered quickly. However, Miles and the Colonel keeps on searching for the answer. They had tremendous grief and guilt for the death of Alaska because they think they did nothing. This also made their coping with Alaska’s death and the life at Culver Creek more difficult. They ignored classes (their grades tumble), they ignored their friends, and worst they fought with each other.

As the day passed by, they found out that Alaska was headed to her mother’s grave. They could do nothing but let go of Alaska. The Colonel, Miles and Takumi realized that solving the mystery of Alaska’s death – whether in an accident or suicide that won’t bring her back. They finally let her go, accept her death and moved on. With that, Miles and the Colonel quiet down the same way. They focused on school and tried to bring back their grades. And that’s the interesting thing, to enter back into the real world.

Miles got a letter from Takumi, saying that he could have stopped Alaska the night of her death because he saw Alaska leaving the Culver Creek. They forgive Takumi. This forgiveness is the real moment of closure for Miles. Miles Halter finished his religion final paper for the Old Man and forgives himself and Alaska.

Art and Delivery

Most of the time, I dislike books that just leave me wondering. I like everything to be wrapped up, unless there is a sequel.

“Looking for Alaska” was a little bit different. John Green made and leave some questions that made the readers confused. However, I enjoyed coming up with my own answers. The characters in the book were relatable to those in Green’s book “Paper Towns” but there is some plot line that is different and that kept me reading. The best part of the book (Looking for Alaska) was how real the characters seemed. Green uses descriptive words in his book. I liked the way he described Alaska Young, the Colonel and the Culver Creek. Green showcase what young love and growing up really are. Although, there are scenes that are too broad, however, John Green try his best (and yes he is one of the best author) to made it more simple and meaningful to readers.  He delivered some notable quotes that I really liked. Such as “How will I ever get out of this labyrinth of suffering.” Also, I was fascinated with the last words of Miles Halter.

Another thing that I can say for sure is that all of the last words quoted by Green are definitive. This is why I love John Green, because he always made you confused and he will always leave a pain in your heart, like his book The Fault In Our Stars and Paper Towns.

Final Verdict

Looking for Alaska is another vivid, passionate, and intensely moving novel from the internationally bestselling author, John Green. There is a lot of food for thought, a great narrator and the usual superb writing that I expect from the author.  I rate Looking for Alaska, 9 stars out of 10.  Of course, this is a best book and it is worth to be read. However, there are scene that are not appropriate for the readers who age 10-15.