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Looking For Alaska

Average rating: 5/5

Based on 103 ratings

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Looking For Alaska

by John Green

Penguin Young Reader Group | January 2, 2007 | Trade Paperback

Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

An ALA Quick Pick

A Los Angeles Times 2005 Book Prize Finalist

A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

A 2005 Booklist Editor?s Choice

A 2005 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

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 (François 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.

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Reviews

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    Rating: 5/5

    Fantastic with an edge of bittersweetness!

    Rachel Ram

    2 months ago

    Was this book good? YES! FOR SURE! Its not your typical romance story but it takes you through comical adventures teen romance and belly aching chapters. John Green writes a teen book with many twist and turn. THIS IS FOR SURE A PAGE TURNER!!!!

    This reviewer also recommends:
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    Rating: 5/5

    An emotional ride!

    Amanda Lang

    3 months ago

    This this made me think about living in residence while going to University, with all the good and bad times. An excellent read for any road trip or relaxing afternoon.

    This reviewer also recommends:
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    Kristilyn Robertson

    Rating: 5/5

    Amazing, wonderful read! (CONTAINS SPOILERS)

    Kristilyn Robertson

    4 months ago

    Looking for Alaska was an amazing book. I really didn't know what to expect when I started it - or when I picked it up. I needed a book with a place name in the title for one of my challenges and John Green's book had good reviews, so I went from there.

    The book is about Miles who's life hasn't been anything spectacular. He doesn't have any friends, he's never had a girlfriend, and he's really never experienced anything in life. His favourite thing is reading biographies to find out what a person's last words were and in his reading he finds Francois Rabelais's last words: "I go to seek a Great Perhaps."

    For that reason, he decides to leave home to a Preparatory school called Culver Creek. His father also attended the school, knowing that it was famous for always pulling pranks throughout the year. Miles' parents throw him a goodbye party - which only 2 people attend, not showing any interest at all (something Miles figured would happen - no surprise to him) - and then Miles is off.

    While at Culver Creek, his world is changed. He immediately becomes friends with Chip 'The Colonel' Martin, who gives Miles the nickname Pudge (an ironic name since Miles sounds to be built like a stick). From there, he meets the beautiful Alaska Young and falls in love with her.

    Finally having a life, having friends, even getting a girlfriend, Miles' world seems greater than it ever has. And then something happens that changes it forever.

    …

    I would not have pegged this to be YA fiction because as I was reading it the characters just seemed so much older than high school kids, but YA or not, this book was amazing. Green has a knack for building something up and this is masterfully done via the layout of the book.

    We start with 'Before' and each part in this section is titled by how many days Before. As the reader, I knew something was up but I couldn't pinpoint what it would be until the last few pages of Before.

    Next comes 'After', where the mood changes, but not too much. There isn't an anticipation for anything since we're in After, but as the reader I was intrigued the whole way through.

    Dealing with sadness, guilt, forgiveness, anger - all with humour sprinkled throughout - Green crafts a book that makes us, the readers, really think about what it means to be alive. Yes, there is drugs, smoking, sex, pranks, drinking, religion, etc. which may not be suitable for some teens (I've heard the book has been challenged due to this) but even with all the "bad stuff" there is plenty good in this book: love, friendship, trust, faith.

    Looking for Alaska reads very easily - though the subject matter changes throughout. The dialogue is fresh and funny - nothing seems forced - and the characters are believable and relatable.

    This is one book where I don't want to give out any spoilers because it was just so well done. I ended it loving all the characters and am interested to check out more works by Green. Looking for Alaska made me think of Catcher in the Rye meets Into the Wild meets The Virgin Suicides.

    It was just a spectacular read!

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    Stephanie

    Rating: 5/5

    Indescribable

    Stephanie

    7 years ago

    I'm compelled to say that this book changed my life. The honest, true-to-life characters with all their little quirks; added to the subtly poetic language; added to a highly engaging plotline that makes you want to turn pages quicker than ever before; added to deep, life-altering questions - make this novel one of the best I've ever read.

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Details

From the Publisher

Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

An ALA Quick Pick

A Los Angeles Times 2005 Book Prize Finalist

A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

A 2005 Booklist Editor?s Choice

A 2005 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

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 (François 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.

About the Author

John Green attended a boarding school not unlike Alaska?s Culver Creek. After graduating from college in 2000, he worked as a chaplain at a children?s hospital. John?s experiences with patients and their families during intense crises solidified his desire to write for teens about the challenge of confronting loss. John works for Booklist and is also a commentator for National Public Radio?s national afternoon newsmagazine, ?All Things Considered,? and Chicago?s NPR affiliate, WBEZ. ?Nick,? about John?s experiences as a chaplain, appeared on ?Driveway Moments? a ?best-of? two-CD set, which NPR released in August 2004. John was recently featured in the Tribune?s RedEye edition and on television as one of Chicago?s ?Fabulous 20somethings.? He lives in New York City.

Trade Paperback

256 Pages, 5.75 x 8.5 x 0.75 in

January 2, 2007

Penguin Young Reader Group

English


0142402516
9780142402511

From the Critics

Readers will only hope that this is not the last word from this promising new author. (Publishers Weekly)

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