Tolog Review: Looking for Alaska

Looking For Alaska
by John Green
reviewed by Courtney Rasic

In his first novel, Looking for Alaska, John Green brings a story that is innovative, candor and full of heart. The story’s protagonist is Miles “Pudge” Halter, a high school junior whom is predictable, tall, friendless, and skinny but is outlandishly interested in memorizing famous people’s last words. Miles has an utmost desire to seek the “Great Perhaps” which captures a person’s last words. All this stems from Miles’ curiosity and his belief there is a better life somewhere out there for him. In turn, Miles decides to move away from his parents and his hometown so he can transfer to Culver Creek boarding school in rural Alabama. There he meets Alaska Young whom Miles describes as “ the hottest girl in all of human history”. Alaska Young is a wild, erratic, beautiful and mystifying girl who captures Miles' attention and heart. John Green captures the beauty and the terror of high school where over the course of four years your self-image, relationships, judgment skills, fears, and achievements develop on a more sophisticated level. For many, high school is the key to self-discovery and the path to find one’s true personality. Miles hangs out with a unique clique of kids whom are consistently at school. This group includes The Colonel, Alaska, Takumi, and Lara in contrast to the rich kids clique whom are rude and snobby. Outside of their huge load of academic work, Miles and his group of friends enjoy smoking, drinking, and of course playing pranks on the rich kids while simultaneously avoiding The Eagle, the school's principal. As the years of high school are flying past for Miles, his attention and focus becomes more centered directly on Alaska. Her overwhelming confidence and personality trap Miles and his friends in a labyrinth of suffering and emotions that after a heart-breaking tragedy leaves Miles speculating whether a way out is even possible. Looking For Alaska is a highly entertaining story where you will find yourself inspired and influenced by John Green’s portrayal of all the emotions, influence, tragedy, and heartbreak that high school can produce. Green has written an inventive novel that shows young readers how to handle natural situations especially Green’s portrayal of being trapped by indecisiveness. More so, Green wants us to embrace our place in the world through a constant search and never letting go once we find it. Looking for Alaska is a hilarious, heart-rending, and so compelling that I highly recommend for your own reading.