Tolog Review: Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska
by John Green 
reviewed by Chloe Walters-Gudino 

In the novel Looking for Alaska John Green first describes a teenage boy from Florida who is moving to a boarding school, this is Miles Halter. Miles is a junior who recently transferred to Culver Creek Preparatory School in Birmingham, Alabama. One thing that Green first mentions about Miles is that he is fascinated by the last names of famous people, and shows an interest in reading biographies. As he arrives to Culver Creek, he meets his roommate, Chip Martin, or as his peers know him as the “The Colonel.” The Colonel grows fond of Miles. Due to Miles’ appearance, The Colonel nicknames Miles as “Pudge” because of his tall and skinny body (he then only is referred to as Pudge). After meeting, he introduces Pudge to his friends Alaska Young, Takumi Hikohito, and Lara Buterskaya and they find an interest in Pudge. After a terrible night of being kidnapped by the Weekday Warriors (a group of rich kids who lives close to the school), Pudges’ new friends were not happy with them. They had Pudges’ back because he was one of them from that moment forward. One thing that impacts Pudges’ stay at Culver Creek was Alaska. Pudge falls in love with her because she was one that was mysterious, confident, and beautiful. Pudge realizes that boarding school might have seemed a little scary at first, but he found new friendships that would last a lifetime.

To me, I found a new love for books because of John Green. He describes teenagers that are just being young and having fun. At the same time, the emotions are present and it makes you realize how a person can bottle their past inside and how show it to those they trust. As I was reading the words on these pages, I found how these teens are just trying to survive in this harsh world. You feel the emotions that are being described. At a certain point, you feel as if you were on those pages experiencing the plot. I can guarantee, while reading, you will laugh, cry, and remember what is really important in this world. If you like an easy book to read, but one that will change your life, this is the book for you. You will find how one person can change another’s life.