Looking for Alaska: A Novel

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska: A novel. New York: Dutton Children's Books. Miles Halter is tired of living his safe and boring life. At home he has no life and no friends. He wants to know what it feels like to live life and have adventures. Fascinated by famous last words and biographies he seeks to find what the poet François Rabelais called “The Great Perhaps.” Miles decides to leave home for Culver Creek, the same boarding school that his dad attended. There he will find friends, adventure, love, and “The Great Perhaps.” Miles finds that Alaska Young is funny, moody, adventurous, and messed-up, but he loves her. Her adventurous and complicated life will leave Miles with many questions when Alaska unexpectedly dies in an accident. Along with his friends Miles will have to navigate the labyrinth of suffering we call life in search of answers that will help them piece together Alaska’s last moments before death. Looking for Alaska can be classified as dark modern realistic fiction because it deals with grief and suicide. The importance of life is a lesson that can be learned from reading this book. As we navigate life we are always looking for clear cut answers to our problems especially teenagers, but sometimes there aren’t any specific answers and life is too precious to be cut short. Instead we need to value what we have and not dwell on the past and our mistakes.