BOOK REVIEW 'Looking For Alaska'

Looking For Alaska
By: John Green
For anyone who didn't read my review last week, I added a little paragraph at the end about Celebrating Banned Books Week. This week celebrates our right to read what we want without the interference of outsiders who are afraid of how the written word can change us as humans. I personally, have been really affected by books in my life so this is an idea I feel very strongly about so when I was looking through the list of challenged books the only John Green book I haven't read was on there and I decided now was the perfect time. The novel begins as Miles Halter is leaving for Culver Creek Boarding school to seek out what he calls "The Great Perhaps" instead of his home in Florida where he isn't very popular. The first friend he makes is his roommate  Chip Martin, also called the Colonel, who then introduces him to Alaska Young, who is described as "the hottest girl in human history" but Pudge himself, its pretty safe to say he is going to develop a crush on her, though she has some inner demons of her own. Then, Takumi, who is still part of the action, but plays more of a supporting role. As part of his initiation, the group quickly renames him Pudge, because they see it to be ironic considering how skinny he is.  
The four grow closer as they drag Pudge into a world of prank wars, sneaking out, fake ID's, and the things they use those fake ID's to buy. For the first time in his life, he's part of something. A group of friends who introduce him to his first girlfriend, his first tastes of rebellion, and his first real loss in his life and truly change him as a person, for the better and worse. 
Then things change and they have to grow up and face what come at them. I think that's what I like the most about the book. About halfway through, the plot changes and takes on a completely new tone that no one sees coming. It's very true to life and how no one ever really knows whats coming, even with the best of intentions. Instead of having fun together like the group did before, they now have to face a title-wave of feelings that weren't there yesterday, like regret and longing and a new set of questions that will never be completely answered. 
I also love the character of Alaska. She's a very feminist who throughout the entire book is calling her boys out for what they say against women. She fits right in with her guy friends and is in a way the ring leader of their prank circus. All the while though, she battles regret with the way things ended with her mom and things that have happened in her past that she had no control over. She is deeply scarred by what has happened and can never forgive herself, and it proves to be her undoing. 
When people ban books they are taking away a needed part of someone's education outside of the school environment. The characters in well written books show a person who reads critical life lessons that simply cannot be taught by notes and a textbook. Pudge Halter built up this expectation about how his life would go and then when the cruel reality of how it didn't work out hits, you can learn from him how to deal with it, good, bad or otherwise. 
Overall I really liked the book even though one Friday night I was doing some late reading when a part caused me to throw the book across my bed and send angry text messages to my friend even though I knew she would be sleeping but I just needed someone who had read the book to understand my frustrations. A good book evokes emotion and God this one does just that! 
Pages:
Read In: 5 days
Rating: 10/10
Ages: 14+up
Four Categories: Death, Romance, High School Problems