Looking for Alaska

Author: John Green 

Pages: 221
Genre: Contemporary
First Published: May 2005
Book Description (from Good Reads): 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 (Francois 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.

• Characters: 6.5
• Mixed feelings, too much like cliches of kids facing freedom for the first time and making poor decisions. 
• Making pranks that could actually kill people. Underage drinking and smoking, not my favorite, I mean it happens everywhere really but it is still very realistic but it was missing a tiny little detail, it was never really addressed or the characters never actually came to understand that it was a bad idea to do so.
• Alaska was not my favorite character. She was flawed but the one thing I was never able to see was why she inspired such strong loyalties and good friends. 
• This book has the insta-love based on nothing as many YA contemporary but it really does not reflect any good romantic relationships, Colonel's Alaska's or Miles' so yeah this better not be picked up for a romantic YA book.
• The friendships are strong even if they are not explained.
• Plot: 6.5
• Nothing much really happens, it mostly about a boy who is lonely and bored with his life looking for some excitement, then meeting and connecting to people for the first time.
• The big discovery is surprising to say the least and it clearly would have a big effect on the whole gang of friends.  
• But the intrigue built around it, well it does build the story a bit. Unfortunately, I understand that was the point but we are left wondering about the same thing. Was it an accident or not? And also does it make a difference if it was or wasn't?
• Writing Style: 7.0
• So it is easy to read and quite catching as you start to read. Why? Mainly because it starts counting down to a Big Something. So from the beginning, you are gripped wondering the what. 
• It is a very easy to read book, and if you get into the story finish it pretty quickly. 
• Intrigue: 7.0
• If you are the type of person who is unable to not to know what really happened or dislike questions left unanswered then this book finale might annoy you as well. 
• Intention: 10.0
• The main take away from this story is to consider the big questions, what happens after death? What do you truly believe is the purpose of our life? What can you consider gives meaning to people's existence? This book even if you end up loving it or not, makes you wonder and analyze these very heavy questions. 
• Also, no one is perfect, a lot of times people are left wondering and feeling guilty after the consequences of a reckless act especially if you were part of it or even if you simply were present in it. Blaming yourself for the tragic of another person can be as much damage as any sickness and it usually ends up in depression. It is better to find a way out, to forgive yourself, to allow your mind to grieve, but to not let the pain sink you. Fighting to go on with life, allowing your feelings to be expressed is the best way to deal with that kind of pain. 
• Enjoyment: 8.5
• Even if the book had a lot of details, I still liked it. It was a good read, it took me much longer to get through than it would normally have but it was good. I might need to reread it to see if maybe my opinion about it changes. At least I think that the message it was trying to convey was a very good one. 
• Logic: 8.0
• Unfortunately, it was very realistic. Most teenagers go through a very similar phase. Disregards for everything and anything, making rash decisions, drinking and smoking simply to do it, not even because you might enjoy it.
• It was a realistic picture of teenagers if not a little too cliche but oh well. It was close enough.

Total Score: 53.5

Average: 7.6

Star rating: 3 Stars

Used to accomplish Challenge: 

Magical Readathon Christmas at Hogwarts. Finish current read.