YA Lit: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska: A novel (p. 256). New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Main Characters:

• ·         Miles (Pudge)
• ·         Alaska
• ·         Chip (Colonel)
• ·         Takumi
• ·         Lara

Themes: Friendship, Love and Grief

Summary:  Miles goes to boarding school, Culver Creek, to seek the “Great Perhaps”. He meets his roommate Chip and he introduces him to Alaska. Alaska is an avid reader and asks Miles “What is the labyrinth” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In religion class, Dr Hyde (Old Man) poses their final exam question – “What is the most important question human beings must answer?”

Alaska dies from a fatal car crash. Chip, Takumi and Miles try to find out why she would drive drunk in the middle of the night. In the end, Miles answers Alaska’s question. “We have to forgive to survive in the labyrinth.”

Lesson:  You cannot change the past, so you must put in behind you. The only person you control is yourself.  True friends will always support and love you.