Title: Looking for Alaska

Author: John Green

Publisher: Speak 2008

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 234

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Teen; Modern Mrs. Darcy - Banned book

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.

If I had read this book at 15, I imagine that it would have devastated me. Green has a connection to the teenage experience; so much so that is sounds as though he is speaking directly to the reader. I successfully avoided all spoilers for this novel leading to a suspenseful read. Obviously something big happens, but I had no idea what. I was floored when the event happens. I just couldn’t believe it. I will even admit that I teared up. Definitely a great book, especially for those teen readers.

Next up on the TBR pile: