Looking For Alaska

Green, John. LOOKING FOR ALASKA. 2019. New York: Penguin Random House. ISBN 9780593209462

Plot Summary

Miles Halter lives a safe life: two parents who love him and he makes good grades. Miles is also fascinated by famous last words. After his sophomore year in high school, Miles tells his parents he wants to go to boarding school. His dad is excited because Miles will attend Culver Creek Prep Academy where he went as a teenager.  When Miles arrives at Culver Creek, he has a roommate who loathes the rich kids but does not disrespect them; he meets Alaska, a pretty but troubled girl, who thinks its her fault that her mother died; and Takumi, a quiet guy, who is happy to be in a friend group.  Once Miles is settled in at Culver Creek, he is initiated by the Weekday Warriors; the rich kids. Which was a prank but act of revenge because of The Colonel, Miles' roommate.  Miles finds himself attracted to Alaska but she doesn't feel the same or she is trying to hide her feelings. Alaska has a boyfriend who is away in college. Miles enjoys the ebb and flow of being around his new friends and navigating school on his terms: engaging in smoking (not allowed), to contemplating life via the lens of religion and conversations with Dr. Hyde, to taming his feelings for Alaska. Miles also learns what it means to be loyal even when it comes with drama. When tragedy strikes, Miles and his friends must come together to not only support each other but remember the friend who is no longer with them.

Critical Analysis

I listed to the audiobook for Looking For Alaska read by actor Will Wheaton.  While Mr. Wheaton has a great voice and he does a remarkable job capturing Miles, The Colonel, Dr. Hyde, and the other characters in the story; my mind would wander thinking about if the voice inflections and tones matched the character.  Mr. Wheaton is lively in his reading and he makes the effort to differentiate in which character is speaking. For example, when Miles is talking, the tone sounds light and quick. Miles sounds like a boy who is naive but excited about experiencing new things.  Mr. Wheaton captures the personality of Dr. Hyde well; from describing how he walks to the lecturn to talking to Miles about being present in the moment. Mr. Wheaton uses voice inflections to emphasize the good moments in the story as well as the bad moments. John Green has written a story where coming-of-age story has meaning. Mr. Green tackles the topics of fitting in, crushes or love, finding your voice, handling and living with mental illness, friendships with ease and familiarity. He finds a way to make the characters fit together to make a complete story but they also standout because of their unique characteristics.

Review Excerpt(s)

Kirkus Reviews-"What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green’s mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge’s voice.  Girls will cry and boys will find love, lust, loss and longing in Alaska’s vanilla-and-cigarettes scent."

Connections

During Red Ribbon Week, as you discuss with students the dangers of smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol, and using drugs; ask students (if they are comfortable) with sharing why kids their age enjoy doing these things. Talk about how they are used as a way to mask feelings of hurt, anxiety, etc.

Talk about the importance of having a support circle outside of family that can relate to the experiences which students live through. Ask students to describe what qualities they look for in a friend.