Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska chronicles the events surrounding a group of students at Culver Creek Preparatory School, a boarding school. The story is told from the perspective of Miles. Author John Green utilizes Miles's unique view as a newcomer to introduce the reader to the new setting, especially in regards to the students' cultures and norms.

The book, intended for a high school audience, deals in particular with the struggles Miles faces as a socially awkward introvert as he seeks a fresh start and acceptance from those around him. Miles finds himself latching on to his roommate's group of friends, but they themselves seem to be outsiders in the face of the monied and popular “Weekday Warriors.” As high school is a time when adolescents seek to find their identity and seek acceptance, they may be able to relate to Miles.

When viewed from an objective standpoint, Miles is shallow and self-interested. Alaska is hypocritical and overly self-righteous. None of the main characters are especially likable, and they can be seen as making life hard on themselves by unnecessarily antagonizing those around them. But the characters themselves are not what the reader relates to. Rather, the reader relates to the characters' experiences. For example, even if a reader would more closely associate with the Weekday Warriors in terms of their personal traits, they still understand what it means to be picked on and face exclusion from a particular group. The experiences make the characters universal.

The experiences the reader relates to change as the book transitions from “before” to the “after.” Even if Miles is unlikable, the reader has to feel sympathy for him at the loss of a friend. Even if Alaska was reckless and self-absorbed, there is still sadness that her life came to an end at a young age. And the guilt that Miles and Chip feel becomes tangible.

I found the second half of the book to be very accessible in regards to the characters coming to terms with loss and coping with grief. I was drawn in as Miles and Chip searched for the reason that Alaska died, trying to clear their conscience. It is in this respect that Looking For Alaska finds its merit. I think the book does a good job of dealing with the topic of death in a realistic and engaging way.

While the characters themselves may only be accessible to a small portion of the audience, the emotions and experiences the characters face are universal. In this regards, John Green captures the adolescent experience within Looking for Alaska, and it is through this reflection of humanness that the book finds value as a work of young-adult literature.