
The Book:
Looking for Alaska by John Green, 2006
The Characters:
Miles “Pudge” Halter
His boarding school friends Chip “The Colonel”, Alaska, Takumi, and Lara

The Plot (from Goodreads):
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.
After. Nothing is ever the same.
The Review:
This was one of teenage Caroline’s favorite books. I read it in 7th grade on a class trip to Washington DC and loved it. It’s always interesting to re-read favorite childhood books as an adult. I don’t think I liked it any less–still a great story with lovable characters, a heartbreaking twist, and an uplifting ending. My disclaimer is that I haven’t read many John Green books, which I’ve heard quickly get repetitive!
Despite my love for this book, I think I would most likely hate Alaska in person. She seems like one of those girls that everyone loves for no reason, when in reality she’s kind of a crappy person. She’s a teenager with a drinking problem, she rats out her friend to save herself from punishment, she judges the “Weekday Warriors” just for not living on campus, and she often seems to be a bad influence on Miles. She also flirts mercilessly despite having a boyfriend. I don’t think she had many redeeming qualities, besides apparently being hot.
What book did you read as a teen and re-read as an adult only to find that your perspective had totally shifted?

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