Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska by John Green
Original ISBN 978-0-525-47506-4
Dutton, 2005.
221 pages

Plot Summary: Miles Halter has a penchant for remembering famous people’s dying words. His favorite is from François Rabelais: “I go to seek a Great Perhaps.” Miles, friendless at his current high school in Florida, decides to transfer to a preparatory school in Alabama. He immediately falls in with a group of social misfits, including Alaska Young who is beautiful, witty, and reflective. Knowing Alaska brings about more questions than answers for Miles and his friends.

Critical Evaluation: Looking for Alaska illustrates that everyone, even teenagers, are looking for something deep and meaningful in their lives. To help hammer home this point, Green has titled the chapters in a sort of countdown…all leading to a significant event that will change Miles forever.

As with all of his books, Green writes in a voice that relates to teens without being condescending. The themes present in this book allow the reader to ponder to look at life and the path one decides to take through it.

Reader’s Annotation: Miles Halter is looking for his “Great Perhaps.” His relationship with Alaska Young provides him something so much greater.

Author Information: Green is an American author born in 1977. He once worked at Booklist as a publishing assistant and production editor. Looking for Alaska was his first novel. Not only is he a fantastic writer, but he also posts several hilarious and thought-provoking blogs with his brother, Hank http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers
They both run Crash Course – an educational channel on YouTube where John lectures on topics of History and English Literature.

Green and his novels have won the following awards: 2006 Michael L. Printz Award; 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book; 2009 Edgar Award; 2010 Corine Literature Prize.

John Green is one of the coolest people I know. His website can be found at http://johngreenbooks.com/

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties: English Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas: The best way to start to any booktalk about a John Green book is to show a “VlogBrothers” video.

Reading Level / Interest Age: Grades 9-12

Lexile: 930

Challenge Issues: In 2008, Looking for Alaska was challenged but retained for curricular use in a Depew, New York high school. The incident promoted Green to record a response – “I am not a pornographer!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHMPtYvZ8tM

In March and May of 2012, two counties in Tennessee banned the book for classroom use, but retained it for use in the libraries.

In all cases, the book was challenged because of an oral-sex scene.

Reason for Item’s Inclusion: John Green is the undisputed author of today’s young adults. I’m WAY past my teens, and I love Green’s books. If I could, ALL of his novels would be included in this blog.

References:

Wolf, R. (2012, May 14). Banned book awareness: Looking for Alaska. Retrieved from http://bannedbooks.world.edu/2012/05/14/banned-books-awareness-looking-for-alaska/