Looking for Alaska

 

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska.  NY:  Dutton.

Miles Halter sets out to seek a new beginning in Alabama.  He adopts a new nickname, Pudge, and encounters a trio of friends including his new roommate.  Pudge begins a relationship with Alaska Young.  Alaska is a beautiful girl that is fun and extreme.  Alaska suffers from the loss of her mother due to an aneurism and is often confused.  The friends spend a night together with drinking and Pudge and Alaska almost having sex. 

 

The story begins to unfold as Alaska is killed in a car accident after she rushes out after receiving a phone call.  The friends begin to wonder if Alaska committed suicide after finding some notes on the margin of her book, “The General in his Labyrinth.” 

 

The reader of this book should be mature enough to understand that death and suicide are not always easy.  There are issues of sexual encounters as well.  Havighurst’s Developmental Tasks include learning to find and keep relationships with the opposite sex and defining appropriate sex roles.  Suggested readings include The fault in our stars and City of bones by Cassandra Clare.