LOOKING FOR ALASKA BY JOHN GREEN
With the intention to find “A Greater Perhaps”, Pudge is granted admission into Culver Creek, a school with misfits and a charming yet enigmatic girl, Alaska Young. Surrounded by his friends, the Colonel, Takumi and Alaska, Pudge embarks on a journey through laughs, tears, betrayal and a shocking secret.
In the book, Pudge enrols himself into a school called Culver Creek and as any new comer is pranked by a group of boys. The prank which could have nearly killed Pudge aggravates his roommate and future best friend, the Colonel. Colonel swears revenge on the boys who committed the prank and introduces Pudge to a new circle of friends including Takumi, Lara and Alaska Young. Pudge immediately takes liking to Alaska and the two become quick friends. Alaska and Pudge make a bet saying that if they can find out what the Labyrinth is in Alaska’s book, they would pull off an amazing prank and Pudge would get a surprise from Alaska. All was well until one day when the group gets horribly drunk and spills a few secrets which were meant to be kept hidden. Alaska awakes the next morning with no recollection of what happened and continues the day as planned with Takumi, Pudge and Colonel. The following evening, the group once again gets drunk and Alaska announces that she has unfinished business to take care of and that she needs to get off premises immediately. Pudge and Colonel use fireworks to distract the Dean of the school and Alaska drives off premises while intoxicated. The following morning, Alaska is found dead and interrogation about the accident begins. Colonel and Pudge uncover some evidence as to why Alaska suddenly left school and begin to create new theories and explanations about her. Pudge continuing Alaska’s case finds the Greater Perhaps as well as the Labyrinth. He realizes that the answer had been in front of him the entire time and professes his love to Alaska through his investigations.
My favourite part of the book was when Pudge, Takumi, Alaska and the Colonel all aggravate the Dean of the school because they were so close to getting caught and if they did, expulsion would’ve been the next step for these eccentric kids.
I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars because as much as I loved the language, feeling, emotion and the comedic sense, the plot twist was very saddening and continuing the book with one of the most important characters would have been much, much better than without her.
