“We need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken.” (John Green, Looking for Alaska) 

This quote perfectly captures the emotional core of Looking for Alaska, a coming-of-age novel by John Green that explores love, loss, identity, and the question of what it means to truly live. Known for his deeply emotional and introspective writing, Green delivers a story that is both painfully real and ultimately profound. 

Summary: 

The novel follows Miles “Pudge” Halter, a teenager who leaves his home in Florida to attend Culver Creek Boarding School in search of what he calls “the Great Perhaps.” He has an obsession with famous last words and wants more from his boring life. 

At Culver Creek, he meets a wild and unpredictable girl named Alaska Young. Alaska is beautiful, brilliant, and troubled. She’s everything Miles isn’t, and everything he’s drawn to. Alongside their group of close friends, they pull pranks, explore deep philosophical questions, all while navigating the awkwardness that is accompanied by growing up. 

But then, a sudden tragedy shifts everything. The novel is split into “Before” and “After” sections, as it becomes a journey about grief, guilt, the search for answers that may never come, and how one person can completely and utterly change your life. 

Review: 

As someone who loves books that dive into the emotional struggles of young adulthood, I found Looking for Alaska to be a beautifully written and thoughtful book. John Green truly has a gift for making readers feel the weight and beauty of small intimate moments. This book is filled with what I call quiet realizations. It was packed with meaningful conversations, and heart-wrenching silences bringing a personal note into the story. 

One of the things I loved most about the novel was the way it portrayed grief—not as something clean or solvable, but instead messy and confusing. The characters are far from perfect, and I appreciated that John Green didn’t shy away from showing their flaws. That includes Alaska, who is not just the mysterious girl trope, but rather she’s layered, broken, and vibrant. The point of her character is to be someone that we don’t understand. 

Themes like the unpredictability of life, the search for meaning, and the emotional chaos of teenage years are all handled with care by this author. The book also incorporates philosophical questions and references to religion and death that make it feel much deeper than your typical YA romance or friendship story. 

Stylistically, Green uses a countdown structure—each chapter is labeled as “__ days before” and then “__ days after”, which adds suspense and emotion as you read. It’s a clever and powerful way to pace the story. 

That being said, there were moments when some of the characters felt a little too much like ideas instead of people—especially in the way they speak or think. And while the story is about Miles’ journey, I wish we got to see the internal thoughts of some of his friends as they were all affected by the same things. 

Overall, Looking for Alaska is an emotionally raw and thought-provoking read. It captures the heartbreak of losing someone and the helplessness of not having answers. It’s a book I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories that explore life’s deeper questions, or to any reader who’s ever loved someone they couldn’t quite understand. 

I would give this book: 📚📚📚📚📚– a wonderfully written story with complex and philosophical characters that I keep coming back to reread!  (5/5)

Love, Julia

GFB Ambassador