‘Looking For Alaska’ Book Review by 15 year old Ananya Bulani from Ahmedabad

Hey there book lovers, your friend Sara here! Thanks everyone for keeping this section buzzing, with ‘book reviews for young readers, by young readers!’

We are onto something special, isnt it?

Today’s review is on a widely popular book for teenagers,  by the author of the famous book “The Fault in Our Stars.” Do not miss this uniquely written review!

Ananya Bulani is in 11th standard in Ahmedabad. She is  very passionate about writing. Whether it is reviews or articles, she loves penning down her words. She believes writing for an audience, even if it is just one person, helps her to think from the perspective of the audience. Ananya is a student of Young Orators.

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Title- Looking For Alaska

Author- John Green

Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books

Hush!! Such profound words have wrapped a story of a few teens whose lives are intertwined and connected forever, in the Culver Creek Alabama. It is the labyrinth that unites them.

I had mixed expressions when I started reading this book because of my  previous experience with Green’s books.

Looking for Alaska follows the novel’s main character and narrator Miles Halter, or “Pudge,” to boarding school.

What I did like about this novel, is  that  it had a lot of what I enjoy about Green’s writing- Pudge’s obsession with last words was not only fascinating but gave the novel an almost educational value, because they were true facts. Pudge would wonder about philosophical  ideas, giving a novel a depth beyond just a coming of age book.

I clearly remember a line from the book, “If people were rain, I was drizzle and she was hurricane.” This line echoes everyday in my heart, for the line shows how much Miles loves Alaska, although they weren’t meant to be together. I now understand the real meaning of this line – no matter what happens in future, always love your lover. Love remains eternal, although lovers don’t remain together always.

When I finished it for the first time, I loved it. I thought of their problem as  mine. Indeed whenever I begin reading it again, I feel those emotion coming back to me. The author has made this book an literary masterpiece.

Thank you Alaska, Miles, Colonel, Lara and others for making me re-read this book every other week and month. Thank you for telling me to enjoy my life to the fullest, without any inhibitions. Miles, thank you for being shy yet smart. Thank you for telling me that being too shy is very harmful. Your neediness is something I envy.

Alaska, special thanks to you for making me love you, your carelessness, your never-say-never-spirit. I love you the way Miles does.

Thank you, Mr Green, for writing this amazing and heart melting book. It made me cry, laugh, retrospect. All in one book.

Looking For Alaska was an enjoyable read which I think makes a poignant remark about the ability of people to cope with grief, especially at such a young age. I definitely respect John Green for his ability to write and tell a story which is not only compelling, but will make you question how to search for your own ‘great perhaps.’

I’m giving this book 4 stars out of 5* for its pace and the never ending interest I had in the story line.

The book is appropriate for readers 14 +

This officially my second favourite John Green book. I’m excited to continue reading his stories.

I still don’t think I am ever going to find a book that I loved more than The Fault In Our Stars. But you never know.