Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska

Author: John Green

Publisher: Dutton Books

Date of Publication: 2005

Format: Hardcover

Page Count: 221 Pages

Cost: $15.99

ISBN: 0-525-47506-0

Reading Level: Ages 14 and up

Awards and Honors:

2006 Michael L. Printz Award

Plot Summary: Miles Halter never had any true friends until he began attending boarding school at Culver Creek. Suddenly he finds himself surrounded by a group of people who accept and value him for the unique individual that he is. They introduce him to smoking, drinking, cursing, and playing pranks on the other students and staff at the school. Miles is completely smitten by Alaska Young, who is clever, gorgeous, and a deeply unhappy person. When Alaska dies in a senseless car accident, Miles is left behind to ponder the meaning of life and wonder whether he played a part in her death.

Evaluation: This book is a heart wrenching tale about death claiming a young person way before her time. When Alaska dies in a car accident, her friends are left wondering whether it was a stupid, alcohol induced mistake or an intentional attempt at suicide. Parents are likely to raise an eyebrow at the underage smoking and drinking, as well as an awkward sex scene between Miles and his girlfriend, but teens will recognize the truth and honesty in Green’s writing. Miles is a lovely and well developed character who gives voice to every teen’s thoughts and fears about death. This book would make an excellent conversation starter for teens discussing the far-reaching consequences of bad choices.

Annotation: Miles must find a way to come to terms with the tragic and questionable death of one of his first true friends and biggest crush, Alaska Young.

Links:
Looking for Alaska Reading Guide

Looking for Alaska Challenged at Depew High School

Related Reads:

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Lessons From a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Date of Publication: 1999

Format: Hardcover

Page Count: 198 Pages

Cost: $16.00

ISBN: 0-374-37152-0

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up

Awards and Honors:

1999 National Book Award Finalist
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
Booklist Editors' Choice

Plot Summary: When Melinda Sordino, a soon to be high school freshman, agrees to attend an end-of-summer party, she doesn’t think anything of having a beer or two with her friends. But suddenly she’s alone outside with a cute senior boy, and he’s on top of her despite her insistence that it’s not what she wants. Afterwards, Melinda calls the cops, but her fear prompts her to run away before she can tell them or anyone else that she has been raped. When school starts up she’s harassed or ignored by everyone for having busted up the party and gotten kids in trouble. It’s not until the end of the school year, when her old best friend begins to date her rapist, that she finds the strength to come forward about what has happened to her and begin the healing process.

Evaluation: This book is a compelling depiction of a very difficult, but nonetheless realistic, topic. The rape scene is not graphic but Anderson has done an exquisite job of conveying the depth of Melinda’s emotional anguish in the year following the event. The reader will empathize with Melinda and wonder why her family and classmates are so blind to her pain. All in all, this book has a lot to offer for young adult readers of both genders, with the hopeful message that healing is possible even when it doesn’t seem like it should be.

Annotation: Melinda Sordino must find the inner courage to confess what IT did to her at that end-of-summer party before the same fate befalls her old best friend, and so that she can finally begin to heal.

Links:

Lesson Plan for Speak

A Video Interview with Laurie Halse Anderson

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Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn