Looking for Alaska is the story of teenagers trying to find themselves in this crazy world. John Green uses themes of death, finding yourself, and the effects of alcohol to make this novel able to translate to anyone's life. 

The story is told through the perspective of Miles Halter. He finds himself questioning what he is meant to do with his life while trying to find his way in this new boarding school, Culver Creek. John Green uses vivid imagery and descriptions to show how the school and the other students and staff affect the plot. For example in the beginning, Miles explains, “And there, beneath the bridge, an oasis. A slab of concrete, three feet wide and ten feet long, with blue plastic chairs stolen long ago from some classroom.” (Green 42) This is describing the “smoking hole” where they go when they don’t want to get caught. The imagery really helps me visualize this place and how it affects the kids. 

You notice right away that there is a dark page in the middle of the novel where the mood of the story shifts. The first half has a happy feel, but after this dark page, the author shows how a tragic death affects all of the people at Culver Creek. Miles Halter’s life has changed dramatically, and he is now trying to find a new “great perhaps.” 

This novel triggered so many emotions in me, whether it's happiness, questioning, or sadness. The themes of the novel are perfectly coordinated with the feelings this novel evokes .  Themes of death and sadness/suspense,  finding yourself and happiness. 

There are so many twists and turns that you wouldn’t be expecting, from chase scenes, to tragic deaths, and so many things that teens shouldn’t be doing, which is why I would definitely read this book again. I couldn’t put it down, there was so much in the 221 pages of this novel. It is a perfect novel for teens without seeming like it's a “novel for teens.” The messages from this book can translate to anyone's life, which is why I recommend it to any reader.