Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska has been on my bookshelf since it first came out in hardback. I'd been putting other books before it but I finally decided to take the plunge and read it.  I was neither terribly impressed or disappointed in it.  It was just another run of the mill novel.

Looking for Alaska takes place at Culver Creek Boarding School. Miles or Pudge as he is later nicked named is the main character. Pudge is a new student as Culver Creek and quickly makes friends with his roommate 'The Colonel" and a quirky girl named, Alaska. They form a strong intense friendship, very reminiscent of youth and teen years.

Then a tragedy takes place that changes the lives of characters. The emotions the characters display are the saving grace of this novel. They are realistic and grief fueled. It is the most believable part of the story. The book is split into "before" and "after". Before gives clues and is clearly an important part of the book but you won't realize it until you get to the after.  This book was clearly well planned out well written but it didn't hold up to all the hype.

Grade: B-