Are you an avid teen reader looking for an exciting cult favorite novel to dive into?  Looking for one of those books you literally can't put down?  Looking to get hooked on a new realistic fiction award winning piece of literature?  If so, you are definately Looking for Alaska!  The recent popularity of The Fault in Our Stars is drawing people to explore more of John Greene's novels.  Looking for Alaska is just one of his many books that are about to be turned into a box office hit.  However, if you're looking to read this book before the movie comes out and expect it to be another feel good fantasy, think again. 

Looking for Alaska begins with a smart, quirky, and slightly naive teenage boy being dropped off at prep school in Birmingham, Alabama.  This boy's name is Miles, although his friends strictly refer to him as "Pudge."  Looking for Alaska captures his self discovery as he attends Culver Creek Preparatory School for the first time.  You watch Miles/Pudge grow from all of his experiences here, which all somehow relate to a girl-down-the-hall named Alaska Young.  Alaska introduces him to new things, makes him think, and changes Miles for the better.  One theme that is very prevalent throughout Looking for Alaska is the different ways that people handle pain or loss.  About half way through the novel, something happens that changes the course of the character's lives.  This brings out a new side in all of them and really helps the reader to better unerstand them individually.  All of the characters have very different ways of coping with this.  I’d go into more detail, but I’m pretty sure you’d be mad if I spoiled the surprise for you.
The refreshing moral content found in The Fault in Our Stars could be summed up in this one overused, but powerful quote: "It's a metaphor, see: you put the killing thing between your teeth, but you don't give it the power to do its killing."  Unfortunately, the main characters in Looking for Alaska don't view cigarettes quite as poetically as Augustus Waters.  They are all found using and abusing drugs and alcohol in the majority of the chapters.  The highly sexual content and frequent use of profanity make this book inappropriate for a younger audience.  Looking for Alaska is frowned upon by many adults because of the crude humor and immoral behavior found throughout it.  However, this book wasn't intended to be read by older adults or young children.  Both of these age groups probably wouldn't enjoy reading Looking for Alaska anyways because John Green's target audience is primarily young adults.
Overall, I would give Looking for Alaska a 4.5 out of 5 stars.  If you are a mature teen looking for a new book to read, this would be a great choice.  It is humorous, entertaining, and very easy to relate to, especially if you are a high school/college student.  In my opinion, the only downside to this book is its questionable content.  People who claim to be John Green fans after jumping on the The Fault in Our Stars bandwagon may not be expecting the harsh, edgy qualities of this book.  However, Looking for Alaska has a very realistic plotline and still gives the reader that infamous emotional connection The Fault in Our Stars is known for.  It draws you in, keeps your attention, and devastates you with one of the biggest plot twists ever.  What is this shocking, traumatic event?  I guess you'll have to go and buy yourself a copy so you can read it for yourself.  "Okay? Okay."