Looking for Alaska: Sidekick

by BookBuddy

*Note: Our sidekick is an accompaniment to "Looking for Alaska" and not the novel itself. While it will greatly enhance your enjoyment and understanding of the book, it is not intended to stand in its place.* This newly discovered gem from the past (2005) has become a must-read, thanks in no small part to the success of Green's 2012 masterpiece: "The Fault in Our Stars." As many Green fans have already discovered, our sidekick is the ultimate go-to source for understanding the complexities of John Green's tales of teen angst and tragedy. "Looking for Alaska" tells the story of Miles Halter, a 16-year-old with a nondescript life who is seeking a "Great Perhaps." In his quest, he finds himself at the Culver Creek Boarding School, where his past life of boredom and safety takes a back seat to adventure and sexual experimentation. His trek to the other side of the tracks takes him only a few steps, as he meets Alaska Young just down the hall at school. She is sexy, funny, and everything else that makes teenage boys drool. She is also a self-destructive sort, headed toward the "After" portion of "Looking for Alaska," where everything comes crashing down. As our sidekick details, the themes of life and death weave their way through the novel, drawing the characters closer together while preparing them for something that will rip them apart. Use this expert sidekick to dissect these themes in "Looking for Alaska," while enjoying a detailed analysis of each chapter of the book. If that wasn't enough, we close with potential questions and responses to help you get the conversation started with co-workers, friends, or fellow book club members.

58 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2014

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. There is so much good Young Adult literature out there, and John Green is so good at writing it. This is a story about a group of students who attend a private High School. One of their friends dies, and it discusses their reaction to that loss.

I just had a devastating loss of my own, and cried at some of the existential questions this group of teenagers pondered. I wish English departments would stop reading The Good Earth and Moby Dick, and start updating the reading lists to include some of the wonderful new authors out there. Some young adults would actually begin to love reading again.