"Looking for Alaska" by John Green

Looking for Alaska, a novel written by the American author John Green, quickly captivated me as a reader. After getting my hands on it at a local bookshop and reading it as soon as I got home, I fell in love. John Green's work has always done that for me. His writing and word choice gravitate to my personality and tap into my emotions in an impressing way. I find a lot of my life and my struggles are easily portrayed in his visions, giving me even more reasons to constantly reread this book.

Looking for Alaska follows the protagonist, Miles Halter, in the new life he has to adapt to. Miles, a teenager fascinated by famous last words, finds himself tired of the life he's leading at home and in his town. This makes him leave for boarding school in search of the "Great Perhaps". His move to Culver Creek proves rather interesting when he becomes friends with a group of students, but most importantly Alaska Young. Their relationship is rather complicated but intriguing to read about. John Green does an amazing job of describing Alaska and her struggles, which we learn more about towards the end of this book.

The more we dive into the story, the more we understand each character and their actions. To me, the fundamental part of the story lies in the turn of events that occurs regarding Alaska. It has the ability to capture the reader's attention and to help each person form some kind of connection with the characters. All in all, it's a read I recommend, especially for those who aren't afraid of reality and the strength of upsetting news.

[I'll leave you with one of my favourite quotes from the book.]

"You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining the future keeps you going, but you never do it. You just use the future to escape the present."

- Joana