Looking for Alaska by John Green

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In this realistic fiction novel Miles Halter is a sixteen year old nicknamed "Pudge" that leaves his home in Florida to attend the boarding school his father went to in Alabama. Pudge has no problem leaving his life behind because he had no friends and is seeking his "great perhaps." Once at school, Pudge is accepted by a group of pranksters and his roommate Chip introduces him to the wonderful Alaska Young. Alaska is a young self-destructive feminist that all the boys fall in love with, especially Pudge. As the year progresses, Pudge is introduced to smoking, drinking, and his first girlfriend. Suddenly Alaska is dead. Pudge and his friends begin to question everything, trying to figure out if it was an accident or if Alaska committed suicide. In the process Pudge and his friends begin to deal with the loss of their friend and process through their feelings of grief. 

Grades 9 and up.

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska: A novel. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

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