Looking for Alaska, a young adult novel by author John Green was published in 2005 and jumped to the New York Times Best Seller list 385 days later. It also won the Michael L. Printz Award and gained popularity almost 3 years after it's publication. He's since published four more successful novels.
As the story goes, Miles is completely unimpressed by the way his life is turning out. He decides to do something about it, to go seek a "Great Perhaps" (Last words of Francois Reblais, a poet). What happens when Miles, the guy who's hobby is to memorize people's Last Words, chooses to leave everything he knows in order to go to his father's alma mater, Culver Creek Boarding School? Well, he ends up meeting some interesting new friends like the Colonel who changes Miles' name to Pudge. But it's the girl down the hall, Alaska Young, who captures his attention and never lets it go.
Looking For Alaska follows this rebellious group of friends on an adventure that would change each of them. Miles, in search for his Great Perhaps for a different life with meaning, finds the girl of his dreams. She takes an instant liking to him. But she is a total whirlwind, a complete mystery that Miles can only try to keep up with. Meanwhile, Alaska Young sees him only has the lanky, quite but interesting enough kid. Because she is looking for a way to "escape this labyrinth". What labyrinth? The meaning of this transforms throughout the book as you begin to gain a better understanding of Alaska.
Why is the book titled, Looking for Alaska? You get your answer about midway through the book. It's split into two parts: Before and After. The ending will leave you at first wanting more but then, satisfied.
This is one of those books you read that have the potential to make you see things from a different perspective, it inspires you. It's a journey of self discovery, a game of questions and answers that goes on in the minds of many and John Green does a good job at addressing each Big Question that arises. This book is quoted heavily for a good reason.
"If people were rain then I was a drizzle and she was a hurricane" - Miles of Alaska, Looking for Alaska