Common Sense Media Review
Teens process tragic loss in thought-provoking novel.
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Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 41 parent reviews
Parents say that this book, while containing mature themes such as alcohol use, drugs, and sexual content, serves as a powerful and relatable coming-of-age story for older teens. Many reviewers appreciate its thoughtful portrayal of complex issues adolescents face, emphasizing that it's suitable for mature audiences who can understand the context behind the explicit content.
- mature themes
- relatable characters
- powerful message
- educational value
- suitable for teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 198 kid reviews
What's the Story?
In LOOKING FOR ALASKA, Miles, tired of his friendless, dull life in Florida, convinces his parents to send him away to boarding school in Alabama so that he can seek "the Great Perhaps." There he meets his roommate and soon-to-be best friend, Chip, called the Colonel, and Alaska Young, the moody, gorgeous, wild girl who instantly becomes the object of his lust. Miles is quickly enlisted in their war against the Weekday Warriors, the rich kids who go home every weekend, and they bond over elaborate pranks, studying, and assorted rule-breaking. About halfway through the book a tragedy occurs, and those left spend the rest of the book trying to make sense of it, to solve the mystery it leaves behind, and to pull off one last, greatest-ever prank.
Is It Any Good?
This coming-of-age novel is gorgeously written, passionate, hilarious, moving, thought-provoking, character-driven, and literary. It deserves all the awards it's won. The characters may often behave badly, but they are vividly real, complex, and beautifully drawn -- and their stories can help readers start dealing with some big topics, like self-discovery and loss. Looking for Alaska is a hard one to put down. Since new chapters don't start on new pages, there's always a temptation to read just a little bit further. For the first half at least, readers will be grinning all the way -- and in the end, they will be moved, maybe even to tears.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the mature content iin Looking for Alaska, including a frank sex scene. Do you think including it was essential to the story? What does it tell readers about the characters?
What does Miles mean when he goes off to boarding school in search of what 16th-century French author Francois Rabelais called "the Great Perhaps"? Do we all need to go on a similar search to discover ourselves?
Why do you think Looking for Alaska has often turned up on the American Library Association's Most Frequently Challenged book list? Why do you think it remains so popular with teens years after it was originally published?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Dutton Children's Books
- Publication date : February 5, 2006
- Number of pages : 221
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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