3.5 out of 5 stars.

Although John Green is a fantastic author, Looking for Alaska left something to be desired; specifically, an actual plot.

Throughout at least three quarters of the book, it just describes Pudge’s adventures at Culver Creek (a boarding school) and doesn’t get to the point quick enough. He’s looking for a Great Perhaps (which comes from the dying words of François Rabelais) and hopes to find it at Culver Creek.

Pudge (or Miles) is a junior at Culver Creek, and Looking for Alaska details his escapades with his motley group of friends: the Colonel, Takumi, Lara, and, of course, Alaska.

The Colonel (or Chip, Pudge’s roommate) is the leader of this little group, and he has a propensity for math and pranking. As one may expect, this is not a good combination.

Alaska is the mastermind of all the pranks they pull, although the Colonel does all the organization.

I had high hopes for this book, because John Green is one of my favorite authors, but I can’t say I really enjoyed it until the end. It all culminates in the tragic death of one of the characters, and the end is very painful for both the characters and the reader (don’t read it if you don’t like tragedy).

It was a very good book, but it only got to that point after a large portion of the book. Most of the book was exposition, and so, although it wasn’t bad, it was somewhat slow.

All in all, for fans of John Green and sad, philosophical books, I’d definitely recommend it.