Looking For Alaska by John Green

 BEFORE. Miles “Pudge” Halter’s whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the “Great Perhaps” (Françios Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

AFTER. Nothing is ever the same.

I refuse to spoil this book but I will let you know that if you are not willing to cry over a book, you should avoid this one at all costs. If you’re okay with having your beating heart metaphorically ripped out of your chest, by all means read away. This book is my favorite non-series book of 2012. Which say a lot because I read a lot of new books last year. Anyway, this book is not only an emotional rollercoaster, but it’s a bit philosophic. It makes you think about what really does happen after death, the Great Perhaps. When you talk about death, you often ask “What if _____?” or, in this context, “Perhaps _____ will happen.” Being as philosophical as it is, it only the end of this novel worse on you than it should be. But on the positive side, this book is incredibly well-written (like all of Green’s books) and is so witty that it is impossible not to obsess over. Pudge is a very strong protagonist who seems to overcome most things. As crazy as Alaska is, I couldn’t help but think of how much I’d love to be friends with her. Kudos to Mr. Green on this masterpiece of a novel. We should just take every possible award and give them all to him, because he proves once again that he is one of the best.