This novel could fit into the coming -of-age or juvenile genres if it weren't for its sexually explicit and other controversial content. The book's main character Miles Halter's evolution is shown in three parts: before Miles starts attending Culver Creek boarding school in Alabama for his junior year of high school; Before the emotionally unstable friend and Miles's love interest Alaska commits suicide; Miles and his other friends' and especially his roommate Chip Martin's readjustment and coming to terms with Alaska's death.

What makes the novel so special is the exquisite characterization of the varied, quirky, and individual people in the plot. The pacing, the use of the language, and the story construction are perfect. The novel also puts forward a philosophical central question for its unmistakable depth. That depth and the fact that the main characters who are teenagers drink, smoke, have experimental sex, and use explicit language makes this book suitable for serious grown-up fiction.

This book was picked up by the Paramount Studios to be made into a movie sometime during 2016.

appreciating the depth in the story although its characters are teen agers.

just about everything.

is the award-winning John Green who also wrote books like The Fault in Our Stars, Papertowns, and An Abundance of Katherines.

It is a seriously written literary work, in my opinion.

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Created Mar 22, 2016 at 5:04pm • Submit your own review...