When Miles Cavalry decides to attend his father's boarding school in southern Alabama it is driven home to his parents how disconnected he is from his high school in Florida. At Culver Creek, Miles meets the Colonel, his new roommate, Alaska, the girl who lives down the way, and Takumi, the third leg of their stool and an Asian-American rapper. The Colonel absorbs Miles into their social group and re-christens him, Pudge.
In contrast to his focus on studies Pudge and his new friends are in competition and conflict with the "Weekday Warriors". The rich kids from Birmingham are stereotypical popular kids, and the friends are the pranksters. Though the groups hold a good-natured war their greater enemy is the Eagle, who runs the school. A couple brushes with authority teach Pudge the importance of planning ahead and brazen confidence to get out of trouble.
With Alaska and her mysteriously fascinating knowledge of all things contraband leading him, Pudge becomes adept at balancing the rigorous acadamia at Culver Creek with smoking, drinking, and attempting to find a girlfriend. Slowly Pudge facts for the unattainable Alaska Young while she self-destructs.
Just as everything seems to be falling into place Pudge, Takumi, and the Colonel's lives fall apart. Alaska dies in a car accident after a night of heavy drinking. After a period of incredulity the three young men and a sophomore, Lara, search for answers. The search coincides with the syllabus of their religious class and as the four students search for Alaska's truth they find camaraderie and that she managed to tie them even closer together.
With some graphic promiscuity Looking for Alaska was written for late high school and college readers. It tackles issues of intention and fate with honesty and humor. Readers who enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars will enjoy John Green's first novel.
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