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Powell's Staff: New Literature in Translation: December 2022 and January 2023 (0 comment)
It may be a new year, this may be a list of new books, but our love for literature in translation hasn’t changed at all, and we are so pleased to be enthusiastically recommending these recent releases. On this list, you’ll find a Spanish novel where controversy swirls around a Coca-Cola billboard...
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  • Kelsey Ford: From the Stacks: J. M. Ledgard's Submergence (0 comment)
  • Kelsey Ford: Five Book Friday: Year of the Rabbit (1 comment)

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Looking for Alaska

by John Green
Looking for Alaska

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  • Synopses & Reviews

ISBN13: 9780142402511
ISBN10: 0142402516
Condition: Standard


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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

The award-winning, genre-defining debut from John Green, the #1 international bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down and The Fault in Our Stars

Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award - A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist - A New York Times Bestseller - A USA Today Bestseller - NPR's Top Ten Best-Ever Teen Novels - TIME magazine's 100 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time - A PBS Great American Read Selection - Millions of copies sold

First drink. First prank. First friend. First love.

Last words.

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words--and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Fran ois Rabelais called "The Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young, who will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.

Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A modern classic, this stunning debut marked #1 bestselling author John Green's arrival as a groundbreaking new voice in contemporary fiction.

Review

"A gem of modern literature." Guardian

Review

"What sets this novel apart is the brilliant, insightful, suffering but enduring voice of Miles Halter." Chicago Tribune

Review

What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green's mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge's voice." Kirkus

Synopsis

The award-winning, genre-defining debut from John Green, the #1 bestselling author of The Anthropocene Reviewed and The Fault in Our Stars

Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award - A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist - A New York Times Bestseller - A USA Today Bestseller - NPR's Top Ten Best-Ever Teen Novels - TIME magazine's 100 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time - A PBS Great American Read Selection - Millions of copies sold

First drink. First prank. First friend. First love.

Last words.

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words--and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Fran ois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young, who will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.

Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A modern classic, this stunning debut marked #1 bestselling author John Green's arrival as a groundbreaking new voice in contemporary fiction.

Newly updated edition includes a brand-new Readers' Guide featuring a Q&A with author John Green


About the Author

John Green is an award-winning, New York Times–bestselling author whose many accolades include the Printz Medal, a Printz Honor, and the Edgar Award. He has twice been a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize. With his brother, Hank, John is one half of the Vlogbrothers (youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers), one of the most popular online video projects in the world. You can join Johns 1.2 million followers on Twitter (@realjohngreen), follow him on tumblr (fishingboatproceeds.tumblr.com) or visit him online at johngreenbooks.com. Before all of that, in 2000, John worked for several months as a student chaplain at a children's hospital. He now lives with his wife and son in Indianapolis, Indiana.

4.8 19

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating 4.8 (19 comments)

`
Cristal , July 02, 2014 (view all comments by Cristal)
Don't do what I did and read this book in one sitting. Okay, it's short and incredibly good, which makes it easy to bolt down. But then you are going to feel like an idiot for not savoring the pleasure, and you're going to be incredibly bleary the next day (if you finish it at 4 in the morning, like I did). This book deals with The Big Ones: suffering, loss, and grief, but it does so with such compassion and humor that the net impact is uplifting. Even the principal turns out to be a human being. There are no cardboard cut-out characters here. Be aware that the kids in this story do what kids actually do (smoke, drink, and have sex). If that bothers you, read it anyway. There are more important things in life than observing proprieties and pretending that bright kids aren't exploratory. You don't have to approve of these characters. It is enough to love them and learn from them.

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Jillian St. John , May 16, 2014 (view all comments by Jillian St. John)
Okay so the first book I've ever read by John Green was The Fault in our Stars and we all know what a wonderful but that was! (If you dont then it should absolutely be your next book) since reading The Fault in Our Stars I have become kinda addicted to John Green. He is an amazing writer. I've read Paper Towns, An Abundance of Katherines, Will Grayson Will Grayson and I just completed Looking forAlaska. Not since Fault have I loved characters so much. My heart was broken again by this book. I know that it will go on my book shelf along side my other favorites. John Green's books are consideredYA but I am 30 years old and I have never loved a single author more than I adore John Green. This book makes me feel heartbreak, serious, hilarious, angry, and many more emotions. I started reading these in order to have something to talk about with my little sister who is 15 years younger than me and I am so happy I did. I don't want to give u a summary of the book. I don't want to spoil it I just want whoever is reading this to say, "Damn, I need to read this book." Trust me you eill not regret it.

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kitten60 , March 01, 2014 (view all comments by kitten60)
this is every bit an adult novel also...as the female character, Alaska is a genius with a manic streak. She be-devils the school she attends and has multiple young men willing ti do what not for her..only she is a daring, wild joyous friend that I would have want to know..back in the day. This is searingly thrilling and sad...most of all..real..beautifully written with characters you get to know through their weaknesses and strengths.

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CatherineM , December 15, 2013 (view all comments by CatherineM)
In this captivating novel, Miles Halter leaves his small town in Florida to finish high school at Culver Creek, a boarding school. He sets off to find his “Great Perhaps”, something he believes is waiting to be discovered. At his new school, he meets his best friends, Alaska, the Colonel, Takumi, and Lara. His new friends call him “Pudge” (in honor of his skinny chicken legs) and teach him what life is really about. Pranking, smoking, and taking each day as it comes. Then, tragedy strikes, and Miles’ life will never be the same. Looking for Alaska is one of the greatest books I’ve ever read. John Green creates interesting and personable characters, who you will get to know and love. I suggest it to both guys and girls. Mature middle schoolers, high schoolers and young adults would agree that this book is enjoyable. (High schoolers will probably find it the most relatable, but others will like it as well.) If you’re looking for a story about the real world, that will take root in your heart and never let go, then this is for you.

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watergenasi123 , September 01, 2013 (view all comments by watergenasi123)
John Green has a great way to make you fall in love with his characters in such a short amount of time, and Looking For Alaska is no different. This book will have you laughing, crying, and feeling for the characters all the way through. His writing is so amazing that once you read it you will just want to read all of his books, and even pick them up a second time right after you read it. If you're looking for a book that will take you on a roller coaster ride and have it be well written then this book is for you.

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Tomabob , January 01, 2013 (view all comments by Tomabob)
I loved this book. It made me laugh and fall in love and become friends with the characters and cry. It fully entertained me the whole way through and gave me so many little bits to chew over and thoughtfully judge. John Green is an amazingly accomplished writers and Looking for Alaska is one of his best. I absolutely cannot get enough of this book.

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Tomabob , December 04, 2012 (view all comments by Tomabob)
John Green persuaded me to give my heart to these wonderful, charismatic characters, then abused it and stomped all over it, but I loved every minute of it. I love John Green and his books. They make me cry, laugh, and ponder about the mysteries of life. He writes some of the best YA novels out there and Looking for Alaska is no exception- it's one of my favorites.

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Mary Claire Jones , September 20, 2011 (view all comments by Mary Claire Jones)
This is SUCH a good book: likable but flawed characters, interesting and poignant plot, and the writing is phenomenal. It's targeted at young adults, but I'm a senior in college and I absolutely adore this book. It's always the first recommendation I make when people ask me what books to read.

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Mary Claire Jones , September 20, 2011 (view all comments by Mary Claire Jones)
This is SUC a good book: likable but flawed characters, interesting and poignant plot, and the writing is phenomenal. It's targeted at young adults, but I'm a senior in college and I absolutely adore this book. It's always the first recommendation I make when people ask me what books to read.

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samus , September 02, 2011 (view all comments by samus)
This wasn't the first book of John's that I read, but it's probably my favourite so far. The reason being is that it was the first book to ever make me cry; I may be only 27 but I still think that's a big deal. John's characters are always written so realistically you feel like you are right there with them, they aren't just names on a page- they are people with feelings, wishes, hopes, dreams... they want the same things we want, they ask the questions that we have asked ourselves before or haven't until we read them in John's books. Looking For Alaska is not only a young adult book about dealing with new challenges and making friends (and enemies), it's about making those important connections that stick with you throughout the rest of your life even if you never see those people again. John Green's prose is always smart, funny, clever, and thought-provoking, and I always look forward to each new adventure. DFTBA

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kitten60 , September 09, 2010 (view all comments by kitten60)
Looking for Alaska was in the children's section....but it is so much about a rich creative spirit of a young girl possessed with ability to make you love her and want to see her emerge as a shining star that continues to enrich the lives of all around her. I an 65 but enjoyed the festive, awkward, charismatic appeal of the characters who are not snyde, self-absorbed or disagreeable as the main characters in Salinger's only real book "Catcher in the Rye". To want to get even the most infinitesimal joys out of life, Alaska enjoined with others in the kind of risk taking that ends in sheer glee.

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madison.p.delgado , January 17, 2010
I loved how this book is not shy about not sugar coating his school life, and I also love the personalities of Pudge, Colonel, and Alaska. The chapters are broken into time, but you don't really understand until you really get into it. All in all a wonderfull book! I suggest it to people 13+ , and I know you will love it.

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Jena , May 28, 2009 (view all comments by Jena)
I loved this book. The characters are well crafted, the plot is smooth. The only glitch is that the timeline at the end of the book seemed oncongruous--but that might've just been my brain on three hours of sleep. It should be noted that this book contains frank sexual situations, drinking, smoking, tons of swearing, flagrant disregard for authority--all the usual stuff that causes parents (or self-righteous community members) to get their feathers ruffled.

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xxoxAlexisxoxx , May 11, 2009
I absolutely love this book. I had to read it for school, and I am really glad I picked it. Does anyone know where I can get information on John by any chance? I have a 5-page essay on how he "infuses his life experinces into his writing", and I still need A LOT of information. If you do, can you e-mail me how please?? [email protected] Thanks!

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paigeypoo94 , January 14, 2009
this book is like... my favorite!! i read it like 3 times in the past 5 months. even thought they never find out the actual cause of death i still love this book and will mention it to anyone that wants to read a good book!! ~paige~

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the elisa effect , May 25, 2008 (view all comments by the elisa effect)
This is my all-time favorite book. I can relate to each character in different ways-- even the off-to-the-side characters are very well developed, and it feels like they're actually people you know. I mostly love the way Green set up Alaska, as an alluring, mysterious yet open girl. I've read this book a minimum of ten times, and EVERY time, i cry. Extremely funny and well written, I'd reccomend Looking For Alaska to anyone.

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toojoyous , April 17, 2007 (view all comments by toojoyous)
Great read, can relate to text very much.

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live_and_love91 , April 05, 2007 (view all comments by live_and_love91)
This is my all-time favorite book. It is SO good! You can really relate to Pudge and the way he feels, its a real tear-jerker too.

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tnydncrgurl , March 21, 2007
I would have to say that this is one of the most perfect books I have ever read. The characters are so very real that you can't help but laugh and cry at and with them. I would recommend it to anyone-adult or otherwise

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Product Details

ISBN:
9780142402511
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
01/01/2007
Publisher:
PENGUIN PUTNAM TRADE
Pages:
272
Height:
.70IN
Width:
5.40IN
Thickness:
.50
Age Range:
14 and up
Grade Range:
9 and up
Number of Units:
1
Copyright Year:
2007
UPC Code:
2800142402513
Author:
Ariela Anhalt
Author:
John Green
Author:
Aidan Chambers
Author:
David Levithan
Author:
Gregory Galloway
Author:
John Green
Subject:
Children s All Ages - Fiction - General
Subject:
Death
Subject:
Situations / Death & Dying
Subject:
Children s Young Adult-Social Issue Fiction
Subject:
Schools
Subject:
Children s Young Adult-Social Issue Fiction-General

Ships free on qualified orders.
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  • New, Trade Paperback, $12.99
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This title in other editions

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  • New, Trade Paperback, $15.99
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