In reading Looking for Alaska, I was impressed by how multi-faceted each of the characters were. It didn't seem as though there were any one dimensional characters. Everyone had a backstory: Pudge and his life in Florida, the Colonel and his mom and his dreams, Alaska and her traumatic past, Takumi and his secretive nature, etc. Most importantly, the characters serve as perfect examples of the impassioned, impulsive and melodramatic nature of teenagers.
The realness and complexity of these characters, as well as other elements, make this story very credible. For example, there are multiple instances of adolescent deviant behavior: drinking, having sex, swearing, smoking, bending rules. However, at no time are any of these things condoned or made out to be acceptable forms of adolescent behavior. Engaging in this behavior eventually results in the very worst of consequences.
This novel is relevant to all adolescents, regardless of whether or not they've engaged in "risky" behaviors. Even the 'sex' scene plays a valuable role: it exposes the vast differences in value between purely carnal relationships and deeper, emotional relationships. Another reason this novel is so valuable can be summed up nicely in the words of Michael Cart: "Another value of young adult literature is its capacity for fostering understanding, empathy, and compassion by offering vividly realized portraits of the lives - exterior and interior - of individuals who are unlike the reader, In this way, young adult literature invites its readership to embrace the humanity it shares with those who - if not for the encounter in reading - might forever remain strangers or - worse - irredeemably 'other'" (Cart 3).
Looking for Alaska exemplifies all of the aforementioned qualities of valuable adolescent literature with themes of hope, life, death, finding oneself, finding the truth and, ultimately, forgiveness.
Absolutely loved this book.
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