Tag books

Looking for Alaska and Finding Much More

Reg Spittle 2 Comments

When I glanced at this book’s title, I thought, “Perfect. A travel adventure book. To Alaska!”

But I was wrong. Looking for Alaska is indeed a journey, but the teen-aged protagonist travels through his eventful life in a new boarding school.

This is no ordinary coming-of-age story. Divided into two sections, before and after, John Green tells a tale filled with poignant happenings in the life of Miles “Pudge” Halter. One event is a defining, shocking moment where the “after” story begins. (No spoiler here.)

Obsessed with famous last words, Pudge falls into the world of the Great Perhaps with Alaska Young. She feeds his sense of humor, challenges his tendency to play it safe, and captures his heart. The entertaining story may move you to consider your own journey to self-discovery.

Looking for Alaska is one more in a series of young adult novels that have kept me away from my usual non-fiction leanings. I am drawn to the YA genre for stories that take me back to my own teen-aged years and my struggle to find myself. Like Pudge, I found a friend in high school who accepted me for who I was, giving me confidence that changed everything. I am thankful every day for that friendship.

Looking for Alaska was Green’s debut novel. He has written many more, including The Fault of Our Stars, selling a total of 50 million copies.

Wallflower Is More Than a Coming-of-Age Story

Reg Spittle 1 Comment

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a journey of self-discovery for Charlie, who begins high school running away from tragedies he does not understand. Author Stephen Chbosky presents a 16-year-old who lost his best friend to suicide, mourns his aunt’s death, and carries a devastating childhood secret.

Despite being accustomed to living life on the sidelines, Charlie wants to relate and finds friendships in a pair of senior classmates. The book is a series of letters he writes to “Dear friend,” describing his times with his new friends, step-siblings Patrick and Sam. He falls in love with Sam, who has an older boyfriend, and learns Patrick has a secret lover in a closeted football star.

A series of events related to date rape, sex, drugs, abortion, and abuse give Charlie compelling topics for his engaging letters. Through it all, Charlie is a charming kid who is getting wiser, giving hope that he will learn to be more honest with himself and find ways to confront demons.

Wallflower is entertaining, insightful, tragic, funny, and the kind of book many readers say they come back to, over and over. It is much more than a coming-of-age story. Chbosky enjoyed huge success with the book and the motion picture, which he directed. He also wrote the screenplay.