“Looking for Alaska” by John Green was different than what I expected it to be, but I fell in love with it anyways. It brought out every emotion I had. One night it had me in tears. It was written beautifully, and I feel like a lot of teenagers can relate to it too like I did.

It tells the story of a young teenage boy named Miles, a student who struggles in the social realm and making friends. His life gets turned around though when he moves to a different school, in a totally different state. He’s accepted into a social group and makes friends, ones he didn’t expect to meet. He experiences a whole new world and emotions and feelings. Excitement, bitterness, trust, regret, raging hormones, and even love are just a few.

This novel isn’t some sugar coated, happily-ever-after fairy tale. It shows reality and what can happen any where at any time, when you least expect it, and when you’re not careful. When reality hits you at certain points in your life, you’re stumped and don’t always know what to do, and sometimes you refuse to believe it.

Miles and his friends refused to believe certain events at first, and that’s what made my heart sad. Nobody wants to believe the sad stories they hear, especially when they’re true. The friendship and love are strong in the characters in this book. They’re an interesting, devious, and clever group of kids. Whether it’s illegally buying cigarettes and Strawberry Hill, or sneaking into other students’ rooms while they’re away on holidays to pull pranks, it’s hilarious that they can get away with it and makes you wonder sometimes if it really is that easy.

John Green is a stunning writer, and it felt like he knew what to say to keep you from putting the book down. He knew what to write to make you cry, smile, and laugh, and that’s what a genuine book will do.