Essay On Looking For Alaska

The book Looking for Alaska by John Green is about the journey and struggles of adolescence. In the book, the main character leaves home in search of a “great perhaps”. John Green is the author of many award winning young adult books, similar to Looking for Alaska. Throughout the book, substance abuse and suicide is frequently mentioned. Many parents and school boards are opposed to the idea of this book due to its explicit content. Despite Looking for Alaska containing mature content, it should not be restricted from school libraries and curriculum. Miles “Pudge” Halter, the main character, meets friends at boarding school that have questionable morals and ideals. Friends Alaska and Chip introduce Miles to an assortment of drugs and alcohol. The trio is caught by teachers or administrators a handful of times, but nothing can stop them; for now anyway. Later on in the book, Alaska was involved in a car crash that was unfortunately fatal. Miles and Chip are shocked and start to wonder if Alaska’s death was suicide. In the end, the two decide it doesn’t matter. Many times in Looking for Alaska, it describes situations in which profanity, substance abuse, sex, and suicide

“There were so many of us who would have to live with things done and left undone that day.” (Green, 214). Rather than looking at the profane things and banning the novel, the reader can look at the lessons and learn from this. Suicide and substance abuse are very widespread topics. Each day in the United States, there is an average of 5,400 suicide attempts among teenagers (True Facts). Also, more than 23 million people in the U.S. suffer from substance addiction (Youth Suicide). It is important that children and teenagers know about real life things that are happening in the world today. Reading and learning about more mature topics can give children needed coping skills to help them later in