Looking For Alaska

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska. NY: Dutton Miles Green attends a private school and learns the importance of human existence.  Miles learns about philosophy and the natures of love and loyalty. Miles began to make meaningful friendships at the school.  He particularly starts having an interest in a girl named Alaska.  Alaska sets up a prank on a group of boys that hurt Miles when he first got to the school.  They hacked into computers to send failing notifications home to parents.  Alaska then dies in a terrible accident.  Miles and his friends fall into depression and started to question her death.  Finally Miles came to grips with her death.  They pulled a final prank worth of Alaska.  I would recommend this book to ages 14-18.  It was a book that dealt with death and the painfulness of death.  Havighurst’s Theory of Development negotiation, compromise and working cooperatively in groups fits this book.  Miles had to come to know friendship he had to compromise and work effectively in groups.