The delicate themes in Looking For Alaska by John Green, could save our coming of age children from the peer pressure and fatal mistakes we all fear as loving parents.
If you haven’t read Looking For Alaska by John Green then I suggest you bookmark my post, get to it. Maybe even add it to your bookshelves as a must read for your coming of age teens.
The themes of grief, substance abuse, sexual relationships, mental health and friendship all wrapped up in a sweet but sad bow. The main character, Miles, is quiet, lonely, awkward, and easily pressured.
Young men are put in a position of expectancy and women are often pressured, over sexualized, blamed, criticized and ignored. Or written off as dramatic, too emotional, and annoying. Teens struggle with romantic relationships and male/female friendships. Women don’t learn until the thirties to prioritize our own needs and mental health when it comes to romantic and platonic relations.
It did make the “banned Book” list…
Looking for Alaska by John Green did make the “banned books” list, but as an avid reader I can assure you that is almost always because his has important lessons that should be taught. It can be labeled as “inappropriate” but teens are going to do the things teens do. It is always better to be able to talk about these things openly with our kids. What better way then nonchalantly through a book?
Here is what the fuss is about in Looking For Alaska by John Green.
- Two teenagers engage in oral sex on pages 126 & 127.
- It contains sexual language and heavy topics like grief, substance abuse and drunk driving.
- The teenagers use fake ID’s and finding sketchy marts to by alcohol and cigarettes.
While this can be alarming and i know your thinking, “I don’t want my kid reading that!” Teenagers will be naturally curious but this book allows for genuine conversation that could help our kids navigate the hardships of puberty and growing up.
**Spoiler Alert**
Lets Talk About It
Guys, at thirty years old I did not expect to be so obsessed with a book I found in the teen section of the library. I must know what you think!! Do you think she did it on purpose? I struggle deeply and not to expose to much of my own personal life but sometimes when you are that drunk and that stressed out you come across this mindset that you really just want the relief of death. My heart ached for this young girl the whole novel, beginning to end. She was clearly so heart broken, so hurt, so lost. Then you find out what happens to her and her mother and how disturbing that experience must have been for her…
The part that gets me is that the underlined, “straight and fast” in her favorite book. Which is essentially exactly what she did. The other part that makes me feel like she did it on purpose if how hard she was struggling the whole novel. She was a sex addict, a drunk, a trouble maker, a heavy smoker, and most importantly; she spent her holidays alone. She begged Pudge to stay with her so she wouldn’t be alone! I find that heart wrenching.