Looking for Alaska, John Green

This book is painful. I don't want to tell you the painful part, because it will ruin a lot of the book, but I do want to forewarn you, that it's not a light happy read.

But if you want an idea of the author's sense of humor, check this out.

The book is designed for high school boys, so there is a certain amount of immature humor. But the characters are believable and the themes dig deep. The story is divided into before and after. Pudge, a nerdy kid with no friends, transfers to a boarding school where he meets Takumi, the Colonel, and Alaska, a remarkable, enigmatic, impulsive--and did I mention gorgeous--girl, who is unfortunately devoted to her long-distance boyfriend. Between smoking breaks and epic pranks, Pudge falls in love with Alaska, or at least the idea of Alaska. He also develops strong friendships which he discovers will survive a senseless tragedy.

I recommend it mostly if you find teenage boy humor entertaining (or want insight into a teenage boy's brain) because otherwise I fear you will find it tedious. But it is a fantastic and thought-provoking book.