LOOKING FOR ALASKA (John Green) - February 8/13

I'll admit I found this a little disappointing after The Fault in Our Stars, but the book does improve after its initial stretch - which feels like a better version of a Gordon Korman novel (what with the emphasis on school antics). But the mid-story twist, Alaska's death, is certainly unexpected and the book does contain a number of heartfelt moments. But I never really connected to the protagonist and the emphasis on pranks was a little tedious. Not bad, but nowhere near the level of The Fault in Our Stars. **1/2 out of ****