Looking for Alaska

I've been intending to read this book for many, many years, and now, thanks to The Great American Read, I have.

It's the story of a boy, “Pudge,” who goes off to boarding school and develops, for the first time, friendships. Two of his favorite friends are scholarship students Alaska and “The Colonel,” and this book is not only the story of Pudge but also the story of the difficult lives of Alaska and the Colonel.

It's a story of love and loss and learning about oneself and one's place in the world. It's an excellent book.