Autobiographical traits

The novel Looking for Alaska by John Green was partly inspired from the author’s own experiences. The teenager John Green had some similarities to Miles Halter. He was an outsider himself with few friends. At school he was bullied. The situation didn’t improve until he transferred to the Indian Springs boarding school. Like Culver Creek, this boarding school was located near Birmingham, Alabama. There was also a lake with a swan and rooms without air conditioning.

Like Miles, John Green had a good and loving relationship with his parents. Thus, when he received the "Michael L. Printz" award in 2006, he also thanked them for their support. His novel Looking for Alaska was greatly inspired by his life at the boarding school. For example, Green writes on his website...