One of John Green's first novel follows the life of a young guy named Miles Halter on his junior year at Culver Creek Preparatory High School where she met the girl that would change his life -- no other than Alaska Young.
On the night after their greatest prank, Alaska Young, wasted with alcohol, went on a rage and demanded to go out of the campus with the aid of Halter and Chip which eventually leads to her death. Being broken and guilty to their friend's death, the Chip and Miles search for reasons on how or why exactly Alaska Young died.
Dissecting it From the perspective of Miles, you can clearly see a young man looking for something in life that could make him. It's a reflection of every one who's in fact, even without admitting, is looking for their place in this giant playground called 'LIFE'.
With regards to the point of Chip, it clearly shows a young man trying to make his way up for his family.
On the other hand, Alaska shows a teen having difficulties emotionally and yet masking herself as a strong girl so that no one could tell that she's badly broken.
Overall, the book was a way of showing teens of today in a different perspective.
Characters
- Miles 'Pudge' Halter - the novel's main protagonist. He is described as tall and skinny and has a strange likes for people's last words. He went to his junior year seeking for his 'Great Perhaps'.
- Alaska Young - the love interest of Miles. Known as moody and unpredictable yet one of the prettiest and famous girl in school. Together with Chip, she is usually part of the planning for the group's prank.
- Chip 'Colonel' Martin - Miles' friend and roommate. Described as a guy with nice physique though lacking of height. He is usually the mastermind and of all the gang's pranks.
- Takumi Hikohito - a friend and a part of the gang with Miles, Alaska and Chip
- Lara Buterskaya - a student from Romania. Alaska's friend and Miles' girlfriend (eventually they broke up)
Synopsis
Miles Halter's search for the Great Perhaps made him closer with his room mate and his friends especially Alaska Young. As expected from kids of their age, pranks and other mischievous acts are part of growing up. The group's bond grew closer and closer as they started knowing each other. Specifically, Halter started falling for the mysterious and pretty Alaska Young even though he already had a girl friend.On the night after their greatest prank, Alaska Young, wasted with alcohol, went on a rage and demanded to go out of the campus with the aid of Halter and Chip which eventually leads to her death. Being broken and guilty to their friend's death, the Chip and Miles search for reasons on how or why exactly Alaska Young died.
What I Can Say
The book tackles almost all the controversial vices such as smoking, alcohol, sex and even drugs (marijuana). Though the way it was presented in my opinion doesn't take it as book who advertises such behaviors but rather a way of giving every character an inner depth and showing a part of teens' real life journey.Dissecting it From the perspective of Miles, you can clearly see a young man looking for something in life that could make him. It's a reflection of every one who's in fact, even without admitting, is looking for their place in this giant playground called 'LIFE'.
With regards to the point of Chip, it clearly shows a young man trying to make his way up for his family.
On the other hand, Alaska shows a teen having difficulties emotionally and yet masking herself as a strong girl so that no one could tell that she's badly broken.
Overall, the book was a way of showing teens of today in a different perspective.
Quoted from the Book
At some point, you just pull off the Band-Aid, and it hurts, but then it's over and you're relieved.
- Miles
I may die young, but at least I'll die smart.
-Alaska
So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunk, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.
- Miles
You're not looking, Pudge. When I go into your room, I see a couple of guys who love video games. When I look at my room, I see a girl who loves books.
-Alaska
What is an "instant" death anyway? How long is an instant? Is it one second? Ten? The pain of those seconds must have been awful as her heart burst and her lungs collapsed and there was no air and no blood to her brain and only raw panic. What the hell is instant? Nothing is instant. Instant rice takes five minutes, instant pudding an hour. I doubt that an instant of blinding pain feels particularly instantaneous
- Miles
Sometimes you lose a battle. But mischief always wins the war
- Alaska
