Looking for Alaska

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska. NY: Dutton. Miles “Pudge” Halter has always lived a bubble wrapped world. His junior year, he decided that he would leave his world in Florida to venture to Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama. Here he finds that his fascination of last words of important people is just the tip of the iceberg. He immediately makes friends at the boarding school something he is not used to, but you see they all have their little quirks just like Pudge. Colonel, his roommate and buddy, teaches him the ropes around Culver Creek and introduces him to his inner circle. The group studies together, plan pranks, blow off steam, and get into mischief together, while Miles is falling in love with Alaska, who has a boyfriend. As the chapters count down, it makes you wonder what‘s the life change that is going to happen to this inner group. Then it happens. One evening after blowing off steam, the sudden death of Alaska turns the life of the inner group upside down. It leaves them with unanswered questions, and coming to terms with their loss, grief, guilt and the need to keep on living. Alaska’s character helped develop Miles independence and find himself. He was finally able to make friends and speak up for himself. Alaska Young thought him to live life, rather than searching for the great perhaps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZEnlWIuA3U