Book Reccomendations
If you have read and enjoyed Looking for Alaska by John Green, you may want to try some of his other novels such as An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and The Fault in Our Stars. All books have become #1 New York Times Bestsellers and some even award winning. With intense plots, unpredictable storylines, and incredibly well crafted writing, John Green's novels are sure to have you on the edge of your seat. NO SPOILERS INCLUDED.
An Abundance of Katherines: Colin Singleton has just graduated from high school when his girl friend dumps him. Totally devastated, Singleton decides to go on a road trip to keep all people away from the "Katherines" he has dated and find the love of his life.
Paper Towns: When Quentin Jacobson's best friend Margo reappears in his life he is overthrilled. But then she disappears again... Quentin begins an adventure to find his long lost friend.
The Fault in Our Stars: Hazel has cancer and has always been like this. When she meets Augustus, her life is changed forever as he takes her on an adventure through love, laughter, sadness, and growth.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Independent Reading: Looking for Alaska
Theme and Summary
Theme: One point of theme in LFA is forgiveness because Pudge feels very guilty for letting Alaska drive drunk the night she died in the car crash. Throughout the second half of the novel Pudge must deal with this guilt. Near the ending of the book Pudge realizes that Alaska, in spirit, forgives him for letting her drive drunk because he was a loyal, wonderful friend to her. Also, Pudge knows that Alaska wanted her life to end and because of her death, she forgives him. She had said, "I need to get to my mother's grave."
Another theme of LFA is definitley friendship throughout the novel. The Colonel, Takumi, and Alaska all take Pudge in as their own, making him feel welcome and introducing him into their ways. Pudge finds this friendship early on in the novel but it grows and grows and grows as time goes on.
Summary: One of the most important parts of the novel, one dealing with the theme of friendship is at the beginning of the novel when Pudge is taped up and thrown into the lake by the Weekday Warriors. The Colonel is very angry with the Weekday Warriors and threatens to take revenge. This shows that he cares about what happens to Pudge and making sure he is safe. Pudge could have died when he was thrown into the lake-tape binding his body together and all. The Colonel knows this and wants Pudge to know he is on his side by plotting revenge.
Theme: One point of theme in LFA is forgiveness because Pudge feels very guilty for letting Alaska drive drunk the night she died in the car crash. Throughout the second half of the novel Pudge must deal with this guilt. Near the ending of the book Pudge realizes that Alaska, in spirit, forgives him for letting her drive drunk because he was a loyal, wonderful friend to her. Also, Pudge knows that Alaska wanted her life to end and because of her death, she forgives him. She had said, "I need to get to my mother's grave."
Another theme of LFA is definitley friendship throughout the novel. The Colonel, Takumi, and Alaska all take Pudge in as their own, making him feel welcome and introducing him into their ways. Pudge finds this friendship early on in the novel but it grows and grows and grows as time goes on.
Summary: One of the most important parts of the novel, one dealing with the theme of friendship is at the beginning of the novel when Pudge is taped up and thrown into the lake by the Weekday Warriors. The Colonel is very angry with the Weekday Warriors and threatens to take revenge. This shows that he cares about what happens to Pudge and making sure he is safe. Pudge could have died when he was thrown into the lake-tape binding his body together and all. The Colonel knows this and wants Pudge to know he is on his side by plotting revenge.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Independent Reading: Looking for Alaska
Characters
Alaska Young- Alaska continues to advance the theme and plot of the novel as she is found dead after a horrific car crash. The gang must deal with loss and mourning. The book is mostly surrounding Alaska's death as it shows how unfair life is and how sad it can really be. Alaska's death changes the lives of all of the characters in this book as they are launched into a world of pain and confusion and anger. The reason for Alaska's death, whether it be homicide or suicide, is never revealed in the novel, leaving the characters and the audience to make up their own ending for Alaska.
Independent Reading: Looking for Alaska
Analysis
Death:
Looking for Alaska says a lot about death and dealing with death. Pudge and his friends are very young and immature yet they are forced to deal with something that is so beyond their years. Pudge says, "The Eagle looked down and bit his lower lip. 'Last night, Alaska Young was in a terrible accident.' His tears came faster, then. 'And she was killed. Alaska has passed away'" (Green 139). These are words that no one wants to hear especially the people closest to Alaska. The whole group has to deal with the loss of a very close friend.
Death:
Looking for Alaska says a lot about death and dealing with death. Pudge and his friends are very young and immature yet they are forced to deal with something that is so beyond their years. Pudge says, "The Eagle looked down and bit his lower lip. 'Last night, Alaska Young was in a terrible accident.' His tears came faster, then. 'And she was killed. Alaska has passed away'" (Green 139). These are words that no one wants to hear especially the people closest to Alaska. The whole group has to deal with the loss of a very close friend.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Independent Reading: Looking for Alaska
Reading Skills (Continued)
Predictions:
Text to World- A connection with LFA and the world would be the constant doubt and nagging of teenagers and their lack of ability to become any thing successful. This weight is felt by many, if not all, of the characters in LFA.
Text to Text- Chip from LFA reminds me of Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. This is because Chip and Charlie are both troubled teenagers with personal problems and family matters. Alaska from LFA also reminds me of Sam from Perks because they are both teenage girls that come off as wild, free, crazy, and beautiful, but have simply been hurt too many times.
Text to Self- A connection from LFA to my own self would be the comparison in age. I am a teenager as well and I am able to understand some of their feelings and emotions as well as rash actions.
Predictions:
- I predict that something is going to happen between Chip and Miles because they are both going through a difficult period in their lives. Temptations, anger, and frustration may all be tested.
- Why are the chapter titles a countdown?
- What was the reason for the title, Looking for Alaska? How did you come up with it?
- What was the easiest and hardest part of Looking for Alaska that you had to write?
Text to World- A connection with LFA and the world would be the constant doubt and nagging of teenagers and their lack of ability to become any thing successful. This weight is felt by many, if not all, of the characters in LFA.
Text to Text- Chip from LFA reminds me of Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. This is because Chip and Charlie are both troubled teenagers with personal problems and family matters. Alaska from LFA also reminds me of Sam from Perks because they are both teenage girls that come off as wild, free, crazy, and beautiful, but have simply been hurt too many times.
Text to Self- A connection from LFA to my own self would be the comparison in age. I am a teenager as well and I am able to understand some of their feelings and emotions as well as rash actions.
Independent Reading: Looking for Alaska
Characters (Continued)
Miles "Pudge" Halter- Miles has definitely continued to advance the plot as he continues to seek the Great Perhaps. Author John Green characterizes Pudge as a very weak-minded, dependent young man. Pudge's father warns him not to get drawn into the wrong crowd and not to drink, smoke, or do drugs. When Pudge get to Culver Creek, he begins to do the three out of four things his father instructed him not to do. At one point in the story, Miles is faced with ironing, which he is unable to do. This shows how dependent he was on his parent to iron and cook and clean. Pudge seems to also advance the theme of the story because he resembles the normal, clueless teenager these days. Pudge is characterized as a follower, he is always following either the Colonel or Alaska. This is very important because it shows Pudge as a person at the beginning and middle of the story.
Chip "the Colonel" Martin- Chip also continues to advance the story as the spirited, opinionative friend of Pudge's. Chip's character seems to be much more troubled than Miles because of his history. One time he gets in a big fight with his girlfriend and says, "We never get along. I mean, I didn't even briefly like her. Like, my mom and my dad- my dad would get pissed, and then he would beat the [crap] out of my mom. And then my dad would be all nice, and they'd have like a honeymoon period. But with Sara, there's never a honeymoon period... I'm a bad boyfriend. She's a bad girlfriend. We deserve each other" (Green 38). This excerpt is incredibly powerful because it characterizes Chip as a character who has been given nothing but hate in his life and because of this, thinks he deserves hate in return. In the same circumstance, Chip is faced with ironing his shirt, and like Pudge, has no idea how to do it. This, however, differentiates him from Pudge because the reason he does not know how to iron is not because he has been fortunate enough to have it done for him, it's because he has no reason to need to iron anything. Also, he was never taught to iron or cook or clean.
Alaska Young- Alaska continues to advance the plot of the story as Pudge's main love interest and an important factor in the continuation of the search for the Great Perhaps. There is something so mysterious about Alaska that makes the reader so interested in her. John Green specifically leaves much of her life story out for this reason.
Miles "Pudge" Halter- Miles has definitely continued to advance the plot as he continues to seek the Great Perhaps. Author John Green characterizes Pudge as a very weak-minded, dependent young man. Pudge's father warns him not to get drawn into the wrong crowd and not to drink, smoke, or do drugs. When Pudge get to Culver Creek, he begins to do the three out of four things his father instructed him not to do. At one point in the story, Miles is faced with ironing, which he is unable to do. This shows how dependent he was on his parent to iron and cook and clean. Pudge seems to also advance the theme of the story because he resembles the normal, clueless teenager these days. Pudge is characterized as a follower, he is always following either the Colonel or Alaska. This is very important because it shows Pudge as a person at the beginning and middle of the story.
Chip "the Colonel" Martin- Chip also continues to advance the story as the spirited, opinionative friend of Pudge's. Chip's character seems to be much more troubled than Miles because of his history. One time he gets in a big fight with his girlfriend and says, "We never get along. I mean, I didn't even briefly like her. Like, my mom and my dad- my dad would get pissed, and then he would beat the [crap] out of my mom. And then my dad would be all nice, and they'd have like a honeymoon period. But with Sara, there's never a honeymoon period... I'm a bad boyfriend. She's a bad girlfriend. We deserve each other" (Green 38). This excerpt is incredibly powerful because it characterizes Chip as a character who has been given nothing but hate in his life and because of this, thinks he deserves hate in return. In the same circumstance, Chip is faced with ironing his shirt, and like Pudge, has no idea how to do it. This, however, differentiates him from Pudge because the reason he does not know how to iron is not because he has been fortunate enough to have it done for him, it's because he has no reason to need to iron anything. Also, he was never taught to iron or cook or clean.
Alaska Young- Alaska continues to advance the plot of the story as Pudge's main love interest and an important factor in the continuation of the search for the Great Perhaps. There is something so mysterious about Alaska that makes the reader so interested in her. John Green specifically leaves much of her life story out for this reason.
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