3rd Discussions Questions

Q.  Alaska revealed a very important story about her mother's death. What was revealed about her character in this scene?
A. This revealed that there is more to Alaska then just a tough girl. It helped us see that there is a softer side to Alaska. It also helped us to understand why she is the way she is.

Q. It's clear to us that Pudge has strong feelings for Alaska, so why do you think he asked Lara to be his girlfriend? What did this reveal about he character?
A. I think that this reveals that he also had feelings Lara, but not as much as Alaska. This shows that he is trying to move on from Alaska because he feels that he doesn't have a chance to be with her.

Q. The Eagle seemed to have no idea that Pudge, Alaska, Lara, Colonel and Takumi were responsible for the prank.  Do you think that he actually had a feeling it was them or do you think that he really had no clue?
A.  I think that he really had no clue it was them because they covered their tracks so well. Even if he had a feeling it was them, he had no proof to back it up and therefore would be unsuccessful of accusing them.

Q. Did you find it odd test Kevin and his friends really didn't seem mad about the prank? Why do you think they didn't really care, and what did this reveal about Kevin's character?
A. I didn't find it that odd that Kevin didn't react very much. After all, he knew that there was a prank coming his way because of the pranks that his gang did to them. I think that this reveals that Kevin is a good sport and excepts things when they happen. Also, their prank was nothing compared to wrapping Pudge up in duck tape and throwing him in the lake.

Q. How did you feel about the blow-job scene? Do you think it revealed something new about Pudge or Lara?
A. I thought that this scene was particularly funny. It was a good to break up the action and drama in the book. I was surprised when Lara offered this to Pudge so early in their relationship. I think that it reveals that Lara has a sexual and a not-so-innocent side to her that we were not aware of before. On the contrary, it revealed a certain amount of innocence that she had no clue how to go about the situation.

Q. When Alaska asked Pudge to hook up with her, what did this reveal about who she is as a person and how she values her current relationship with Jake?
A. I think it reveals many things that we already knew about Alaska. It shows that she acts on her instincts and doesn't think twice most of the time. She and Pudge were making out for a long time so she had time to remember Jake and stop, but she when she finally stopped she said to be continued. Even when Pudge said, what about Jake and Lara, she shhh'ed him and continued to kiss him. I think that this shows that Alaska would sacrifice her relationship with Jake for Pudge, although we will never know what her intentions with Pudge really were.

Q. Why do you think that Jake wasn't at Alaska's funeral? Does this show anything about Jake's personality?
A. I was surprised that Jake didn't attend Alaska's funeral. It made me wonder whether or not Jake knew about Alaska's make out with Pudge and was angry with her. I also think that it might have been too hard for Jake to attend the funeral. Some people can't cope with attending a funeral of somebody that they loved.

Q. Do you think that Alaska's death was an accident or a suicide? Why?
A. I think that Alaska's death was a suicide. I think the fact that Alaska had written 'straight and fast' next to the question, 'how do we get out of this labyrinth of suffering' shows that she thought that the best way to leave this world was straight and fast. She died by running into straight into a police car very fast with her car. Also, Alaska is known to make very sudden decisions without thinking them through, and I believe that in that moment she didn't want to live anymore, so she took herself out of life.

Q. Do you think that Pudge truly loved Alaska? Why?
A. Yes, throughout the entire book I think that Pudge kept falling more and more in love with Alaska. He thought so highly of her and they shared a connection that is hard to explain. She was beautiful and exciting and something that Pudge needed in that stage of his life.

Q. Why do you think Alaska brought tulips with her on the night that she died?
A. At first, I thought that she was going to Jake's house and brought them with her because he got them for her on their anniversary. I thought that she was either going to use them to signify that she was giving them back to him and breaking up with him, or apologizing to him about what she did with Pudge that night. Either way I thought she was bringing them with her to Jake's house.

   -Kira