Journal entry #2

This second section of the book was incredibly interesting. We really started learning a lot more about the characters as well as got introduced to new ones. This quarter gave me a deeper understanding to the behavior of certain characters while still keeping up with the exciting plot that keeps you wanting to continue reading and not wanting to put the book down.

During this section, we are introduced to Jake (Alaska's boyfriend) and Lara, a girl who Alaska is trying to set up with Miles (also known as "Pudge"). The actual bond and relationship between Alaska and Jake was truly surprising. Though the story describes them to be a great match for each other, by the way Alaska would subtly or not-so-subtly flirt with Miles, you would have expected them not to be so into one another. Even with Alaska's excuse every time she flirts with Miles ("don't get me wrong, I love my boyfriend"), I still assumed there were problems with the relationship since she still flirted with Miles frequently and knowing that he liked her. Then we are reintroduced to Lara, a girl from Romania with a cute accent who apparently likes Miles. Miles seems interested enough in Lara as well and Alaska said she was going to help set him up with her however on their triple and a half date (the three couples and Takumi) she asked Miles to sit on the other side of her instead of sitting with Lara. Later after their date, Miles gets hit with a basketball, receives a concussion, throws up on Lara's jeans and spends time in the hospital for the night before going back to Culver Creek.

Besides these new characters, we also see much more character development. When Pudge decides to stay at Culver Creek for Thanksgiving instead of going home, we see a deeper connection form between Miles and Alaska. They dig up and drink wine together at the edge of the forest, snoop other dorm rooms and do other activities together that bring them closer as friends and also reveal that Alaska might like Miles as more than a friend. Also, we start to understand the hatred the Colonel has for the “Weekday Warriors” when he invites Alaska and Miles over for Thanksgiving and we as readers find out that he lives in a small trailer with his mom. Because the “Weekday Warriors” have so much and don’t really realize the opportunity of Culver Creek as well as are snobby and very rude, the Colonel, who has barely anything, is very disgusted by their lifestyle while probably also a bit jealous.

-Lauren