Journal Entry #3

In the third sections of the book we are introduced to the "after". Up until this point, each "chapter" was titles as ___days before but now say the number of days after the event instead. This is because in this chapters an event changes everything for the stories main characters. Alaska, in an attempt to leave the campus and drive somewhere, gets in a fatal car accident just after seeing Miles and the Colonel who now felt guilty and responsible for her accident.

This quarter of the book was very emotional as we watch how the characters handle Alaska's death. The Colonel screaming while tucked in a bundle of the bench that he was sorry, girls who knew Alaska sobbing, people who we wouldn't have guessed to have cared over the death of Alaska were even shown in stages of grief. Miles denied everything, he couldn't believe it had happen and just thought it was another prank. The reactions of the characters seemed very raw and real, just like how I see people in real life once they learn that someone dear to them has passed away. When someone who is a big part of your life dies, you are hit with strong waves of sadness, anger, fear, denial and other emotions while you try to figure out what happened. It was for this reason that I felt sympathy for characters in the book with the unfolding of this event since it obviously took them by surprise and hit them hard.

Before the passing of Alaska, we see new development with the characters as they grow and new relations form. Miles and Takumi start talking more, work together on their part of the prank and seem to be a lot more comfortable with each other. Miles also finally asks Lara to be his girlfriend while the group is camped out in the barn after they've all been drinking. Miles and Alaska further their relationship as well once the group returns to campus and him, Alaska and the Colonel spend the night drinking in their room. While playing truth or dare, Alaska and Miles forget about their relationships and kiss each other before falling asleep together the night before Alaska gets in her car accident. However, the new relationships built all shatter after the news of Alaska's passing is brought up at the school assembly. I felt really bad for Miles and the Colonel because they both new Alaska probably shouldn't drive and yet because of the heat of the moment they still let her go and now feel the overwhelming guilt of it. The weight they're putting on themselves by taking responsibility for her accident is unfair and a very heavy burden to carry around. That being said, if I was in their place, I would blame myself too. When a friend passes away you can't help but ask the question, “If I was there or if I had stopped her, would she still be alive?”

- Lauren