Book Project #6
Amanda Sherman (6th period)
The Fault In Our Stars vs Looking For Alaska
How were they similar?
How were they different?
Whick book did I enjoy more? Why?
Which characters did you relate to better? Why?
Summary of The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars is about a young teenage girl, Hazel, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer and attends a cancer support group. Hazel is 16 and reluctantly goes to a support group at her mom’s request, but soon realizes that it was a good idea. Hazel meets a young boy named Augustus Waters. He is charming and witty. Augustus had osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, but has recently been diagnosed as cancer free. Hazel and Augustus embark on a roller coaster of emotions ranging from complete happiness to utter despair, while searching for the author of their favorite book. Augustus decides to use his wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to travel to Amsterdam in search of Peter Van Houten the author of An Imperial Affliction, a book about a girl also diagnosed with cancer, to learn of the book’s ending. While on their trip, Augustus discloses some heartbreaking news to Hazel about his cancer no longer being in remission, which causes both of their worlds to fall apart around them.
Summary of Looking For Alaska
Miles Halter, a sixteen-year-old, has a fascination for last word. He begins his scholastic adventure at Culver Creek boarding school in Alabama with an introduction to his roommate Chip "Colonel" Martin. Chip nicknames Miles "Pudge" and introduces him to Alaska Young, a beautiful, literate and intellectually gifted teenager with a head full of elaborate pranks. Because of his new friends, unfortunately Miles learns to drink, smoke, and escape punishment. A few days following a major, adrenaline-pumping prank, Alaska drives insanely drunk, causing her to crash her car and die on impact.
Miles and Chip, both grieving for their lost friend, wonder if she committed suicide or was killed accidentally. They decide to go on a quest to search for evidence of the reasons behind her death. They begin to feel guilty though because they were the last people to see her alive and did not stop her from driving drunk. From his experiences with this loss, Miles learns valuable lessons about loyalty, friendship, and life.
(The story is broken into two parts, before and after. After being, the aftermath of Alaska’s accident)