About John Green
About Looking For Alaska
Looking For Alaska is the debut novel written by John Green. It was published in March of 2005 and ranked #10 on the New York Times Best Seller list in Children's Paperback during the week of July 29, 2012, which was 385 weeks after it was released. The novel won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award from the American Library Association.
The inspiration for Looking For Alaska came from when John Green attended Indian Springs School, because while he was a student there, another student died similarly to Alaska.
Looking for Alaska begins with our narrator, Miles Halter, setting off for Culver Creek boarding school. Soon after arriving at Culver Creek, Miles meets his roommate, Chip "The Colonel" Martin, who ironically nicknames him "Pudge" due to Pudge's lankiness. Miles is later introduced to the Colonel’s friend, Alaska Young and Takumi, a student of Japanese descent. Alaska tells Pudge about the labyrinth, and when he asks her what the labyrinth is, she tells him that's the mystery. They decide to make a deal: if Miles figures out what the labyrinth is, then Alaska will get him laid. The night before his first academic day at Culver Creek, Pudge is grabbed out of his bed, duct-taped, and tossed into a nearby lake by the a group of rich students of Culver Creek, called "Weekday Warriors" because they go home on the weekends to visit their parents. The reason the Weekday Warriors duct-taped Pudge, instead of simply tossing him in like they do with all new students, is because the year before one of their friends, Paul, had been expelled and they blamed the Colonel and his friends. Takumi insists this can't be possible because Marya, a friends of theirs, had also been expelled with him. This debate causes a prank war between the Weekday Warriors and the Colonel's group of friends. Alaska and Pudge begin to spend more and more time together, which results in Pudge falling in love with her. The Colonel and Alaska continue with the prank war with the help of Pudge and Lara. The next day, the group of friends hang out at the barn, heavily drinking and smoking. While intoxicated, Alaska tells them about her mother's death and how she feels guilty about not calling 911, even though she didn't understand what was happening at the time. Because of this, Pudge ends up figuring out what the labyrinth is and why it is significant. When they return to school, Pudge and Alaska end up alone together and eventually fall asleep. In the middle of the night, Alaska receives a phone call that leaves her in tears and she says she has to go.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
The inspiration for Looking For Alaska came from when John Green attended Indian Springs School, because while he was a student there, another student died similarly to Alaska.
Looking for Alaska begins with our narrator, Miles Halter, setting off for Culver Creek boarding school. Soon after arriving at Culver Creek, Miles meets his roommate, Chip "The Colonel" Martin, who ironically nicknames him "Pudge" due to Pudge's lankiness. Miles is later introduced to the Colonel’s friend, Alaska Young and Takumi, a student of Japanese descent. Alaska tells Pudge about the labyrinth, and when he asks her what the labyrinth is, she tells him that's the mystery. They decide to make a deal: if Miles figures out what the labyrinth is, then Alaska will get him laid. The night before his first academic day at Culver Creek, Pudge is grabbed out of his bed, duct-taped, and tossed into a nearby lake by the a group of rich students of Culver Creek, called "Weekday Warriors" because they go home on the weekends to visit their parents. The reason the Weekday Warriors duct-taped Pudge, instead of simply tossing him in like they do with all new students, is because the year before one of their friends, Paul, had been expelled and they blamed the Colonel and his friends. Takumi insists this can't be possible because Marya, a friends of theirs, had also been expelled with him. This debate causes a prank war between the Weekday Warriors and the Colonel's group of friends. Alaska and Pudge begin to spend more and more time together, which results in Pudge falling in love with her. The Colonel and Alaska continue with the prank war with the help of Pudge and Lara. The next day, the group of friends hang out at the barn, heavily drinking and smoking. While intoxicated, Alaska tells them about her mother's death and how she feels guilty about not calling 911, even though she didn't understand what was happening at the time. Because of this, Pudge ends up figuring out what the labyrinth is and why it is significant. When they return to school, Pudge and Alaska end up alone together and eventually fall asleep. In the middle of the night, Alaska receives a phone call that leaves her in tears and she says she has to go.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
- Miles "Pudge" Halter: the protagonist of the novel who enjoys memorizing people's last words.
- Alaska Young: an attractive but emotionally unstable love interest of Miles.
- Chip "The Colonel" Martin: a short but well built friend of Alaska and Pudge's roommate. He is the strategic mastermind behind most of the pranks. Chip comes from a poor background; his father is an alcoholic and his parents are divorced and in poverty. He lives for loyalty and honor.
- Takumi Hikohito: a talented Japanese Master of Ceremonies, who is a friend of Chip and Alaska. He often feels excluded from the Colonel and Alaska's schemes.
- Lara Buterskaya: a Russian immigrant who briefly dated Pudge and helped the Colonel and Alaska with the prank war. She is Alaska's friend.
- Mr. Starnes "The Eagle": the dean of the students. He is extremely strict but deeply cares for the students of Culver Creek
- Dr. Hyde: the extremely old World Religions teacher. He has trouble breathing but is passionate about teaching his subject. Dr. Hyde is also very strict when it comes to paying attention in class. Pudge admires him.
About The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars, shortened to TFiOS, is the fourth young adult novel written by John Green. It was published on January 10, 2012 and was ranked #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list on the weeks of January 29, 2013 and February 5, 2013. Barnes & Nobles booksellers accidentally shipped 1500 copies of The Fault in Our Stars to customers who had pre-ordered the book on December 21, 2011. John Green requested that those who received the book not to discuss it until one day after the release date so that the story would not be spoiled for other readers. Most of the people kept to this promise.
The title for the book was inspired by a quote from the Shakespearean play Julius Caesar (Act 1, scene 2). The nobleman Cassius says to Brutus, 'The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.'
Fox 2000 considered obtaining film rights for this book in January of 2012, and on February 19, 2013 it was announced that Josh Boone would be directing the film. The film is starring Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster, Ansel Elgort as Augustus Waters, and Nat Wolff as Isaac. John Green helped in writing the script, but Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber wrote the adapted screenplay. Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen are producing the film.
The Fault in Our Stars is narrated by Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen year old cancer patient. Diagnosed at age thirteen with Stage 4 Thyroid cancer, she survived with the help of a drug called Phalanxifor. She had finished high school early and was making plans to attend college. She is forced by her parents to attend a support group. Her friend Isaac, also attends this support group. Through Isaac, she meets Augustus Waters, a seventeen year old boy who lost his leg to osteosarcoma and is in remission. The two talk for some time and spend more and more time together. She introduces him to An Imperial Affliction, and he becomes as obsessed with the book as she is. Hazel begins to draw herself away from Gus, because she fears that her inevitable death will hurt him since his previous girlfriend died of cancer. However, he assures her that he cares more about her than the pain. Gus saved his wish from "The Genies", which is the fictional version of the Make A Wish foundation, and proposes that they fly to Amsterdam to meet Peter Van Horten, the author of An Imperial Affliction. After she recovers from a bout of pneumonia and realizes she is in love with him, she agrees. They travel to Amsterdam and meet Van Horten, who treats them to an elaborate meal. It is later discovered that Lidewij, Van Horten's assistant, set up their visit unbeknownst to him with hopes that he gives up his alcoholism and pursue writing again. He becomes scornful and rude, so Hazel and Gus leave the house. Afterwards, Augustus reveals that his cancer has returned, which devastates Hazel, but he assures her that he will fight for her.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
The title for the book was inspired by a quote from the Shakespearean play Julius Caesar (Act 1, scene 2). The nobleman Cassius says to Brutus, 'The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.'
Fox 2000 considered obtaining film rights for this book in January of 2012, and on February 19, 2013 it was announced that Josh Boone would be directing the film. The film is starring Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster, Ansel Elgort as Augustus Waters, and Nat Wolff as Isaac. John Green helped in writing the script, but Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber wrote the adapted screenplay. Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen are producing the film.
The Fault in Our Stars is narrated by Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen year old cancer patient. Diagnosed at age thirteen with Stage 4 Thyroid cancer, she survived with the help of a drug called Phalanxifor. She had finished high school early and was making plans to attend college. She is forced by her parents to attend a support group. Her friend Isaac, also attends this support group. Through Isaac, she meets Augustus Waters, a seventeen year old boy who lost his leg to osteosarcoma and is in remission. The two talk for some time and spend more and more time together. She introduces him to An Imperial Affliction, and he becomes as obsessed with the book as she is. Hazel begins to draw herself away from Gus, because she fears that her inevitable death will hurt him since his previous girlfriend died of cancer. However, he assures her that he cares more about her than the pain. Gus saved his wish from "The Genies", which is the fictional version of the Make A Wish foundation, and proposes that they fly to Amsterdam to meet Peter Van Horten, the author of An Imperial Affliction. After she recovers from a bout of pneumonia and realizes she is in love with him, she agrees. They travel to Amsterdam and meet Van Horten, who treats them to an elaborate meal. It is later discovered that Lidewij, Van Horten's assistant, set up their visit unbeknownst to him with hopes that he gives up his alcoholism and pursue writing again. He becomes scornful and rude, so Hazel and Gus leave the house. Afterwards, Augustus reveals that his cancer has returned, which devastates Hazel, but he assures her that he will fight for her.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
- Hazel Grace Lancaster: the sixteen year old protagonist of the novel. She is the love interest of Augustus Waters and was diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid cancer. She is also a big fan of Peter Van Houten; her favorite book is An Imperial Affliction by him.
- Augustus "Gus" Waters: the boyfriend of Hazel Grace, a seventeen year old ex-basketball player who lost his leg to osteosarcoma. He is a friend of Isaac and is very eager to make a mark on the world.
- Isaac: a friend of both Augustus and Hazel, who introduces them. He lost one eye to cancer at a young age and attends the same support group as Hazel.
- Peter Van Horten: the novelist of An Imperial Affliction. He is a reclusive alcoholic who lives in Amsterdam.
- Lidewij: the assistant of Van Horten.