"Looking for Alaska"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani Simanjuntak (392020032)

March 29th, 2021 

Introduction

Looking for Alaska is a young adult novel written by John Green. The book was first published by Dutton Juvenille on March 2005. The name of the illustrator is not listed in the book. However, because I don't have the original book, I only read it through the e-book. I read this book in the e-book. So, I have completed the 157 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I heard from my friends' reviews, this novel is good. So, I decided to read this book. 

The Characters

-. Miles Halter (pudge): Miles Halter is the novel's main character and narrator, who has an unusual passion in learning famous people's last words. He transfers to the boarding school Culver Creek in search of his own "Great Perhaps".

-. Alaska Young: Alaska is a wild, unpredictable, beautiful, and enigmatic girl with a sad backstory who captures Miles' attention and heart. She acts as a confidante to her friends, frequently assisting them in personal matters, including providing them with cigarettes and alcohol. 

-. Chip Martin: He is Alaska's best friend and Miles' roommate. He is the strategic mastermind behind the schemes that Alaska concocts and in charge of everyone's nicknames. 

Plot

Miles “Pudge” Halter is the new student at the prestigious Culver Creek Preparatory School in Birmingham, Alabama. Unpopular at his old school, Pudge is nervous about making new friends, but he is immediately taken in by his roommate, Chip “the Colonel” Martin and introduced to his rag-tag group of friends, including Takumi Hikohito, Lara Buterskaya, and the beautiful, mysterious Alaska Young.

The night before school begins, Pudge is taken from his bed in the middle of the night, duct taped like a mummy, and thrown into the school’s lake. He survives and the Colonel promises revenge in the form of pranks against their rivals, the wealthy day students known as the Weekday Warriors. Early on in the semester Pudge is kicked out of his World Religion class for daydreaming and is admonished by his teacher, Dr. Hyde, for not being present in the moment.

As time passes, Pudge grows closer to his new friends. The Colonel is kicked out of every basketball game for jeering too much; Alaska tutors Pudge in pre-calculus; and the group is caught smoking by the dean of students, Mr. Starnes (known as the Eagle), at their favorite hangout spot, the Smoking Hole. An important element to the group's friendship is trust. Although Takumi reveals Alaska was the one who ratted out her roommate the year before and Pudge is unsure about trusting Alaska, he agrees to stay on campus with her for the Thanksgiving break. The two spend their time snooping through other students’ rooms, watching porn together, and eating Thanksgiving at the Colonel’s house with his mother.

When the students return from Christmas break, the gang plans their ‘pre-prank’ called Barn Night in which Pudge and Takumi set off a series of fireworks to lead the Eagle away from his house while Alaska send progress reports to some of the Weekday Warriors’ houses. To avoid getting caught, the group sleeps at the Smoking Hole where they discuss the best and worst days of their lives and Pudge gets his first kiss from Lara, despite his unrequited love for Alaska.

The return to campus is a triumphant one, with Pudge, Alaska, and the Colonel drinking while playing Truth or Dare. Pudge is dared to make out with Alaska and he complies, fulfilling his dream to be romantic with Alaska. Drunk and exhausted, Pudge and Alaska fall asleep in her room. Alaska awakens in the middle of the night to answer the ringing phone in the hallway. She returns in an extremely distressed state and begs Pudge and the Colonel to set off additional fireworks to distract the Eagle while she drives off campus.

The following morning, it is revealed that Alaska died in a car accident. Shocked by her death, Pudge and the Colonel stop talking to Takumi and Lara while they sort through their own emotions. With so many unanswered questions surrounding her death, Pudge and the Colonel begin an investigation. Reluctantly they allow Takumi to join and Pudge eventually makes amends with Lara, though they no longer date. After interviewing a police officer and Alaska's boyfriend who had called her that night, Takumi realizes that Alaska remembered it was the day after her mother's death while she was talking to Jake. Feeling responsible for her mother's death and distraught by the idea of having forgotten the day, Alaska attempted to drive to the gravesite. It remains unclear whether Alaska's death was an accident or a suicide. Pudge resolves his feelings for Alaska in his final essay for Dr. Hyde's class.

To commemorate Alaska's love of pranks and hatred of the objectification of the female body, the group decides to execute one last prank at Speaker Day. They invite a stripper pretending to be a professor of adolescent sexuality to speak at Speak Day. In the middle of the speech, Lara prompts the speaker to take off his clothes and begin to strip. The Eagle knows it was Pudge and his friends who hired the stripper but finds it to be a fitting way to remember Alaska.

In the end, Pudge is at peace with Alaska's death, knowing that he will never fully understand her, but that her memory will continue in the people she influenced.

Conculsion

When I read this book, I feel as though it's so amazing because there's not anything too grand about it if that makes sense. Looking for Alaska has great, normal characters and a good plot with nothing too complicated. Which is one of the reasons it's so great and everything they talk about with the labyrinth and how to get out of it is just so exceptional in many indescribable ways. The show on Hulu also is so sensational and just absolutely the best thing ever. You really get to see the book come to life. I loved seeing Alaska being portrayed and I was finally able to see how she really was and not just how she was in my head. Probably one of the best quotes from the book is, "How will I ever get out of this labyrinth of suffering?"

"Thirteen Reasons Why"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani Simanjuntak (392020032)

March 22th, 2021 

Introduction

Thirteen Reasons Why is a young adult novel written by Jay Asher in 2007, that follows the story of Hannah Baker, a high school freshman, and the thirteen reasons why she commits suicide. The novel was published in trade paperback format by Penguin Young Readers Group a division of Penguin Random House, on June 14, 2011. The name of the illustrator is not listed in the book. However, because I don't have the original book, I only read it through the e-book. I read this book in the e-book. So, I have completed the 190 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I interested with the title of the book. 

The Characters

-. Hannah Baker: She is a high school student who commits suicide and leaves behind seven double-sided cassette tapes. 

-. Clay Jensen: He is the narrator of the novel. He is the subject of the ninth tape, on which Hannah clarifies that he was always kind to her and that he does not deserve to be on her list. 

Actually, there are many characters in this story but I can't explain all of them. I explain only the characters that I think are very important. 

Plot

This story tells about Clay Jensen, as he returns home from school to find a mysterious package on his bed. When he opens it, he finds seven cassette tapes. Upon inserting them into his family’s cassette player, he discovers were recorded by Hannah Baker, a girl that he went to school with who recently committed suicide. Her instructions are clear: each person who receives a package is one of the reasons why she killed herself, and after each person has completed listening to the tapes, they must pass the package on to the next person. If anyone decides to break the chain, a separate set of tapes will be released to the public.

The first tape is addressed to Justin Foley, Hannah’s first kiss. She addresses the first time they kissed after meeting in a playground in their town, and explains that it was nice and completely innocent. 

The second tape is addressed to Alex Standall, who compiled a list during Hannah’s freshman year.

The third tape is addressed to Jessica Davis, who was a new student during Hannah’s freshman year, the year that Hannah also moved to the town. 

The fourth tape is addressed to Tyler Down, who stalked Hannah outside of her bedroom window and took pictures of her. 

The story of Courtney Crimsen is told in the fifth tape. She is known as a sweet, well-liked girl, a persona which Hannah explains that she fell for. 

The sixth tape is addressed to Marcus Cooley, who Hannah matched with in a set of school Valentines. 

The seventh tape is addressed to Zach Dempsey. Hannah explains that in her Peer Communications class, there was a set of bags at the back of the room where students could leave compliments for each other. 

The eighth tape is addressed to Ryan Shaver, who attended a poetry class with Hannah while she was spiraling further into depression. 

The ninth tape is addressed to Clay, who Hannah specifically says does not deserve to be on the list. She says that he is a genuinely nice boy. 

The tenth tape is addressed to Justin again. Hannah explains that on the night of the party, he allowed his friend to enter a room where a drunk, unconscious girl was laying and rape her. 

The eleventh tape is addressed to Jenny Kurtz, who gave Hannah a ride home the night of the party and hit a stop sign.  

The thirteenth tape is addressed to Mr. Porter, an English teacher that filled in as a guidance counselor for a period of time at Hannah’s school. 

As the tapes are played, Clay walks to each location that Hannah discusses, feeling more and more distressed as he does so. By the end of the tapes, he feels changed, and the novel ends with him addressing a student named Skye, who he sees behaving like Hannah, potentially preventing another suicide.

Conculsion

I enjoyed reading this novel from Jay Asher for many reasons. One of them was
that this novel helps us understand that there may be more to other people's
lives than we know. It also tells us that anything we do can have an impact on
someone, even the smallest things matter. So, I recommend you guys to read this novel too and also this novel is being adapted into a series on Netflix. Actually, I never watch the series but after I read this novel, I think I will watch the series. 

"The Princess Diaries"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani Simanjuntak (392020032)

March 15th, 2021

 Introduction

The Princess Diaries is a series of espitolary young adult novel by Meg Cabot and this is also the first title of the first volume. The book was first published by Harper Thropy on May 30th, 2000. The name of the illustrator is not listed in the book. However, because I don't have the original book, I only read it through the e-book. I read this book in the e-book. So, I have completed the 102 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I interested with the title of the book. 

The Characters

-. Mia Thermopolis: is the protagonist of the story. She is the product of a college romance between Helen Thermopolis, a painter, and Philippe Renaldi, the prince of Genovia.

-. Clarisse Marie was formally known as the Dowager Princess Clarisse Marie Grimaldi Renaldo. Clarisse is the dowager princess of Genovia and Mia's paternal grandmother.

-. Lily Moscovitz: Mia's best friend since kindergarten, Lilly is a highly intelligent and opinionated person who has her own public-access-television show, titled Lilly Tells It Like It Is, in which she discusses political and social issues. By the end of the story, her TV show is picked up by a network and is apparently very popular in South Korea.

-. Michael Moscovitz: Lilly's older brother, and Mia's main love interest throughout the series. Mia states that she has been in love with Michael since the day he came over to give Lilly a school project when they were in the first grade and he was in the fourth. From the end of the first book to the third, Mia has an unrequited crush on Michael, which he finally reciprocates in Princess in Love. 

Plot

Mia lives with her flighty single mother, who earns a living as an artist. Mia attends a private school and spends her summers with her father and his mother at her chateau in France. Her best friend, Lily Moscovitz, is a militant teenager with her own TV show, focused on exposing the racism of the local Chinese deli-owners owners for discounting Asian students 5 cents.
 
Mia’s diary entries lament typical teenage issues: her hair is too big, she is hopelessly in love with a popular boy, senior Josh Richter, and she struggles with algebra. Not only that, but her mother is dating her algebra teacher, Frank Gianni, complicating things further. Amidst all these struggles, Mia's father comes to visit, turning her world upside down when he reveals that he is not a European politician, but, actually, the prince of the small country Genovia—which makes Mia, his only child, the crown princess. Shocked and devastated, Mia believes that she is utterly incapable of becoming a princess. She hides the truth from Lily in the fear that Lily will abandon her.

Although Mia is unhappy with this revelation, she comes to a compromise with her father: she will attend school as usual and spend her summers in Genovia to fulfill princess duties. They agree, but her formidable grandmother (called Grandmère) enters the picture to throw in another wrench. She flies to New York and takes up residence at the Plaza Hotel, demanding that Mia begin taking princess lessons with her. During this time, she leaks the secret to the press. The paparazzi show up at Mia’s school, catapulting her into stardom and popularity. Because of her princess lessons, Mia does not have time to help Lily with her TV show, and Lily goes on the defensive. The two girls get into an argument, refusing to speak to each other.

Mia’s grandmother is quite difficult and scary. She wears a purple turban, smokes many cigarettes, drinks heavily, and can be cruel. It is clear that she is an intimidating character, and even Mia’s father bends to her will.

When Mia cannot sit with Lilly at lunch because of their fight, she asks to sit with Tina Hakim Baba, who has no friends. Tina has a very overprotective father, who forces her to travel with a bodyguard, so the school community has shunned her. Mia and Tina hit it off, and Mia feels bad for never having been nice to her before. Lana, a popular cheerleader, makes fun of Tina at lunch. In response, Mia throws an ice cream cone at her, which results in a visit to the principal's office.

As the book progresses, Mia gradually adjusts to her exposure as a princess. Although she is still not speaking to Lily, Lily’s brother Michael acts as a neutral ground, and she spends much time with him in extra-help sessions for Algebra. She also has to adjust to her newfound popularity; Josh begins to pay attention to her and students giggle whenever they see her. At lunch, Lana attempts to befriend Mia, but Mia sees right through her and rejects the offer of friendship. Soon thereafter, Josh breaks up with Lana and asks Mia to go with him to the upcoming Cultural Diversity Dance. Mia accepts immediately, despite some misgivings.

With the help of Grandmère, Mia convinces her parents to let her go to the dance. When they get there, Josh brings Mia in front of reporters and kisses her. Realizing the betrayal in this – he only wanted to be in the papers Mia walks away from him, spending time with her friends instead.

Mia apologizes to Lily at the dance. For the rest of the evening, she dances with Michael. She spends the night at Lily’s house. The kiss never reaches the papers due to a more important breaking story. Michael plays Mia a song he wrote called "Tall Drink of Water." Mia realizes that her true feelings were for Michael all along, and they begin a romantic relationship.

Conculsion

The book shows how to stay true to yourself, your friends and your family even if your world is turned upside down. The book is realistic and romantic at the same time. It’s about friendship and betrayal, about complicated relations at school and in the family. It reminds the reader that love, compassion, sympathy are the most precious things in life. I think this is an entertaining book that worth for everyone to reading this book. 

"The Fault in Our Stars"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani Simanjuntak (392020032)

March 8th, 2021

 Introduction

The Fault in Our Stars is a novel by John Green. The book was first published by Dutton Books on January 10th, 2012. The name of the illustrator is not listed in the book. However, because I don't have the original book, I only read it through the e-book. I read this book in the e-book. So, I have completed the 115 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I've watched the movie and I liked it, so I choose to read this book. 

The Characters

Hazel Grace: Hazel Grace is a girl who has lung cancer. She is not at all an optimistic person and knows she will die soon because of her cancer and also knows very well that being famous and loved widely does not matter as much as being who she is and being loved deeply because oblivion is inevitable.

Augustus "Gus" Waters:  Augustus Waters is a 17-year-old boy who has cancer and had to have his leg cut off because of the kind of cancer he had. Gus is optimistic and wants to be known widely and have people remember him when he dies.

Isaac:  Isaac is 17 years old and goes to the same support group as Hazel because of his eye cancer. His eye cancer causes him to become blind but he is always there for Gus and Hazel as well as his girlfriend Monica. 

Peter Van Houten: Peter Van Houten is the writer of "An Imperial Affliction" (not a real book) which is Hazel and Augustus's favorite book and Peter Van Houten happens to be their favorite writer.

Patrick: The strange support group leader who has the meeting in the literal heart of Jesus at the church and had cancer.

Plot

Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old with thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs, attends a cancer patient support group at her mother's behest. At one meeting, Hazel meets a 17-year-old boy currently in remission named Augustus Waters, whose osteosarcoma caused him to lose his right leg. Augustus is at the meeting to support Isaac, his friend who has eye cancer. Hazel and Augustus strike a bond immediately and agree to read each other's favorite novels. Augustus gives Hazel The Price of Dawn, and Hazel recommends An Imperial Affliction, a novel about a cancer-stricken girl named Anna that parallels Hazel's own experience. After Augustus finishes reading her book, he is frustrated upon learning that the novel ends abruptly without a conclusion. Hazel explains the novel's author, Peter van Houten, retreated to Amsterdam following the novel's publication and has not been heard from since.

A week later, Augustus reveals to Hazel that he has tracked down Van Houten's assistant, Lidewij, and, through her, has managed to start an e-mail correspondence with Van Houten. The two write to Van Houten with questions regarding the novel's ending; he eventually replies, explaining that he can only answer Hazel's questions in person. At a picnic, Augustus surprises Hazel with tickets to Amsterdam to meet Van Houten, acquired through the story's version of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, "The Genies."

Upon meeting Van Houten, Hazel and Augustus are shocked to discover that he is a mean-spirited alcoholic. Horrified by Van Houten's hostile behavior towards the teenagers, Lidewij confesses to having arranged the meeting on his behalf. Lidewij resigns as Van Houten's assistant and takes Hazel and Augustus to the Anne Frank House, where Augustus and Hazel share their first kiss. Later that night Hazel and Augustus lose their virginity to one another in Augustus's hotel room, confessing their mutual love for each other.

The next day, Augustus reveals that his cancer has returned. Upon their return to Indianapolis, Augustus's health continues to deteriorate, resulting in him staying in the ICU for a few days. Fearing his death, Augustus invites Isaac and Hazel to his pre-funeral, where they give eulogies. Augustus dies soon after, leaving Hazel heartbroken. Van Houten shows up at Augustus's funeral to apologize to Hazel, but Hazel does not forgive him.

Hazel learns that Augustus had written an obituary for her, and reads it after Lidewij discovers it amidst Van Houten's letters. It states that getting hurt in this world is unavoidable, but we do get to choose whom we allow to hurt us, and that he is happy with his choice, and hopes she likes hers too. The book closes with Hazel stating that she is happy with her choice.

Conculsion

In my opinion, actually I prefer to watch the movie, but this actually an interesting and heart-warming novel to read with a sensitive topic like cancer in such an understated and subtle way. You feel it’s just one of life’s many problems and, even though it’s a very serious matter, Hazel and Gus teach you that you can’t let an illness like cancer affect your love for life.

The Fault in Our Stars is something that will give a good impression to everyone, but the most improtant is it makes you think about how valuable love is, how short a life can be, and how just one person can change your life in the most simple way.

So, i rate this novel: 8/10 :)

"Fangirl"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani Simanjuntak (392020032)

March 1st, 2021 

 Introduction

"Fangirl" is a contemporary young adult novel by Rainbow Rowell. The book was first published by St. Martin's Press on September 10th, 2013. The name of the illustrator is not listed in the book. However, because I don't have the original book, I only read it through the e-book.  I read this book in the e-book is only available for 93 pages. So, I have completed the 93 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I was interested with the title and the cover of the book. 

The Characters

-. Cather is the protagonist of the novel and one half of a pair twins. She is an intovert girl, who doesn't like making friends and she is a loyal and selfless girl who proritizes family.

-. Wren is Cather's twin sister and on the surface seems far more bold and adventurous than her sister. She is very outgoing and social, popular and widely considered to be good company. 

-. Reagan is Cath's college room mate and is rather a formidable young woman. She is a big girl but has absolute body confidence. She is a fairly uncommunicative and she is a good friend and very supportive friend too. 

-. Levi is an agricultural student and he is a giving and loving young man who is selfless when it comes to his loved ones and he is very respectful of women. 

 Plot

Cather Avery, a college freshman who suffers from insecurity, has channeled the difficulties of her life by writing a work of fanfiction based on her favorite young adult book series. However, real life begins to encroach on the delicate balance she created during her high school years. Her twin sister, Wren, wants some space all of a sudden, and becomes an alcoholic. Cath’s mother, Laura, wants to reestablish a relationship with her after she abandoned her and Wren. Cath’s father, Art, suffers from a manic disorder, which also impacts Cath’s life. In addition to the stress in her life, Cath dreads the end of the Simon Snow series. These are the books upon which her fanfiction is based.

Wren is the more outgoing twin, and without her, Cath feels isolated. Beyond just wanting some space, Wren no longer wants to be recognized as Cath's twin. This is a huge blow to Cath, but thankfully, an upperclassman named Reagan befriends Cath and introduces her to life at college. But even with Reagan’s support, Cath’s fall semester is a mess. She watches from a distance as Wren drinks more and more, and parties. Laura re-enters her life during this semester, after ten years of absence, and Wren seems fine with it. She befriends a boy named Nick, and they write together, but Cath later learns that he was just using her for her writing skill.

When Nick's story, which she helped him with, is selected for publication in the college literary journal, their teacher, who suspects Cath helped Nick, tells him it can only be published if he gives Cath credit. Cath refuses this offer, preventing the story from being published, and stops writing with Nick altogether. Cath misses the end of her fall semester when her father is admitted to a mental hospital. She leaves to look after him, and considers not returning to school.

However, her friendship with Levi, Reagan’s friend and ex-boyfriend, draws her back to campus for the spring semester. Wren experiences alcohol poisoning, but survives, and she and Cath become close again. Cath can finally turn her attention to her writing, with two goals in mind: She wants to finish her fanfiction novel before the Simon Snow series comes to an end in May, and she also has to turn in a final project in her creative writing class.

Cath pours all of the pain she’s experienced into that project. She writes about Laura abandoning her family. The story finally allows Cath to acknowledge her pain and stop hiding from it. As May "and the end of the Simon Snow series" draws near, Cath is able to come to peace with both her real life and the fanfiction she’s written about Simon Snow.

Coming of age is a major theme in Fangirl, and this novel can be considered a bildungsroman. At the beginning of the novel, Cath relies on the safety of writing fanfiction and on her sister’s outgoing nature, but by the end of her freshman year of college, she has learned to find her own way with new friends. Her relationship with Wren is no longer one of dependence, but of friendship. As Cath finishes her work of fanfiction, she also completes her own story, finally dealing with the pain her mother’s abandonment caused her.

Writing as a form of escape is another important theme in Fangirl. For Cath, writing her fanfiction story allows her to escape from her everyday life. From there, she starts to write with Nick, and though he uses her for her skill, she is able to learn from that experience and write a story all her own. Her writing begins as an escape, but ends up leading her to freedom by the end of her freshman year of college.

For Cath, trust is an issue, which also makes it a theme in Fangirl. Her mother’s abandonment makes it difficult for her to trust others. Wren’s decision at the start of their fall semester to separate from her, and Nick’s betrayal, further damage her ability to trust others, so that after her first semester, Cath doesn’t want to return to school. However, she does return, and learns to trust again through her friendships with Levi and Reagan, ultimately renewing her relationship with Wren.

The fourth theme woven throughout Fangirl is family dysfunction. This is a constant source of stress for Cath, whether related to her mother’s abandonment and return, Wren’s desire to strike out on her own and subsequent alcoholism, or her father, Art’s struggles with mental illness. Cath is nearly crushed by this dysfunction, until she uses her writing to accept and deal with it.

 Conculsion

In my opinion, this novel is interesting to read, because there is a story about family problems between a child and a mother, but here it is told that the relationship between them can be fixed.

But there are points that I am still confused about in this story, the relationship between Levi and Cath. Why Cath and Levi suddenly get very close, even though Levi is Cath's roommate's boyfriend? 

Yea, so I rate this novel: 8/10 :)