Miles Halter moves away to boarding school for a fresh start where he proceeds to meet his roommate, Chip “The Colonel” Martin, amongst other members of the student body and faculty.

Miles gets his first taste of what it’s like to be cool when his aptitude for learning people’s last words earns him a win against the Weekday Warriors.

Although not what he really wants, Alaska sets up Miles on his very first date with Lara, an Eastern European exchange student, at the school’s basketball game.

With the entire school accusing her of being the rat, Alaska has turned into an outcast, turned away even from her motley crew.

The group is still fraught with tension, with Alaska completely cut off. Even Miles distances himself at this point after Alaska turns on him for reasons unknown. His heart is broken.

We catch a glimpse into Alaska’s childhood zoo day with her mother – the final memories Alaska had with her before her sudden aneurysm the next day.