““Q:Alaska wasn't introduced as fully as the other characters even though the book largely centres around the effect she had on people (like the Colonel). Is that intentional? A: The first time Pudge and Alaska have a real conversation , she's sitting next to him in the dark and he can't really see her. And throughout the story, there are times when he's looking at her without seeing her, or there's something between them that prevents him from seeing her whole face, or he only sees the back of her head, etc., etc., etc. That was all meant to indicate how incompletly he sees Alaska, something she mentions to him again and again. But in all his fascination with her, he can't help but romanticise her, which makes it difficult for him to understand the reality and seriousness of her pain.””
