First Week at Culver Creek
Miles experiences his first week of classes at Culver Creek, finding the teachers to be serious and intelligent. He particularly enjoys Dr. Hyde's religion class, which challenges him to think deeply about life's big questions.
Example: Dr. Hyde's fifty-minute lessons teach Miles to take religion seriously, expanding his worldview.
The social dynamics of the school become clearer as Miles navigates friendships and potential rivalries. He learns about the tension between the "regular boarders" and the "Weekday Warriors."
Definition: "Labyrinth" - A metaphor Alaska uses to describe life's complexities and struggles.
Miles and Alaska make a deal: she will help him get a girlfriend, and he will figure out what the "labyrinth" is and how to escape it. This agreement sets up a central theme of the novel.
Highlight: The deal between Miles and Alaska foreshadows the deeper connections and challenges they will face together.
