Paper Towns by John Green

http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/2009/05/looking-for-alaska-by-john-green.htmlQuentin Jacobs has always loved his beautiful and wild next-door-neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman. Their childhood friendship has all but disappeared by high school, yet Q is content to observe Margo from afar. Then one night, Margo climbs through Q’s window, inviting him to join her on a vengeful adventure, and, ignoring practicality, Q accepts. However, the next day, it becomes apparent that Margo has disappeared. Worried and confused, Q is desperate to find Margo. But as he follows the obscure clues his mysterious Margo has left for him, Q realizes just how little he knows about the girl he thought he knew so well. In this wonderfully written novel, Green explores the connections between friends and what it means to be alive.

Paper Towns was a fantastic mix of mystery, suspense, and profundity, and all in a completely natural way. I loved the flow of this story; all the separate memories, clues, and dreams were seamlessly interwoven. The characters, their wants, feelings, and actions were very realistic, as was, surprisingly, the unique plot. My opinions of this novel may be slightly skewed because this was just my kind of story; it’s got pranks and mischief, a search that leads to deep questions about identity, and a little bit of romance. I especially liked the mix of entertainment with emotional depth. Having a deeper meaning always adds a little extra to a story, and I felt the one in Paper Towns was only magnified by its nearly universal relevance. This novel shows the dangers of assuming you know someone better than you actually do and disputes the fine line between selfishness and being true to yourself. If there was one fault within this novel, it would be that Margo was so difficult to understand, even after the story was completed, although this could also have been calculated in to increase Margo’s enigma. I’m tempted to say Paper Towns was pretty close to perfect, but some readers may dislike some of the repetitiveness and lack of extremely high action in the plot. Overall, though, I immensely enjoyed this well-written and thought-provoking novel.

Paper Towns was a great combination of the best aspects of literature, although in moderation. It will be enjoyed by all readers, because it’s about things that actually matter to teens; fans of Maureen Johnson, Alyson Noël, and even Ellen Hopkins will also appreciate Green’s realism. I look forward to reading Green’s other novels, Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from Amazon Vine