Mystery/Suspense: Paper Towns

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Evaluation of the book:

Even though Paper Towns is classified as a mystery or suspense novel, it is, above all, a realistic story about characters who are very much just normal teenagers living (relatively) normal lives. The cast of characters from protagonist Quentin, to his quirky band member friends, to adventurous Margo, are all vividly depicted and very realistic. I could imagine flying down to Florida and meeting any one of them in the local Publix. Teenagers reading this novel will easily see themselves or their friends in these well-written characters.

The theme of the novel is just as relatable as the characters themselves. It is a story of teenagers figuring out how to live their lives in the moments between childhood and adulthood. Most importantly, these teenagers learn that every person is different and, even if high school or parents put certain labels on you, every person must live their own lives and allow those around them to do the same. We are constantly putting labels or defining those around us; John Green’s novel asks simply that we take a step back and let those around us be their own person.

The tone of the novel is overall lighthearted. Even though it carries an important message and touches on some darker themes, Paper Towns is very much just an enjoyable, lighthearted novel about a few teenagers living their lives, stumbling upon a mystery, and going on a great adventure of discovery - both of self and of others. Green’s lighthearted tone helps him avoid an overly didactic outcome to his novel.

Response:

I learned a lot from this novel about how often we fall into the trap of defining those around us. With Quentin, I learned “what a treacherous thing it is to believe that a person is more than a person” (p.282). Too often we idolize the people we love and, in doing so, we do not give them a chance to be themselves, simply a person. Although I’m not normally a John Green fan, I really enjoyed this novel. It taught important lessons while being extremely fun to read. I was honored to roadtrip alongside Quentin and his friends as they journeyed to find Margo. John Green writes well and his deep understanding of the teenage mind shines through his narrative.

Conclusion:

Its strong characters, important theme, and lighthearted tone make John Green’s Paper Towns an excellent YA novel. It neither hides nor lingers on the dirty side of growing up, but it lets the reader live a realistic, fun teenage life alongside the quirky, adolescent characters. I’d recommend this novel to any teenager in high school who might be struggling with self discovery and having difficulty relating to those around him/her. The message is clear: live and let live.

APA Style Reference:

Green, J. (2012). Paper towns. New York, NY: SPEAK.