Paper Towns by John Green | Teen Ink

Paper Towns by John Green MAG

January 9, 2014
By RastaCharmander BRONZE, Castro Valley, California
RastaCharmander BRONZE, Castro Valley, California
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Whether or not you're a fan of John Green, he absolutely hits it out of the park with Paper Towns. This novel sets itself far apart from the others by showing the world through the eyes of an average teenage boy who experiences love, loss, joy, and stress, just like the rest of us. Its shocking realism and relatability will captivate you.
After just the first chapter you will find yourself attached to the novel's characters, feeling everything they feel. When Quentin gets screamed at by bullies, it feels as if you are being screamed at. Quentin and his friends endeavor to have the best senior year ever while searching for Margo, the love of Quentin's life who has gone missing. This story will keep you on edge throughout and leave you in tears.
I promise that the storyline is believable. The mystery of what happened to a girl who ran away after being driven mad by the monotony of high school and family drama seems a lot less far-fetched than the classic deranged serial killer plot. Not only is the plot believable, but it also switches directions extremely fast. One minute Quentin may be discovering secret notes with clues to Margo's location, and the next he's driving his drunken friend home from the biggest party of the year.
Paper Towns is certainly not a mindless read. From the first clue to the last, I found myself thinking through every possible scenario to figure out the mystery. Green's masterful tale of suspense and romance, all interpreted through the endlessly wise eyes of a teenaged boy, provides real insight into life. You come away learning that people aren't paper; they are complicated beings who can't be accurately viewed based only on their image.


JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 2 comments.


on Sep. 2 2017 at 8:32 pm
bo_olsen PLATINUM, Nampa, Idaho
28 articles 1 photo 60 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good"

While you really do make this book sound awesome, I read Paper Towns and did not particularly enjoy it. It was confusing and kind of boring and too rushed in places. But great job on the review!

on May. 28 2014 at 12:19 am
Breezy_B_98 BRONZE, BUDA, Texas
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That's truly about the game, and in some ways that's about life too." - Michael Jordan

You make this book sound amazing! I just finished reading "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green and it was written beautifully, and I have been skeptical of reading his other books, as for I felt they might end up being a let down. "Paper Towns" is definitely on my list to read.