PAPER TOWNS

Green, J. (2003). Paper towns. New York, NY: Dutton Penguin.

At 9 years old Quentin Jacobson and Margo Roth Spiegelman find a dead body.  Now 18 years old, Margo wants Quentin to help her get revenge on her ex-boyfriend, which is odd because they haven’t hung out since they were nine.  Quinten has been in love with her from a distance, so he reluctantly goes along.   They vandalize houses and cars and sneak in to SeaWorld.  Quentin thinks Margo has left him a series of clues when she runs away and sets out to find her along with his friends, Ben Starling, Radar (Marcus), and Lacey Pemberton.  What Quintin doesn’t know is that Margo doesn’t want to be found or come home, she’s not the girl she seemed to be. 

This realistic YA fiction novel is all about adolescent experiences on their way to self-discovery dealing with the secrets, of a teenager.  I enjoyed reading this book, especially knowing it won

the Mystery Writers of America Award.

People are different when they are around certain people, even if we say we aren’t.   Like many teens, Margo was one way in school, “the most horrible self-centered person in the history of the world,” known as the “cool girl”, but in reality she reads a lot, likes to be by herself, and doesn’t care about where she sleeps, she’s been sleeping in abandon buildings trying to find her way.

What she is, is trying to figure out who she is or what she wants and is trying to find her home where ever that might be.  She sets off to find that place, not telling anyone was wrong, especially leaving her little sister and parents thinking she had run away.  Quentin is a good friend to her, because even though they hadn’t really talked or hung out in a long time, when she did come to him, it was as if they’ve been talking every day.  They were close enough to where he eventually catches up to her in a Paper Town, a town that exists only on a map.  I like that he convinces her to call home to tell her sister and mom that she’s okay and that she will call her sister soon.  This book shows Quentin’s coming of age journey as he goes from never breaking the rules to taking chances on love.  Although he doesn’t get the girl in the end, he does grow as a person.  This book is one from the list of authors who write for YA readers.

You can hear the book Paper Towns by John Green Audiobook was uploaded by Colors World.

This is a guide for teachers to use with John Green books Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and The Fault In Our Stars.