Paper Towns

Paper Towns  

Title: Paper Towns  

Author: John Green  

ISBN: 9780142414934 

Publisher: HarperCollins   

Copyright Date: 2008  

Genre: Mystery, Romance, Teen 

Awards or Honors: 2009 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult book.  

Reading Level: High School Grades 9-12 

Plot Summary: The story follows Quentin, who is at home in the last semester of his senior year in high school in Florida. Margo, his neighbor, gets him to help her prank people in high school who were mean to her. Quentin has known Margo since they were nine and found a dead body together. After they complete this, Quentin is thrilled to be hanging out with Margo again. However, not long after their pranks, Margo goes missing, and no one seems to know where she went. The police ask Quentin and everyone she knew for information, but no one seems to have any answers. Margo leaves Quentin clues that suggest she went somewhere to accomplish something, although he can’t figure out what, even with friends’ help. He eventually receives a hint that she may be in New York. Quentin goes on a crazy adventure to try and find her and get answers. He finds her, and they discuss why she left, and he finds out she wanted to leave the town they were from and start new. He doesn’t like it, but he understands and moves on with his life.   

Author Background: John Green is a Michael L. Printz Award winner who has written books like Looking for Alaska and The Fault in our Starts. Both have been turned into a successful movie and tv series. He also runs a popular YouTube channel with his brother, Hank, that they still update regularly. Green and his brother have also launched educational YouTube channels and video projects.   

Green is from Orlando, Florida, and went to Indian Springs School and Kenyon College. He now lives in Indianapolis with his family. He also records podcasts and is set to release a series of non-fiction essays in 2021 on various topics. Before becoming a writer, he was a book reviewer.   

Critical Evaluation: The book had an exciting plot. The tension of trying to figure out Margo and why she left leaves the reader wanting to keep learning more. The writing, at times, can feel a bit forced with anxiety and emotion. However, the readers will likely enjoy themes of romance, mystery, love, and not giving up on people. The book is well organized and includes a clear plot that teens will be able to follow. Overall, the book is a good story about the need for teens to discover who they are.  

Creative Use Library Program: Find The Prize: My program would have the teens solve a mystery in the library with clues from notes like Margo did with Quentin. The mystery would be to find a person or something hidden. A person will write clues to where they or a prize is hidden. If done with people, they can trade places once found. If done for a prize, possible awards include copies of Paper Towns or other donated prizes.   

Book Talk: Quentin and Margo first met when they were nine and found a dead body. Although they have gone their separate ways and are now in high school, Margo and Quentin reunite in their last semester to prank other people in their school. When Margo goes missing afterward, Quentin enlists his friends and goes on a mission to find Margo, who left Quentin clues to her whereabouts. Despite not initially finding her, Quentin doesn’t give up and eventually gets a clue that she may be in New York if he can find her. Will Quentin find her before he graduates, or will he never speak to her again?  

Potential Challenge Issues: There are no potential challenges currently.   

Reason for Inclusion: I included this book because it is a popular and award-winning book that teens seem to enjoy. The book has also been made into a movie that seemed to increase its popularity. I also thought the book touched on themes that teens are interested in, like romance, trying to become an adult, friendship, and loss. The author is also well-known and has written other popular franchises like The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska. Teens might want to read his other books.   

Bio. (2020). John Green Books. Retrieved October 18, 2020, from http://www.johngreenbooks.com/bio  

Green, J. (2008). Paper Towns. HarperCollins.