Helpful Score: 5
Before getting this I had heard rave reviews from friends and peers alike, and really hoped that it lived up to its alleged awesomeness. Green's flair for witty dialogue and narration is on fine display here, and this book is good enough in a comedic sense, but that alone is not why I recommend this novel. The themes and messages of people's perception of others can ring true even if you don't personally identify with the characters, and the ending is one of such carefully crafted bittersweetness you have to feel at the very least a twinge of emotion.
Helpful Score: 3
Contemporary teen fiction by John Green. Quentin Jacobsen is your average geeky teenager, who has loved his next door neighbor Margo his whole life. But, Margo runs with a different crowd, the popular crowd.
Then, one night, about a month before graduation, Margo enlists Q in an adventure, like he's never had before. Then, Margo disappears. Q becomes obsessed with happened to Margo, the girl he thought he knew, but obviously didn't.
There are lots of things to like about this story. The best part is the humor. Quentin has memorable friends who help him along the way. But, I was oddly disappointed with the ending. While I understand Margo's motivations, I really didn't understand her actions or her end-goals. The book is fair.
Then, one night, about a month before graduation, Margo enlists Q in an adventure, like he's never had before. Then, Margo disappears. Q becomes obsessed with happened to Margo, the girl he thought he knew, but obviously didn't.
There are lots of things to like about this story. The best part is the humor. Quentin has memorable friends who help him along the way. But, I was oddly disappointed with the ending. While I understand Margo's motivations, I really didn't understand her actions or her end-goals. The book is fair.
Helpful Score: 2
Reviewed by coollibrarianchick for TeensReadToo.com
I first fell in love with John Green when he came out with the book LOOKING FOR ALASKA. I was equally enchanted with AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES. Last night, I finally finished John Green's latest and greatest addition, PAPER TOWNS. Mind you, I have been trying to finish it for three days crammed between work, work, and more work. It got to the point that something had to give and it was going to be my work, because I just had to finish the book. I read someone else's review and she said that she was tempted to skip to page 305, the last page, to see what happened to one of the main characters, Margo. I want this person to know I was tempted to but, alas, I did not peek either - I was so proud of myself. Besides, waiting until the end made the book even more satisfying.
Reading this book reminded me of the people who I went to high school with - the band geeks, the jocks, the Untouchable popular kids. I knew people that were like Margo, Quentin, Radar, Ben, and Lacey. Some I liked, others I didn't. I get Margo's feeling of needing to get out of the paper town she lives in so she doesn't get even more sucked in.
Would I have done it her way? Probably not, but her way led to some really funny dialogue between the characters and a neat little mystery to figure out.
PAPER TOWNS pulls you in from the beginning. One thing Green does so well is go into detail, painting rich layers seamlessly tying together the characters and their stories.
We read a story about something that happened in Quentin and Margo's childhood and then skip forward many years to a time right before Prom, which Quentin will not go to for any amount of money offered. Things get interesting when Margo shows up at his window dressed liked a ninja, insisting that he has to help her. Mind you, Margo is Quentin's unrequited love, so you tell me, does he go along with Margo's adventure? It only takes a little coaxing, but he sure does. The night, as they accomplish all the things on Margo's list, who is hellbent on revenge, is pretty magical, not just for Quentin but Margo, too.
School the next day was definitely interesting, for lack of a better word. Quentin struggles to say awake in class because their adventure lasted to just about dawn, and then realizes that Margo isn't in school. I am not sure if I would have gone to school, either, after all they had done the night before....
The question will soon become - where is Margo? She has seemingly disappeared, leaving clues for Quentin to find. Will Quentin and his friends figure out the clues, and will they lead to Margo? And if they do, will she be dead or alive? You will just have to read the book to find out.
It will not surprise me one iota if Green walks away with a few awards for this book. Definitely another winner!
I first fell in love with John Green when he came out with the book LOOKING FOR ALASKA. I was equally enchanted with AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES. Last night, I finally finished John Green's latest and greatest addition, PAPER TOWNS. Mind you, I have been trying to finish it for three days crammed between work, work, and more work. It got to the point that something had to give and it was going to be my work, because I just had to finish the book. I read someone else's review and she said that she was tempted to skip to page 305, the last page, to see what happened to one of the main characters, Margo. I want this person to know I was tempted to but, alas, I did not peek either - I was so proud of myself. Besides, waiting until the end made the book even more satisfying.
Reading this book reminded me of the people who I went to high school with - the band geeks, the jocks, the Untouchable popular kids. I knew people that were like Margo, Quentin, Radar, Ben, and Lacey. Some I liked, others I didn't. I get Margo's feeling of needing to get out of the paper town she lives in so she doesn't get even more sucked in.
Would I have done it her way? Probably not, but her way led to some really funny dialogue between the characters and a neat little mystery to figure out.
PAPER TOWNS pulls you in from the beginning. One thing Green does so well is go into detail, painting rich layers seamlessly tying together the characters and their stories.
We read a story about something that happened in Quentin and Margo's childhood and then skip forward many years to a time right before Prom, which Quentin will not go to for any amount of money offered. Things get interesting when Margo shows up at his window dressed liked a ninja, insisting that he has to help her. Mind you, Margo is Quentin's unrequited love, so you tell me, does he go along with Margo's adventure? It only takes a little coaxing, but he sure does. The night, as they accomplish all the things on Margo's list, who is hellbent on revenge, is pretty magical, not just for Quentin but Margo, too.
School the next day was definitely interesting, for lack of a better word. Quentin struggles to say awake in class because their adventure lasted to just about dawn, and then realizes that Margo isn't in school. I am not sure if I would have gone to school, either, after all they had done the night before....
The question will soon become - where is Margo? She has seemingly disappeared, leaving clues for Quentin to find. Will Quentin and his friends figure out the clues, and will they lead to Margo? And if they do, will she be dead or alive? You will just have to read the book to find out.
It will not surprise me one iota if Green walks away with a few awards for this book. Definitely another winner!
Helpful Score: 1
This book may seem like just another run of the mill coming of age tale of some random high schooler, but it will surprise you. I couldn't put the book down once I started, I finished it in 3 days which I haven't done in years.
John Green infused "Paper Towns" with his own flavor of wit and insight which will keep you not only laughing but identifying more and more with the characters. This book reminded me of the angst of being a teen, the struggles with conformity, and trying to find your own self through all the chaos.
After reading this book I found myself wanting to reread it. You can't help but want to look for all the little clues and hidden meanings Green sprinkled through the novel.
John Green infused "Paper Towns" with his own flavor of wit and insight which will keep you not only laughing but identifying more and more with the characters. This book reminded me of the angst of being a teen, the struggles with conformity, and trying to find your own self through all the chaos.
After reading this book I found myself wanting to reread it. You can't help but want to look for all the little clues and hidden meanings Green sprinkled through the novel.
Helpful Score: 1
Quentin and Margo Roth Spiegelman grew up as next door neighbors. They were friends until the age of ten when Margo ditched him for the cool crowd. Over the next few years he watched her from afar, mesmerized by her antics. The story finds them on the cusp of high school graduation. Margo is the girl that every high school has, beautiful, popular figure who seems to have the world at her fingertips. One night she appears at his bedroom window, asking him to join her in a night of pranks to get even with those who have wronged her. This experience provides new hope to Quentin that their friendship can be renewed, but the next day Margo is gone, run away from home and her life. But she has left some clues for him, and as he unravels them he finds that he never really knew her at all.
His first fear is that she has committed suicide, a reasonable thought with what she was experiencing in her life at the time. He follows the clues, fearful that he will stumble on her dead body. Finally the clues lead Quentin and his geeky buddies on a hilarious across the country road trip. We watch his journey as he strives to find Margo, and in doing so he finds himself.
This book was beautifully written. The details used to describe moments found in real life created a masterpiece. The wonderful, quirky character development made even minor ones come to life and I could see them in the halls of my local high school. There were many moments when I laughed out loud while reading. The story stayed with me for days after I read it. On the surface it seemed to be a mystery to solve, but on reflection the true, deeper meaning of the book becomes evident. It was almost like I was so interested in him finding Margo that I almost missed the point of the exercise. While you may want to speed through this book along with the story, I suggest you slow down and savor each moment, novels like this don't come along everyday.
His first fear is that she has committed suicide, a reasonable thought with what she was experiencing in her life at the time. He follows the clues, fearful that he will stumble on her dead body. Finally the clues lead Quentin and his geeky buddies on a hilarious across the country road trip. We watch his journey as he strives to find Margo, and in doing so he finds himself.
This book was beautifully written. The details used to describe moments found in real life created a masterpiece. The wonderful, quirky character development made even minor ones come to life and I could see them in the halls of my local high school. There were many moments when I laughed out loud while reading. The story stayed with me for days after I read it. On the surface it seemed to be a mystery to solve, but on reflection the true, deeper meaning of the book becomes evident. It was almost like I was so interested in him finding Margo that I almost missed the point of the exercise. While you may want to speed through this book along with the story, I suggest you slow down and savor each moment, novels like this don't come along everyday.
This is the 3rd John Green book I've read. Although I liked the main character, Q, I didn't like the over all story. I have a hard time not skipping over parts. Like another reviewer said, not a good ending either. JMO...If you haven't read John Green books before- I DON'T recommend you start with this one.Loves The Fault of our Stars & The Abundance of Katherines ( :
Took me WEEKS to read this book. I just couldn't get into it. But the very end (kind of) made up for it. I didn't enjoy much of the book until Margo was found, but I did like the life lesson that was portrayed at that point. Wouldn't recommend, but don't absolutely hate it either.
It started off good, and I was actually liking it, but the storyline just didn't hold my interest. Ended up skipping and scanning just to finish it to see how it ended. Not impressed with the ending.
John Green is an author who produces stories of consistently high quality, and Paper Towns is certainly no exception. It's another one of those books that's kind of hard to describe, but the book follows a boy named Quentin and his hapless search for the fantastically amazing Margo Roth Spiegelman. The book is about how we misperceive each other and fail to imagine each other complexly. It's one of those rare cases where the message is not only something that applies to everyone, but is something we really don't think about that often. Aside from that, the book is wonderfully well-written, with well-developed and interesting characters and prose ranging from philosophically poetic to hilariously crude. It's one of those books I think everyone can enjoy and get something out of.
Really enjoyed this book, kept me hooked from the very first page. I was right there with Quentin trying to figure out the mystery that is Margo Roth Speilgman. John Green did not disappoint.
Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
The brilliant John Green's third novel starts off quietly, then builds to a roaring finish that sets a new bar for all young adult literature.
After years of running in different social spheres, towards the end of senior year, Quentin Jacobsen's childhood friend, next-door neighbor, and unrequited love, the beautiful and eccentric Margo Roth Spiegelman, enlists him to help her in what becomes the wildest night of his life. However, just when he thinks he and Margo are on track to be friends--and maybe something more--again, she disappears, leaving some clues behind for him to wonder about.
Quentin is convinced that following and figuring out the clues will lead him and his friends to Margo. What happens next, then, is an epic, unforgettable journey of self-discovery, humanity, adolescence, friendship, and love.
What could be a typical detective plot is brought alive at the hands of the witty and talented John Green, but this book is so much more than a simple mystery: you'll want to read it again and again to discover all the philosophy, themes, and lessons Green has packed into this novel, as well as to laugh again at the many hilarious moments. I thought that LOOKING FOR ALASKA couldn't be topped, but I am proved wrong. With PAPER TOWNS, John Green establishes himself as the premier young adult author, one to which every other person will be compared to.
After years of running in different social spheres, towards the end of senior year, Quentin Jacobsen's childhood friend, next-door neighbor, and unrequited love, the beautiful and eccentric Margo Roth Spiegelman, enlists him to help her in what becomes the wildest night of his life. However, just when he thinks he and Margo are on track to be friends--and maybe something more--again, she disappears, leaving some clues behind for him to wonder about.
Quentin is convinced that following and figuring out the clues will lead him and his friends to Margo. What happens next, then, is an epic, unforgettable journey of self-discovery, humanity, adolescence, friendship, and love.
What could be a typical detective plot is brought alive at the hands of the witty and talented John Green, but this book is so much more than a simple mystery: you'll want to read it again and again to discover all the philosophy, themes, and lessons Green has packed into this novel, as well as to laugh again at the many hilarious moments. I thought that LOOKING FOR ALASKA couldn't be topped, but I am proved wrong. With PAPER TOWNS, John Green establishes himself as the premier young adult author, one to which every other person will be compared to.
This book takes readers back to their own high school years. Many of us knew people like Margo, Quentin, Radar, Ben, and Lacey. Like Margo, I wanted to leave my small town to explore other places. As the tale rolls out the reader begins to wonder what happened during Margo and Quentin's childhood when they were friends.
Just before prom, one realizes that Quentin will not attend for any reason whatsoever. Then Margo appears at his window dressed like a ninja asking him to help her with a plan. He is enamored by Margo and most willing to help her with a list of things she wants to do. Their nighttime adventure takes them all night. The next day, so sleepy, he doesn't at first realize that Margo is not in school. Wondering where she has gone, he begins to find clues that can lead him to her. At least he hopes so because the questions that run through his mind are frightening. Has she been kidnapped? Is she dead? Or, has she just run away? Much of the book centers on his search for Margo.
While the two live different lives, the author somehow weaves them together in a most skillful manner. This is a fast paced read with richly developed characters. Margo has a way of putting people off while Quentin is quiet and sometimes slow to catch on the what is happening. I liked this clever book with its wonderful characters. Good read.
Just before prom, one realizes that Quentin will not attend for any reason whatsoever. Then Margo appears at his window dressed like a ninja asking him to help her with a plan. He is enamored by Margo and most willing to help her with a list of things she wants to do. Their nighttime adventure takes them all night. The next day, so sleepy, he doesn't at first realize that Margo is not in school. Wondering where she has gone, he begins to find clues that can lead him to her. At least he hopes so because the questions that run through his mind are frightening. Has she been kidnapped? Is she dead? Or, has she just run away? Much of the book centers on his search for Margo.
While the two live different lives, the author somehow weaves them together in a most skillful manner. This is a fast paced read with richly developed characters. Margo has a way of putting people off while Quentin is quiet and sometimes slow to catch on the what is happening. I liked this clever book with its wonderful characters. Good read.
A fun book that I probably would have loved in my younger years. There's definitely a good life lesson in this book.
I got this book through the amazon Vine program and all I can say is "WOW!" I really enjoyed this book. I want to go and order all of the other books this author has written and read those too.
Q is your typical kind of nerdy, hangs with the band kids, straight A student kind of guy. Things would stay that way for him if it wasn't for his neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman. She is just cool and awesome in every way. Then she shows up in his bedroom in the middle of the night...dressed as a ninja. She takes him on a tour of the town that will change who he is forever. He is so stoked about spending time with her; then the next morning she is gone. Is she really gone though? She has a history of leaving clues when she leaves home. So Q and his buddies try to unravel the mystery of Margo.
This book is so many things at once. It is about the sameness of the world, about what people want, about people who can't fit in to society's rigid structure, about how we label each other, it's a coming of age story, a mystery, and an adventure.
I was awed at how I read this book straight through without even realizing I had started reading it. I was amazed at how funny and serious it is; how it made me laugh out loud and cry too. I think there is something for everyone to relate to in this book it doesn't matter your age. We've all been in school, dealt with parents, and friends so we can all relate.
Green captures so many things with great insight. The craziness of prom, the sadness and emptiness of those last days of high school, the frustration of people who want something different, and the guilt of people who are happy with being just plain ole vanilla.
The above are at the heart of the story, but the plot itself is a well crafted mystery. Full of suspense and an intriguing trail of clues the book was impossible to put down. I read it in 3 hours. I also laughed my head off at Q's crazy friends and felt Q's frustration. The characters in this book were so real. The story itself is an absolute riot to read; it's crazy fun.
In a nutshell I loved it. I still cannot believe that a book that touches on such deep issues was so much fun to read. I think everyone should read it. I am keeping it as part of my permanent collection and I hope someday my son will read it and love it too.
Did I mention I also want to read all of Green's other books now? I really do.
Q is your typical kind of nerdy, hangs with the band kids, straight A student kind of guy. Things would stay that way for him if it wasn't for his neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman. She is just cool and awesome in every way. Then she shows up in his bedroom in the middle of the night...dressed as a ninja. She takes him on a tour of the town that will change who he is forever. He is so stoked about spending time with her; then the next morning she is gone. Is she really gone though? She has a history of leaving clues when she leaves home. So Q and his buddies try to unravel the mystery of Margo.
This book is so many things at once. It is about the sameness of the world, about what people want, about people who can't fit in to society's rigid structure, about how we label each other, it's a coming of age story, a mystery, and an adventure.
I was awed at how I read this book straight through without even realizing I had started reading it. I was amazed at how funny and serious it is; how it made me laugh out loud and cry too. I think there is something for everyone to relate to in this book it doesn't matter your age. We've all been in school, dealt with parents, and friends so we can all relate.
Green captures so many things with great insight. The craziness of prom, the sadness and emptiness of those last days of high school, the frustration of people who want something different, and the guilt of people who are happy with being just plain ole vanilla.
The above are at the heart of the story, but the plot itself is a well crafted mystery. Full of suspense and an intriguing trail of clues the book was impossible to put down. I read it in 3 hours. I also laughed my head off at Q's crazy friends and felt Q's frustration. The characters in this book were so real. The story itself is an absolute riot to read; it's crazy fun.
In a nutshell I loved it. I still cannot believe that a book that touches on such deep issues was so much fun to read. I think everyone should read it. I am keeping it as part of my permanent collection and I hope someday my son will read it and love it too.
Did I mention I also want to read all of Green's other books now? I really do.
Part of the reason I didn't love this book is because I read Looking For Alaska (which I loved & gave 5 stars) a couple months ago and this was a pretty similar premise. I loved this book at first and it really drew me in but I found it to be fairly far fetched and unbelievable. I think the odds of Margo being found in real life are zero and I'm sure that's part of the point of the story but I just wasn't buying it. I also found the ending very disappointing. There was this huge climax with the road trip and the near fatal crash and then it just petered out. I'd recommend this for readers who like YA or John Green in general but I didn't find it particularly fulfilling. I do like how the author's books tend to intertwine with an intellectual topic.
I was impressed with this book. I wanted to see the movie, so of course the book needs to be read first. I have read "The Fault in our Stars" and LOVED IT! So I was eager to read "Paper Towns", I really wasn't sure how this book would end, as John Green kept me guessing to the end. I think my favorite part was on the road trip, just after the first pit stop involving a T-shirt. I seriously was snotting laughing (OUT LOUD) and it took me about 5 minutes to calm down enough to continue reading. The bonus part is that I was home alone with only the dog and cat for company. So this was a good (quick for me) read. ENJOY!!
Q and his friends are absolutely adorable and so fun to read about However, Margo's annoying way about her made those parts she was featured in a bit of a drag to read through.
I love Paper Towns, John Green is one of my favorite writers for a lot of reasons and his characters is certainly one of the reasons. The plot was different and one I had been searching for, I don't want to give anything away but just... highly recommended to all.
Great book. Easy read. If you like John Green's other works then you will enjoy this book.
Good book, I liked the story.
