John Green strikes again. Every time I read his work I find myself getting lost in the story and Paper Towns was no exception. It follows the story of Quentin, a high school senior who has been intrigued by his neighbor, Margo, since they were kids. Through the years Margo became part of the "popular" clique whereas Quentin became friends with the band geeks. Although they went completely different paths Quentin's wonder for Margo never faltered, so when she shows up in the middle of the night asking for his help, it's a no-brainer. This is the beginning of a whirlwind adventure that will leave Quentin changed forever.
All right, if you have not read the book and do not want to be spoiled, now is the time to go. What are you still doing here? Go read the book! I only kid of course, I would be lying if I said I hadn't read spoilers before. Thus, I leave this here for all of your spoiler enjoyment. Now back to the book.
I am very fond of this story. I think it is an interesting plot idea that was well executed. Quentin had a good arc and overall was a round character as well as Margo. Despite the suspenseful idea of Margo possibly being dead, it was also quite humorous and had me laughing out loud. I was actually not planning to like this book as much as I did so I am pleasantly surprised.
One of my favorite parts of this novel is Quentin and Margo finding the dead body of Robert Joyner. It was such a shocking way to open a book and I had never read anything like it before. I appreciated how that came into play later within Quentin's thoughts and in Margo's black notebook. It was a unique and edgy way to give them a connection to each other.
I also enjoyed that we are left wondering at the end of the novel. We don't know if Quentin and Margo keep in touch or reunite in the future. It reminds me of those old choose your own adventure games. There are multiple ways you could perceive their relationship to work out and it is left up to you to decide. If he had ended it decisively, I don't think it would have as much of an impact.
As much as I loved this book there were some aspects I was not a fan of. I found the search for Margo to be dragged out longer than it needed to be. I feel like it could have been done just as effectively in less chapters. I also wish Radar was not so flat. He could have used a little more character development. Overall, I respect Green's decisions and I cannot really complain because it is a wonderful novel that I thoroughly devoured.
In conclusion, this book captured the essence of being a teenager. From having an infatuating crush, to being bullied, to just wanting to belong, he covers it all. It was captivating with relatable characters and topics that made it easy to get into to. I am giving Paper Towns 4.5 out of 5 stars. Thank you John Green for once again making me feel the feels.
Rebecca
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