Paper+Towns

Discussion page for //Paper Towns//.

I listened to the audio of this, a format I like for John Green books. Green hones in on a high school audience in his books, and really seems to speak to issues of identity and relationships in a more mature way than books aimed at middle schoolers. Green reiterates his theme (almost to the point of repetitiveness) throughout the book: that until you see a person fully, in more than two dimensions (which is flat like paper), then you don't know them. I think if list is leaning heavily to fantasy, this may be a good addition for realistic fiction readers. --Mary Cronin, Madison Library

This should be on the list. John Green hits home with the teens in this town, and they were particularly fascinated by Quentin's obsession with finding Margo. She leaves town, runs away and Quintin she left the clues so he would follow and find her. An interesting look at what happens when you begin to separate the perception of a person and the reality of the person. Sharon Taylor Weeks Public Library Greenland

Mystery, little romance, lots of humor. Great book- and popular with the teens in high school, too. -Pam, Plymouth Regional High School Library

This should DEFINITELY be on the list. Guys nd gals like it. -Kelly Budd, KHS

//Before my copy got stolen many kids enjoyed reading it and were asking for his other books. thoroughly enjoyed this book. John Green knows Laugh Out Loud funny. This book kept me on edge almost throughout. I could never really predict how one clue could lead us to the next and maybe eventually to Margo.// John //Green pegs teen geek voices perfectly and how in a small boring town you really have to make the most out of any situation you can. It seemed weird to me how much Quentin worshiped Margo, even after years of not knowing her. I can see how that is possible though, because that person would still be the same in your mind as how you last remember them being. Paper Towns also includes the Best Insult EVER! "She may be hot, but she is also 1. aggressively vapid, and 2. an absolute, unadulterated, raging bitch." See what I mean, classic. This is a must read for all who enjoy this genre. It's funny, suspenseful and realistic; all things a great novel should be (unless it's fantasy). John Green has a new fan on his hands and I look forward to reading some of his older books and waiting for his newer ones to come find me. -B.Moore Hall Memorial Library//

Like Mary, (above) I listened to this one on audio. It was hilarious, but I was worried about our Margot Roth Spiegelman - the eccentric-seeming character who disappears. Margot's personality reminded me of Alaska, (from Looking for Alaska) and I thought for sure her fate would not be good. I agree with Mary that Green addresses high school issues more maturely, and as all the readers listed on this wiki entry, I would vote a resounding "yes" to have this in our 13 nominated titles. As Kelly said, it appeals to both young women and men; I found it quite engaging and interesting. I loved the literary references, too - Sylvia Plath, Kurt Vonnegut, and especially Walt Whitman. I read another review that just didn't get why Q would become obsessed with finding Margot. It seemed clear to me that even they didn't hang out in the same circles, the dead body they found had linked them in a way that could not be easily broken. Q had always secretly had something for her, so of course he would try to find her. Anyway, a great book for the Flume. Lisa Houde / Rye Public Library