By Jessica Ngo

I read the novel Paper Towns by John Green. The novel takes place at Jefferson High School in Orlando, Florida. It focuses on Quentin’s life: school, friends, band, and his girl crush Margo Roth Spiegelman. Margo has been Quentin’s friend and neighbor since they were two; she is a well-known, smart, full-of-adventure girl. The beginning of the novel is a turning point in the two main characters’ relationship. One night, Margo goes to Quentin’s room to ask him for help with her eleven-part revenge plan on her ex-boyfriend, Jase Worthington. She needs Quentin to be her driver. That night, Quentin’s feelings for Margon blossom. Margo, however, disappears after that night, leaving only clues for Quentin: The poem “Sing My Song” by Walt Whitman, a picture of Woody Guthrie, and an address. Fearing that she died, Quentin, Radar, Ben, and Lacey 

try hard, day and night, to find her around the town. On graduation day, Quentin accidentally finds Margo through her website about a fictitious town called Agloe in New York. When everyone visits Margo’s place, they feel unwelcome, as it turns out that she did not want to be found.

Book Review: Paper Towns by John Greene  

Continued from the Printed Version

The clues she left were messages to let them know she was fine. Margo asks Quentin to stay with her in New York, but his responsibilities in Orlando prevent him from staying. The two friends part company in peace and promise to keep in touch.

Paper Towns is fictional, but the way John Green delivers the story it seems so real, especially the ending. Green creates characters that highlight the emotions of high school well, which allows readers to empathize with them. Quentin is a sweet and sensitive person who wants everyone to be happy. On the other hand, Margo is a smart and independent girl who has a plan for her life outside of Florida. At the end of the book, as Quentin is about to kiss Margo, the thought of his responsibilities back home stop him; he cannot leave everything behind to go with her. As for Margo, she cannot give up on her dream and return to a place with too many sad memories. Having to make the choice of leaving someone they love to pursue their dreams and take responsibility for their own lives is what makes this story thoughtful and realistic. Green takes seriously the high school student’s point of view about school anxiety, parents, and career in creating the novel’s setting, which is relatable to high school students today. Green does an excellent job sending a message about the importance of balancing friendships with reality in an interesting and fun way.

Despite the excellent character development in the book, I would love to know more about Margo. The story is told from the perspective of Quentin, the main character. But learning the story through only his words gives an incomplete picture. The whole story is about Quentin’s journey to find Margo using clues that he believes she left. Without knowing Margo’s thoughts and feelings, I feel there are not enough clues and evidence for readers to solve the mystery of her disappearance on their own. Furthermore, readers would have a better understanding of this second main character if we heard more from her throughout the story. If Margo had more dialogue, we could gain a better understanding of this unique and original high school student.

I would highly recommend Paper Towns to anyone who loves mystery and adventure. Students who are strong English language learners, but want to improve their vocabulary should also read this book. Most of the words are not too difficult, but there are still some new words that you can learn. For me, this book was both entertaining and a great way to learn a language without getting bored.