Paper Towns

Bibliography

Green, J. (2009). PAPER TOWNS. Penguin Books. ISBN: 978-0-14-241493-4.

Plot Summary

PAPER TOWNS is about a high school senior, Quentin "Q" Jacobsen, who has had a crush for years on his neighbor, Margo Roth Spiegelman. Margo takes Quentin on an adventurous night right before mysteriously disappering. Only leaving behind clues that Quentin believes she left for him. He and his friends are searching for her, but he starts to question if he even knows who his crush actually is. 

Critical Analysis

PAPER TOWNS is a realistic teenage experience about friendship, crushes, identity, and figuring out life after high school. There is not a single unrealistic aspect of this story. Even the random disappearance of Margo is rooted in the teenage fear and wanting to escape adult expectations.

John Green is a renowned author who can capture the teenage voice perfectly. His writing captures the confidence that is actually masking uncertainty, which is typical of teens. Quentin is thoughtful, awkward, and focused too much on Margo. His character development throughout this book comes from understanding that Margo is a real person and not the perfect person he has imagined her to be. This is a great story for young adults to read and understand how much the real world is affecting everyone, not just themselves.

The mystery of where Margo went keeps the story moving, but it is not the meaning of the story. Quentin's personal growth is the purpose of this and is intertwined with the search perfectly. Overall, PAPER TOWNS is a strong contemporary realistic fiction novel. It focuses on how identity and perception change with growing up. 

Review Excerpts

"Printz Medal Winner and Honoree Green knows what he does best and delivers once again with this satisfying, crowd-pleasing look at a complex, smart boy and the way he loves." Kirkus, starred review.

A suspenseful mystery, a compelling central metaphor, and one of those road trips that every senior hopes he or she will have round out this exploration of the kind of relationship that can t help but teach us a little bit about ourselves." Bulletin, starred review.

Connections

This book would be a great addition to any unit for high schoolers or specifically on symbolism. This book can connect well to many readers by giving them a very real perspective on a boy their age in love but also trying to figure out who he is. The mystery aspect of it can allow students to create their own theories of where she is while also trying to understand the symbolism behind it.