Paper Towns Ad Placement (just kidding)

Paper Towns 

by John Green

I had particularly high expectations for this book, because I absolutely loved The Fault in Our Stars and because John Green is such an amazing person in general. I also knew that the main character and I have something in common (take a wild guess as to what it is). All that to say, I unwittingly set the bar pretty high. And I must say that as much as I love John Green and the way that he writes, this book fell a little flat.

Let me explain.

First, a brief description. Quentin and Margo Roth Spiegelman have been friends since they were little. However, high school happened and we all know that high school is that dreadful time where people change and friendships split. Luckily, both were pretty well off: he had his solid group of friends and she was the most popular, drop-dead gorgeous girl in the school. But Margo Roth Spiegelman is very different from all the popular girls. Because this isn't her element; high school isn't her world. So one day, she vanishes. Not for the first time, but at the very end of senior year, it's a critical moment in all their lives. 

Here are my pros and cons (by now you know that I love lists):

Pros:

- Well written

- Very different from traditional coming-of-age stories

- Well-rounded characters

- A very interesting perspective on Orlando, Florida

- I liked the way the book ended (no spoilers, have no fear)

Cons:

- The characters (as they usually do in John's books) sound and act a lot older than they are

- The ending sort of... happened. Does that make sense? It was good, but it didn't quite live up to the build-up

- Not as interesting as it could have been

Okay, let me dissect my criticism for you. First, the characters in John's books usually sound older than they are (yes Augustus Waters, I'm talking to you). It's an easy mistake to forgive, but being in high school myself, I don't know anyone who acts like his characters do.

Second, I liked the ending itself, I guess. I liked that it was non-traditional. If you've read it, hopefully you'll know what I'm talking about. However, there was a lot of tension, a lot of anticipation building up to it and it fell short of the expectation that we were given. That may have been the point, which is something to consider.

Lastly, the idea was very interesting, the descriptions were as well, but there were some passages that just dragged on and on and on and you were left pushing through to the next chapter, which is never good. Again, though, that may have been the point. 

In conclusion, it was okay, not his best, but if you love John Green's style, you'll probably like it.

Leave your opinions on Paper Towns in the comments below!

Also, in case you didn't know, John Green and his brother Hank run a channel on YouTube (as well as a million others, but this is their main). You can check it out by clicking here.