Paper Towns

Review by Edan (and once again, I am sorry for the lack of posts due to my school work and high school applications)
Title: Paper Towns
Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Published: 2008

Summary:

Quenten’s life started out as the next door neighbor of Margot.  They were friends, but over the years, things changed. Margot became popular with her adventurous ways, Q stayed in the shadows with his few friends and they rarely talked. But one night, a few weeks from the end of senior year of high school, Margot shows up my his window with a list of random chores and daring tasks they have to do. The moment he decides to help her is the moment he starts his journey of discovering who Margot really is. The next day, Margot is missing, but she leaves clues for Q and his friends. Only clues he could understand. And with that, Q embarks on a journey to find Margot and answer the question: Who is Margot Roth Spiegelman?

Review:
This book has now been added to my short list of my all time favorite books (along with Eragon by Christopher Paolini, Skellig by David Almond and Pay it Forward by Catharine Ryan Hyde). I loved the mystery and the character building. Q transforms from a kid just going with the flow, to actually looking at the world around him. He realizes new things about his friends and their friendship and he begins to see people in different angles. On his journey to find Margot, he has to question himself as well. Had he really known her? What was the dark shadow within her? Had he let her get away? Was it all his fault?

 I found this book completely hilarious at times, but sad and lonely at others. Paper Towns has a way of capturing your interest and literally pulling you into the story. When Q and his friends had to a limited time to go somewhere important (I'm not going to tell;), I had the same rush and hurriedness as the characters. When I had to put the book down for a moment, I felt like I was running out of time as well. That ability to capture the feeling of being in the story and the mixture of undeniable humor and sadness is what makes John Green such an amazing author. I love his writing and think Paper Towns is his best book yet. 

Rating:*****