Paper Townes by John Green (New York Times Bestseller List)

Green, J. (2008). Paper towns. Dutton Books. New York, NY.

 In Jefferson Park, Florida, Quentin "Q" Jacobson has grown distant from his once very close childhood friend Margo.  Now towards the end of their senior year, Margo surprises Q by showing up at his window with a revenge plan of pranks to all those who have hurt her.  Q helps her complete her mission through out the night and is even more surprised when she does not show up at school the next day.  Q and his group of friends find a series of clues that help them realize where she has run away to.  After skipping their own graduation and driving 19 hours to the "paper town" of Agloe, New York, they realize that Margo is not everything they thought she was.

This is a realistic fiction and puzzling mystery in which  there are no murders but instead a "problem that seemingly cannot be solved" (Chance, p.67).  This particular book is a fun read for young adults because although it makes you think, it is not a dark or overly serious mystery.  The book would be a wonderful addition for a literature teacher to accompany the study of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass because of the connections to this text within the story. It  has teachable literary elements such as the many uses and symbolism of "paper towns" , "paper boy", and "paper girl".  It also has strength in the coming of age themes of knowing and being your true self.  A great read to promote this summer to young adults before they see the movie.


Chance, R.  2014. Young adult literature in action: a librarian's guide/ second edition.  Libraries Unlimited. Santa Barbara, California