Paper Towns

Paper Towns by John Green
young adult literature

Quentin Jacobsen lives next door to Margo Roth Spiegelman in hot, steamy Florida. He is a well-adjusted smart kid, while Margo runs more with the wild crowd. Quentin takes a big risk one night when Margo appears at his window in the middle of the night and they go on a mad escapade to right wrongs, like getting revenge on Margo's ex-boyfriend for cheating on her. Quentin is hopeful that this is the rekindling of his friendship with Margo. But when morning comes, it turns out she has run away again--just weeks before graduation. Quentin is determined to find her, following the clues he is convinced she left behind.

I love the dialogue and cleverness of this coming-of-age, mystery novel. Quentin is a great character--but at times one does question why he would spend so much time looking for Margo who is not a particularly likable character. But I guess in some ways, that's the point. Quentin, during the course of searching for Margo, comes to learn who she really is, not who he thinks she is. Recommended.