Although it is a quick read and intriguing, John Green’s “Paper Towns” is quite overrated.
“Paper Towns” follows high school senior Quentin Jacobsen’s lifelong obsession with his neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman. Margo is beautiful, popular, and mysterious; so mysterious that she disappears weeks before high school graduation, leaving friends and family members speculating. Convinced that Margo wants him to find her, Quentin, along with the help of his friends, follows the trail she left behind.
While the story is beautifully written and contains many great literary references, the plot is rather inconsequential. Not only is Quentin’s infatuation with finding Margo unhealthy, but it is also misguided. Margo does not wish to be found, nor did she mean to leave a trace for Quentin, making his journey utterly pointless.
Green’s writing style is admirable and puts the reader directly in the mindset of an 18 year-old boy. Quentin and his friends are charming and funny, and they have a very humorous outlook on the world. Unfortunately, though, their journey in “Paper Towns” will pull you in and disappoint. Ultimately, Green works so hard to build a plot that goes nowhere and never connects.
Hannah Lapin 