When two genius best friends embark on a road trip, they don’t know they’re choosing a journey that will change, not just the way they think, and the people they are. 

Funny, light-hearted, and ultimately thoughtful, John Green’s 2006 novel, An Abundance of Katherines, follows the story of child prodigy Colin Singleton as he finds himself in the tiny town of Gutshot, Tennessee. Surrounded by strangers (and his best friend Hassan), he discovers a summer job, new friends, and a different way of seeing himself. With his newfound friends, he realizes life doesn’t need to be successful to be satisfying. It’s a light-hearted story that’s fun, silly, and a little romantic. (Side note: Am I the only one that loves the math-y graphs in this story?)

And the questions Colin Singleton grappled with in Gutshot are questions we’ve all struggled with ourselves; Have we wasted our potential? Why does no one like us? Why are we unsuccessful? And where does the future lie? 

We’ve all felt the need – no, the urge – to do something big. We’ve all wanted to be successful, to leave our mark on history. Sometimes, it’s something we owe to the expectations of others, but as often as not, it’s our own desire to leave our mark on history, to live up to the markers we set for ourselves.

In our world today – a world that is more connected than ever – it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by our “inadequacy”. The accomplishments of millions of other strangers are easily accessible at our fingertips; and that can be crushing to our self-confidence and image.

At a time like now, it’s especially important to recognize that our lives should not be defined by measures of conventional “success”. We are not the college we attend (or don’t attend), the house we buy, or the salary we earn. We are real, living people; and people need to take breaks, enjoy ourselves, and ease up a bit sometimes. In the rat race towards some empty title – in Singleton’s case, to fulfill his intellectual potential, and to matter – we forget our original purpose, and waste our lives chasing an empty title because we’ve forgotten what else we can do.

The book isn’t without flaws; the plot is a little predictable, Lindsay’s boyfriend is a little too cliche, and the wild hog is a bit too much of a coincidence. But that’s ok, because it’s still a fun read and the quick, endearing plot will keep you flipping to the next page.

In the words of Lindsay Lee Wells, one of Singleton’s new friends, “It’s so easy to get stuck. You just get caught in being something, being special or cool or whatever, to the point where you don’t even know why you need it; you just think you do.”

Maybe that’s a wake-up call we all need. Not just Colin Singleton, one-of-a-kind child prodigy, but all the people who are stuck to a goal we might need to refresh.

Ultimately, the story ends on a happy note (no spoilers!!!), and his story of self-discovery is one we can all share. Maybe we can all embark on this journey, one that’s so much more than just a road trip.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

I recently finished reading Looking For Alaska by John Green. This was John Green’s first novel, and probably one of my favorite books of his. One of the things I like the most about John Green’s writing is his portrayal of teenagers. While I cannot always relate to them, he makes them feel real and human, and not like stereotypical teenagers seen in other forms of media. Looking for Alaska came out in 2005, which is presumably when the story takes place, and I love reading books that take place in a setting where the characters don’t interact with any sort of technology. The setting of this novel, taking place in rural Alabama, made me feel like I was reading about summer camp. I recommend reading this book as a Junior in high school. Not that you can’t read it earlier or later, but I felt like I was able to understand the characters on a deeper level since I was reading about people my age. Though I wasn’t able to relate to their struggles or the antics they got up to, I felt like they were just as interesting to read about. 

This novel follows Miles, a teenage boy who is new to a boarding school in Alabama. He doesn’t have many friends in his hometown, but he quickly gets taken in by Chip, his roommate. Chip, nicknamed “The Colonel” leads Miles to all kinds of antics, pranks, and adventures. He introduces Miles to Alaska and Takumi. Alaska, who the book is named for, is quirky and rebellious, and Miles immediately takes a liking to her. Their dynamic is typical of a group of unpopular kids finding each other, and having fun, and sticking together. 

Looking For Alaska is full of both comedy and heartbreak. It is beautifully written, it is witty, and has its deep moments woven throughout the comedy. Each character has their own struggles, backgrounds, and quirks, which are revealed in a scene where they open up to each other. The Colonel, aka Chip, is perceived as tough and scary on the outside, but is intelligent and kind-hearted. He quickly became one of my favorite characters and seeing him express his emotions was one of my favorite parts of the book. I also loved seeing the characters develop. By being around his friends, Miles becomes smarter, and he learns about things that he wouldn’t have learned about in school. Mainly through Alaska and her massive book collection. Miles and Takumi didn’t have much to talk about at first, but as the book progresses, they find themselves in situations where they become closer. 

Because of the setting and the well-developed characters, I felt like I was actually in the book. I felt like I was running around with Alaska and Miles, or sitting with them plotting a prank. And though it takes place in rural Alabama, because John Green writes a boring place so well, I felt immersed in the story through the setting. Not only are the characters quirky, but the school is as well. From its basketball team to its evil swans, the boarding school feels so well thought out. I could say I loved everything about this book. Even the heartbreaking plot twist. I love the references to literature and famous last words, and I walked away from this book feeling like I learned something.

Looking for Alaska by John Green is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.