Tag Archives: john green

Paper Towns by John Green

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papertowns_johngreenMargo Roth Spiegelman is an independent young woman who makes her own rules in the game of life. She goes with her own ideas and does not take orders from anybody, including her parents. She always plays games with people, running away whenever she pleases and leaving clues for people to find her. It is all a part of this little game she plays with everyone she cares about, making them scared as she has fun. She is so determined to live by herself, the way she wants, so when she runs away again, it doesn’t scare her parents. It just annoys them to the point where they don’t care if she comes back. It’s when she goes missing for more than a few days that everyone starts to think she is not coming back. Her old friend from when they were kids, Quentin, tries to get into the life of Margo. He tries to think like she would in order to find her and get her back, before it is too late.

When I first found out about this book, I couldn’t wait to read it. The storyline seemed so interesting to me, that a girl who runs away leaves clues for people to find her. But when I actually started reading it, my high hopes for the book weren’t met. All of the clues Q had to follow to find Margo were very confusing. As the reader, I was very confused and couldn’t figure out how the clues added up to finding her. It was all very complex, and sometimes that’s good when you’re reading a book, to have it be a little confusing to make you think. But this book was so confusing and difficult to read. I wanted to put the book down because it was too hard to think about everything while still trying to enjoy the story. I have heard of other readers loving this book, hanging onto every detail. In the end, it’s just a matter of opinion. Mine may not be the popular opinion, but this is what I thought of it. If you like mystery and adventure, you should definitely try to read this book. While some parts were confusing, some were also pretty funny and meaningful. One of my favorite quotes I will always remember is “she loved mysteries so much she became one”. John Green is a mysterious writer himself, so I do still look forward to reading more of his books in the future.

-Sabrina C., 10th Grade

Paper Towns is available for check out from the Mission Viejo Public Library, Overdrive, and Axis360. 

Book Review: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

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abundance_of_katherinesAn Abundance of Katherines by John Green is phenomenal book that is about a boy who has only dated girls named Katherine. The book starts with a boy named Colin who is introduced to be a child prodigy. He has just had is heart broken by his nineteenth girlfriend named Katherine. Colin is extremely upset, so his friend Hassan convinces him to go on a road trip.

After convincing both of their parents, they go on the road trip. They stop in a town called Gutshot where they are offered summer jobs and a room to live in. The women who offers them these jobs has a daughter named Lindsey. Meanwhile, Colin is set on the fact of finding an equation that will predict the future of any relationship.

Eventually, Colin finds that he is attracted to Lindsey. However, Lindsey already has a boyfriend. Anyone who has read any John Green books in the past would certainly be interested in this book and it is a wonderful book that I would recommend to everyone.

-Melika R., 9th grade

 

6 Young Adult Books That Would Make Awesome Movies

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1. Every Day by David Levithan follows A, a teenager who wakes up each morning to find himself in the body and sharing the mind of another. A common concept throughout this novel is how love has the capacity to “reach beyond” things such as appearance and gender. I love this book and I feel it is one that should be shared outside of the standard YA reader audience.

let_it_snow_cover2. Let It Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green, and Lauren Myracle is a unique literary compilation written by three accomplished YA authors with similar writing styles and a common sense of humor. It tells the overlapping stories of three different pairs/groups of friends who are brought together by fate on Christmas Day. It’s funny, heartfelt, and really capitalizes on the magic and meaning of the holiday season.

3. Legend by Marie Lu would make an awesome dystopian action film due to its fascinating world building and interesting use of two very different narrators in two very different situations.

4. Encouraged by a friend, I read Wings (the first book in the Wings series) by Aprilynne Pike a few summers ago hoping for a quick read. The book hugely exceeded my expectations and I ended up getting the rest of the series the next day. Wings follows Laurel, a seemingly normal teenage girl, as she discovers the truth of her past, her ancestry, and herself. She soon finds herself in a world of faeries, human-like beings that couldn’t be less human. They are, ultimately, plants instead of animals. I think that it would be awesome to be able to see this supernatural world in a more visual way.

will_grayson_cover5. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan is an captivating and inspiring story about two very different teenagers with the same name that are brought together by fate. This book contains everything–from humor; to support of the LGBT community; to friendship; to love; to a Tiny Cooper musical. This is a truly amazing book and I believe it would make a great movie.

6. I’m not exactly sure of the status of the film rights for I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’d Have To Kill You (the first book in the Gallagher Girls Series) by Ally Carter. I have heard that they were purchased and sold and bought and expired. I have seen conflicting information, but last I heard, Tonik Productions had undertaken the project. If this is true, I am excited to see their final project. If it’s not, I am disappointed that they overlooked such an amazing opportunity. This series is a compilation of the journal entries of Cammie Morgan, a student at a clandestine spy-training academy disguised as an pristigious prep school for “exceptional young women”. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to do so, but don’t judge the series by its first book. 😉

What books do you wish to see on the big screen?

-Danielle K., 9th grade

Book vs. Movie: The Fault in Our Stars

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fault_bookvsmovieJust as a header- If you haven’t read and seen The Fault in Our Stars, this review might spoil a few things.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is an amazing book, teaching us many life lessons that we should keep with us forever. Be grateful for what you have; both of the main characters, Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters, have cancer. Cancer is a life-threatening disease, which for some reason always touches the human heart in a way that is indescribable. Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters go on an amazing ride, a rollercoaster that only goes up. As readers, we get to experience their amazing journey along side of them, staying with them when they fall in love. Every book has its tragedies, and so does this one. This book is quite a memory; it makes you feel as if this was your life. I will never forget this book.

Recently, a movie interpretation of this book was made, and it kept quite close to the actual book’s plot. Although the movie missed some aspects of the novel, it skipped ones that were really not that important to the progression of the story. The movie lacked the story of Augustus Waters’ ex-girlfriend, who also died from cancer. In the novel, Hazel finds out, but doesn’t do much of it aside from visiting the web page of his girlfriend, and seeing how and by who she was missed. However, this is one minor detail that needn’t be included in the story. On the other hand, the movie was surprisingly similar to the novel. The film kept in mind the novel’s little details, so much so that they even had a bright green sports car as Monica’s car just as in the novel.

In general, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a masterpiece that has simply been put into words and onto sheets and sheets of paper.

-Nirmeet B., 10th grade

Book Review: Paper Towns, by John Green

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paper_towns“At some point, you gotta stop looking up at the sky, or one of these days you’ll look back down and see that you floated away, too.”

Paper Towns is one of John Green’s lesser known novels, but I think it’s one of his best. A novel about an awkward boy who is in love with a girl far out of his league, its very similar to Looking for Alaska. Accompanied by his two best friends, the main character, “Q” embarks on a journey to find his lifelong crush, Margot Roth Speigelman after she runs away from home for the fifth time. The characters are quirky and lovable and each one has a unique personality and sense of humor to contribute to the plot.

“That’s always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want to be around someone because they’re pretty. It’s like picking your breakfast cereals based on color instead of taste.”

Quirky and filled with light humor, Paper Towns is not only a story about love and adventure but is a fun and entertaining novel that will make you laugh with every page.

-Sara S., 10th grade

Book vs. Movie: The Fault in Our Stars

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fault_bookvsmovieI believe everything wonderful there is to say about John Green’s The Fault in Our Starts has already stated several times over, not only on this site, but everywhere. Although it doesn’t need repeating, this is an incredibly powerful story about the star-crossed love between Hazel Grace and Augustus. The movie had to live up to a bestselling book, not to mention the large dedicated fan base that has high expectations, and it did not disappoint.

How to describe the movie? It was grand. Like a roller coaster that only goes up, the movie will make you feel all the things. Being in a movie theater on opening weekend is a very different experience than reading a book alone at your leisure.The particular theater I was in consisted mainly of teenage girls in blue sweatshirts with the little okay bubbles. The theater was split between the people who screamed at everything from the title to Augustus raising an eyebrow and the people who told the screamers to be quiet so they could watch the movie. Both groups just had different ways of showing their excitement.

For anyone out there who believes that they shouldn’t read/watch The Fault in Our Stars because it’s a cancer story or a stupid romance novel is misinformed. This is a story about love between two teenagers who just happen to have cancer. They both have their own quirks, Augustus looking for metaphors and Hazel using words like harmartia (fatal flaw).

Now to the differences from the book to the movie. They were minor and never took away from the feeling. These details include Augustus telling Hazel she looks like a specific actress (in order for her to come over and see a movie), Augustus telling Hazel he wrote his number in the book he lent her (which I always thought was so cute), Hazel’s friend she met at the mall that one time, Hazel informing Isaac she got super-hot after his procedure, Augustus’s former girlfriend, the naming/selling of the swing set, (and probably several more details I failed to notice). I think I only noticed these things because I was looking for them. Otherwise, all the great quotes to love and the moments that are shared remain the same.

Is the movie or the book better? Usually is a simple answer: the book. But this is not the case. Not that I’m saying that the movie is obviously superior either. Both the movie and the book tell the same story, just through different medias. If at all possible, I’d suggest both reading the book and watching the movie because only doing one is just okay. Okay?

-Nicole G., 10th grade

Book Review: Looking for Alaska, by John Green

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looking_for_alaskaIn the novel Looking For Alaska by John Green, you learn the true lesson of always looking out for your friends.

A boy named Miles leaves his boring life in Florida to seek his Great Perhaps. He decides that to do so he must go to boarding school. When he gets there, he meets his roommate the Colonel. The Colonel introduces Miles- who is now nicknamed Pudge- to a girl named Alaska. Pudge describes Alaska as the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life.

Pudge and Alaska spend a lot of time together and go through great adventures. Alaska has a lot going on in her life and one night she storms off and gets in a car accident. After the accident, Pudge and the Colonel go through great efforts to try and figure out what happened to her that night.

By the end of the book, Pudge believes that he has found his Great Perhaps. In this book, you capture the message to hang on to every moment and to always make every moment count. Pudge and the Colonel embrace that message after the accident. I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of 13. In the end, this was a great book and it was heart-warming.

-Melika R., 8th grade

Book Review: Looking for Alaska, by John Green

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“How do we get out of this labyrinth of suffering?”

looking_for_alaskaMiles Halter, “Pudge,” is just another ordinary kid. He doesn’t have a lot of friends, and he doesn’t like is boring life in Florida. He is smart though, smart enough to remember famous people’s last words. He wants to leave everything behind and go to a boarding school called Culver Creek in Alabama. He seeks “The Great Perhaps” to change his life.

Once he arrives, he does change. He has friends, one of them is Alaska Young. She is funny, beautiful, clever, and screwed-up. She changes his life completely. She pulls Miles into her labyrinth, shows him “The Great Perhaps,” and steals his heart. Miles likes his new life and understands that Culver Creek isn’t just a school, but “The Great Perhaps.”

He realizes that this could be his chance to start over with a clean slate. Alaska shows him that there is more to life than he ever imagined. She led him to see the world as a twisted labyrinth.

Looking for Alaska is a great story about romance and teen problems. John Green will leave you as an emotional wreck by the time you are done with this book. Books don’t usually make me cry, but this one came close. Don’t get me wrong, this book isn’t all sad. It’s also a comedy in more ways than one. It’s a quick read, which is good because you can read it all over again, afterwards. It’s a compelling and heart-wrenching story that you wouldn’t want to miss. However, I would strongly recommend this book for teens, 13 and up. After all, it is about teenagers and their life issues and interests. This is the first John Green book I have read, and I will definitely read more.

-Sabrina C., 8th grade

Really Good Books About Real Life

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Stephen Chbosky.  Ned Vizzini.  Sarah Dessen.  John Green.  What do all of these have in common, you ask?  Aside from being some of the best Young Adult book authors of all time, these four authors all write novels that deal with real teen lives.  I personally love books that deal with real life.  At the top of my teen novel list are The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, which is now a movie, It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, also a movie, all Sarah Dessen books, three of which were adapted into a movie called How to Deal, and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green- the movie version comes out this June.

perks_coverThe Perks of Being a Wallflower is officially my favorite book and movie.  I may be a bit biased because of this, but, I am telling you, anyone who reads this book will fall in love.  Extremely well written, containing characters you feel connected to, and ending with a surprising plot twist, I recommend this book a thousand times over to anyone who will listen.

kind_of_a_funny_story_coverIt’s Kind of a Funny Story is an excellent showcase of problems teens face everyday that really should be pointed out.  I watched the movie before realized there was a book (I know, shame on me) and, surprisingly, the movie does the book justice.  I know this is rarely the case with all of the “artistic” changes that take place when a movie is made that is based off of a book, but, with this cast, I don’t think anyone can complain.  Anyways, this book perfectly showcases the ups and downs of a teens life.  The downs include depression, suicide, and mental wards while love and friendship fill the ups.

truth_about_foreverEvery single Sarah Dessen book I have read has left me wanting to read another.  Unlike some authors, Dessen does not write series, but single books that stand by themselves.  And, for a little fun fact, there is always at least one small detail that connects one of the books with another.  For example, she often has a main character run into a minor character from a different book or includes a location that is the main setting of another book, but is just a shop that is passed by and commented on by the character in your book.  It may just be me, but whenever I realize she is connecting her books, it makes me feel like an ultra-fan for noticing.  Some of my favorite books by her are Keeping the Moon, This Lullaby, The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, Lock and Key, Along for the Ride, and What Happened to Goodbye.  

fault_in_our_stars_coverAnd finally, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  This is the only John Green book I have read so far, though I want to read more.  Once again, stupid library-goers are hogging books.  Anyways, this book is definitely a  tear-jerker.  I was sobbing alone in my room when I finished this book.  Now that I have warned you, I can get to describing the amazingness of the novel.  First of all, it is the most well-written book I have ever read.  Green seems to seamlessly weave together teenage “language” (if it can even be considered a language) and eloquent phrases.  Second, you begin to love the characters the moment you meet them.  Lastly, who doesn’t love a good romance?  Overall, this is one of my favorite teen romance novels to date.

I don’t mean Hollywood “real life.”  I mean REAL life problems that are not glorified or made unrealistic because they become too nitty-gritty.  That could be the reasoning behind why I enjoy these books so much.  I feel like too many authors make a happy ending just so they don’t have to go too deep.  But that is what makes these so great.  You can connect with these characters because they are going through the same things you may be experiencing.  Besides, life isn’t always a happy ending, so why should books always have to have one?

– Kaelyn L., 10th grade

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: A Literary Dissection

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fault_in_our_stars_cover“To repeat something I’ve said again and again, the writer’s intention is irrelevant…Whether the author intended a symbol or theme or whatever is irrelevant; if you find that it aids you in your observation and interrogation of the universe, then it succeeds regardless of its authorial intent.” -John Green

I read this book for the first time a long while ago, have read it countless times since then, and decided to write this review in honor, reflection, and recognition of its movie trailer release last month. I know there has been an abundance of reviews on this book already, but no one has captured or reflected upon this novel as I have mentally– which I guess would have been impossible, for “no two persons ever read the same book” (Edmund Wilson). Although I consider the following a (brief) critical analysis, remember that reading a good book is detective work: the further you look into it; the closer you pay attention, the more it will reward you.

CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD!! 

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