A review by a_j19
Paper Towns by John Green

adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Paper Towns by John Green wasn't terrible, but I’m not going to actively try and recommend it to anyone. It was a nice and quick read, but I have three major complaints. 1. The slang and jokes in this book are super outdated and didn’t age well. They weren’t anything I couldn’t deal with, but they definitely didn’t make me laugh. 2. Lacey had no personality, and it felt like the only reason she was included was to check the “female character included in story” box. It was really annoying. 3. Margo’s obvious mental illness was completely glossed over. She ran away enough times that people were no longer surprised by her disappearance and she basically idolized death. Instead of using Margo’s actions as a way to discuss mental illness, she turned into a stereotypical “manic pixie dream girl.”
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