To choose a good book, look in an inquisitor’s prohibited list. ~John Aikin

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Showing posts with label John Green. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Green. Show all posts

Paper Towns, by John Green

Title: Paper Towns
Author:
John Green
Publish Date:
September 22, 2009
Publisher:
Speak/Penguin Young Readers Group
Pages:
320
Price: Paperback $9.99
ISBN:
014241493X
Classification:
Fiction
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Age Range:
Young Adult

Annotation:
When Margo shows up at Q's (short for Quentin's) window in the middle of the night she asks him to help in an all night, brilliant revenge scheme. Having a crush from afar for a LONG time, he goes along with it. But the next day she is missing, leaving behind her a ton of clues for him to find and decode.

Summary:
When Margo Spiegelman calls for Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night at his window, she is spewing a plot of crazy revenge dressed like a secret agent. Margo’s always planned in a stye that's over the top, but until this point, she’s keeps the ninja behavior to herself. Quentin, aka Q, has always crushed on Margo from afar, so Q looks at the opportunity as a turn for the better. He follows her into a one night mission of revenge that takes them from ex-friend's houses to Sea World. But after their crusade, the next day at school, his love-from-afar-turned-potential has completely disappeared and his hopes are squashed! Though not so surprised (Margo has always been an riddle), Q finds himself in a mystery chalk full of clues. And, the best part is: they’re for Q!

Evaluation:
John Green is a great author who created a relatable character. It speaks to the slight over thinker who longs to connect. Also, this books goes along with a handful of others that prove YA literature can be smart and complex. A highlight is the use of the poem "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman.

Cool Websites in the Green World : John Green http://www.sparksflyup.com/index.php, Youtube http://www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers Nerdfighters http://nerdfighters.ning.com/

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness:
Romance, Social Outcast, Issues with Runaways, Connecting with Others, Coming of Age, Parental Issues

Reason this book was chosen:
I love when authors use literary references and have an all-over intelligent tone. John Green, award winning author for Looking for Alaska, creates a book that looks at relationship and coming of age in an insightful book with a plot driven by mystery to boot!

Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green, David Levithan

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author: John Green, David Levithan
Publish Date: April 6, 2010
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 304
ISBN: 0525421580
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult
Price: $17.99
Annotation: Two famous young adult authors collaborate to create two characters. Both characters have the name Will Grayson. They meet and their lives become intertwined in a revealing way.

Summary: Two boys living in Chicago are about to meet. What's special about that? They both happen to have the same name: Will Grayson. Completely different in nature, these two Will Graysons, once crossed, intertwine and change each others lives in deep and meaningful ways. Told in alternating Will Grayson perspective, we follow the two boy as they work through their problems through the funny and the emo and the epic high school musical!

Evaluation: Both David Levithan & John Green are top notch authors. I was thrilled to see the collaboration and couldn't wait to read it! It didn't disappoint! It was funny, smart, and really meaningful. The flux of emotions was visceral-at times I actually laughed out loud! Others I was crushed; it was vicariously painful.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Self-realization, homosexuality, Sadness/Depression, love, loss, true friendship

Reason this book was chosen: For the authors and their collaboration. Also, it really deals with friendship issues, the angsty years as we try to figure out who we are, and the gay issues are poignant. Also, teens that deal with depression may find this book relatable in both it's black humor.