Smith,+Adam



High School senior Quentin "Q" Jacobson has always been captivated from afar by his beautiful, adventuresome, mysterious, and altogether out-of-his-league neighbor Margo. In the waning days of his high school career things are complacent until the fateful night that Margo shows up at Q's window. She whisks the rational Quentin out of his comfortable life and into an all-night escapade. Just as he feels himself getting closer to the girl of his dreams, however, she vanishes. No trace is left but an assortment of strategic clues- hints that could only be intended for Q. Compelled, he embarks with his friends on a fantastic journey to solve the entrancing mystery that is Margo Roth Spiegelman. ** Quentin "Q" Jacobson ****//Protagonist // ** //**- ** //  Quentin enters the stage as a high school senior, self-described "nerd," and neighbor to Margo Roth Spiegelman. Q can be characterized as noble, slightly over-thinking, and generally rational (though sometimes impulsive.) **Margo Roth Spiegelman- ** Free spirited, mysterious, and unattainable, Margo becomes Q's <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">preoccupation for the better part of the novel, even after her disappearance. Though absent, her captivating, adventurous personality penetrates the narrative, and she is nevertheless a major character.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">**<span style="color: #f53d3d; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">"I can’t help feeling that Keats’s 'Belle Dame Sans Merci' is really the poem that shapes Quentin’s quest. Green’s 'wild-eyed lass' has precedence there, as does Quentin’s preoccupation with a girl who never lets you go." -Sutton, **<span style="display: inline !important; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">//<span style="color: #f53d3d; display: inline !important; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">New York Times //  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> Marcus "Radar" Lincoln- ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">An important friend of Q's, Radar is best identified as the creator and primary curator of his brainchild: a vast, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">encyclopedic database known as Omnictionary (a resource eerily akin to our "Wikipedia.") Radar is intelligent, thorough, and extremely procedural, often serving as a much-needed voice of reason. On an unrelated note, and much to his embarrassment, Radar's parents' collection of black Santas goes virtually unparalleled in the <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Northern Hemisphere. <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> Ben Starling- ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">A mutual friend of both Q and Radar, Ben's <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">awkwardly obstreperous personality is simultaneously obnoxious and endearing. While his girl-crazed antics tend to bring him trouble, he remains almost irritatingly persistent and optimistic. <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> Lacey Pemberton- ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">Margo's supposed best friend, the ultra-popular Lacey begins a wholly unexpected relationship with Ben, subsequently becoming absorbed into the gang's antics. **<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">Title and Lead- <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;"> Although trivial in other works, both the title and opening sequence play vital roles in this novel. As a fairly ambiguous title //Paper Towns// carries with it almost no connotation, and gives the novel a sense of greater mystery from the very beginning. ("Paper towns" are, as it is eventually explained, fictitious communities placed on maps as jokes or for copyright purposes; this concept of fabricated places becomes an symbolically resonant concept later in the narrative.) As important as the title is the lead-in. Of all the stories I have read recently, I have no hesitation in concluding that //Paper Towns// has by far the most interesting and pleasantly-paced introduction. The prelude does not drag its feet, nor does it throw the reader into the thick without a wisp of context; instead it efficiently and wittily introduces characters and foreshadows conflict before sending the reader on a delightfully unexpected adventure.

Dialogue and Character Development- Dialogue is a key device in this book, being utilized as both a means of plot extension and of character development. The concept is even carried into such mediums as instant messaging; strings of online dialogue are common occurrence throughout the novel. Despite its ubiquity, conversation is utilized tastefully and truly works to breathe life into characters. It allows personalities to flourish and vital characterizations to manifest, exponentially increasing both the realism and enjoyability of the novel.

Overall Style and Flow- <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-weight: normal;">In his tremendous narrative, Green wields the English language with the deft yet natural touch of a practiced master. His piercing wit and stunning capacity to carry both **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">relatability and the extraordinary give his well-phrased ideas an extra dimension of readability. His cast of characters naturally seem to enhance and balance one another without seeming forced. The final product is a delightful blend of humor and profoundness- a unique style that is easily appreciated. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;">**<span style="color: #f53d3d; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: center;">"He’s a superb stylist, with a voice perfectly matched to his amusing, illuminating material." - //<span style="color: #f53d3d; display: inline !important; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">Booklist // **  <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;"> John Green is an author, semi-professional video blogger, and most recently, a father. Growing up in Orlando, He was able to effectively use his experiences and recollections of the city as a backdrop for //Paper Towns.// He currently resides in Indianapolis.

// Looking for Alaska // (2006) // An Abundance of Katherines // (2007) // Paper Towns // (2008) // Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances // (Co-written with Maureen Johnson and Laura Myracle- 2008) // Will Grayson, Will Grayson // (Co-written with David Levithan- 2010) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> For more information, Please visit [|Nerdfighters.com].
 * John Green's works include: **

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">**Destiny Review:** Speaking as a high schooler living in a society infatuated with a grievously exaggerated and often fabricated impression of our generation, I feel Mr. Green's book could not come at a more opportune time. This refreshing narrative wittily captures a snapshot of teenage life which, while not always completely accurate, is one that is nonetheless entertaining and comes far closer to the truth than most. The story, which centers around one young man's girl-incited journey, is a distorted take on the quintessential boy-meets-girl tale; instead of focusing on physical attraction, it lends itself to the reasons men find themselves so entranced. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">//<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Paper Towns //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">is sharp, terribly funny, and classily true: a wholly pleasant read. <span style="color: #160afa; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> **<span style="color: #f53d3d; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">"Different readers will take away different messages from this book. I recommend that you read it if you’re looking for beautifully written contemporary YA, or if you like literary explorations of character." -Kincy ** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 14px;">Cart, Michael. "Paper Towns." Rev. of //Paper Towns// by John Green. Booklist. 1 Jun. 2008. Web. 27 May. 2010 <<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;">[]  >. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Green, John. //Paper Towns//. New York: Penguin, 2008. Print. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 14px;"> Kincy, Karen. "Review- Paper Towns by John Green." Rev. of <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; line-height: 14px;">//<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 14px;">Paper Towns // <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 14px;"> by John Green. 2009. Web. 3 Jun. 2010. <[] <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 16px;">>.

Sutton, Roger. " <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">Boys in Girls’ Orbits." Rev. of //Paper Towns// by John Green. The New York Times. 5 Dec. 2008. Web. 27 May. 2010 <[]>.