Summary
John Green's Turtles All the Way Down is a powerful young adult novel that took the literary world by storm upon its release in 2017. The book, which tackles themes of mental health, friendship, and self-discovery, quickly rose to the top of The New York Times Best Seller list and remained there for an impressive 15 weeks. Green's personal experience with OCD lends an authentic voice to the protagonist's struggles, making this work particularly poignant and relatable.
Critical acclaim for Turtles All the Way Down was almost universal, with many reviewers praising Green's ability to portray the complexities of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder with unflinching honesty. The novel's success extended beyond literary circles, earning recognition from major media outlets and being featured on popular programs such as 60 Minutes and NPR's Fresh Air. Its impact on readers and critics alike solidified Green's status as one of the most influential young adult authors of his generation.
In an exciting development for fans, Turtles All the Way Down has been adapted into a film directed by Hannah Marks. The movie, starring Isabela Merced as the protagonist Aza Holmes, was released on the streaming service Max in May 2024. This adaptation brings Green's compelling narrative and complex characters to life on screen, potentially introducing the story to an even wider audience and further cementing its place in contemporary popular culture.
Plot
Sixteen-year-old Aza Holmes struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety, which manifest as an intense fear of pathogens and microbes. When fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett disappears, Aza's best friend Daisy convinces her to investigate the case, tempted by the $100,000 reward. Their search leads them to Pickett's son Davis, an old acquaintance of Aza's. To deter their investigation, Davis gives the girls $100,000 from his father's hidden stashes.
As Aza and Davis rekindle their friendship and begin dating, Aza's mental health challenges intensify. She finds herself unable to fully engage in the relationship due to her anxiety. Meanwhile, Daisy starts dating their friend Mychal and uses her Star Wars fan fiction as an outlet for her frustrations with Aza. The tensions between the two friends culminate in a heated argument and a car accident, landing Aza in the hospital for eight days.
During her recovery, Aza works on managing her compulsions through routine, exposure therapy, and new medications. She also mends her friendship with Daisy. Their investigation takes an unexpected turn when they discover Russell Pickett's decomposing body in an unfinished drainage tunnel system. Aza informs Davis, who anonymously tips off the police, leading to the recovery of Pickett's remains.
With their father confirmed dead and his entire fortune left to his pet tuatara, Davis and his younger brother Noah decide to relocate to Colorado. As Aza bids farewell to Davis, she reflects on the open possibilities of her future, hinting at her ongoing journey to manage her mental health and navigate life's challenges.
Themes
Mental health and living with OCD
The power of friendship and support
Coming of age and self-discovery
Love and relationships in adolescence
Family dynamics and loss
The search for truth and meaning
Overcoming personal challenges and resilience
Setting
The events of Turtles All the Way Down unfold in the contemporary era, reflecting the modern challenges and technologies faced by today's teenagers. Set against the backdrop of Indianapolis, Indiana, the story captures the essence of Midwestern American life in a bustling urban environment.
While much of the action takes place within the city limits of Indianapolis, the novel also explores the surrounding areas. The White River plays a significant role, serving as a conduit for the protagonists' investigation. The Pickett family estate, located on the outskirts of the city, becomes a focal point for several key scenes in the narrative.
Specific locations within Indianapolis feature prominently in the story, including the characters' high school and an unfinished drainage tunnel system connected to Pogue's Run. These settings provide a rich, textured environment that grounds the characters' experiences in a tangible, relatable world while simultaneously offering opportunities for adventure and discovery.
Characters
Aza Holmes: The 16-year-old protagonist who struggles with severe OCD and anxiety. Her intrusive thoughts often revolve around fears of bacterial infection. Aza is intelligent and introspective, but her mental health challenges make it difficult for her to form close relationships. She grapples with her identity and place in the world throughout the novel.
Daisy Ramirez: Aza's best friend and foil character. Daisy is outgoing, ambitious, and writes Star Wars fan fiction. She initiates the search for the missing billionaire Russell Pickett. Daisy's friendship with Aza is tested by Aza's mental health struggles.
Davis Pickett: The son of the missing billionaire Russell Pickett. Davis is thoughtful and poetic, maintaining a blog where he shares his feelings about his father's disappearance and his relationship with Aza. He develops a romantic relationship with Aza despite the challenges posed by her OCD.
Russell Pickett: The fugitive billionaire whose disappearance sets the plot in motion. Though he doesn't appear directly in the novel, his actions and absence significantly impact the lives of the other characters.
Mychal Turner: A friend of Aza and Daisy, and an aspiring artist. He becomes romantically involved with Daisy during the course of the novel.
Noah Pickett: Davis's younger brother. He struggles with the absence of his father and the uncertainty of his future.
Quick facts
Turtles All the Way Down debuted at #1 on The New York Times bestseller list and remained there for 15 weeks.
John Green drew from his own experiences with OCD to write the main character Aza's struggles.
The title refers to a philosophical idea about the infinite regression of explanations for the universe's origins.
Green left clues about the book in his Vlogbrothers YouTube videos leading up to its release.
He read a section of the novel during a charity livestream before it was published, but the recording was not archived to protect copyright.
The book features Star Wars fan fiction written by the character Daisy.
A tuatara, an ancient reptile species from New Zealand, plays a small but significant role in the plot.
The novel explores themes of mental illness, friendship, and coming-of-age.
It was Green's first novel in nearly 6 years, following the massively successful The Fault in Our Stars.
A film adaptation directed by Hannah Marks and starring Isabela Merced was released on Max in May 2024.
About the Author
John Green is an award-winning American author best known for his young adult novels, including Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars. Born in 1977, Green published his first novel in 2005 and quickly rose to fame in the young adult fiction world. His books have sold over 50 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 55 languages. Green's writing style, which often tackles serious themes with wit and authenticity, is credited with helping usher in a new era of contemporary, realistic teen fiction.
Beyond his literary career, Green is also well-known as an online content creator. Along with his brother Hank, he runs the popular YouTube channel Vlogbrothers and co-created educational series like Crash Course. The Green brothers have built a passionate online community called “Nerdfighteria” and organize an annual charity fundraiser called Project for Awesome. Green's influence extends across multiple platforms, with Time magazine naming him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014.
Green has been open about his struggles with mental health, including anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. These experiences have informed his writing, particularly in novels like Turtles All the Way Down. In recent years, Green has expanded into nonfiction with The Anthropocene Reviewed, which began as a podcast before becoming a bestselling essay collection. He has also become increasingly involved in global health advocacy, particularly in the fight against tuberculosis.
Despite his success, Green has faced some criticism and controversy. Several of his books have been targeted by book banning attempts, with Looking for Alaska named the most challenged book of 2015. Green has actively spoken out against book banning and joined lawsuits challenging such laws in Iowa and Florida. Throughout his career, Green has remained committed to authenticity in his writing and engagement with his audience, continually evolving as an author and public figure.
