Paper Towns

By: John Green

Narrated by: Dan John Miller

Length: 8 hrs

Publisher's Summary

From the number-one best-selling author of Turtles All the Way Down and The Fault in Our Stars

Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery
Number-one New York Times best seller
USA Today best seller
Publishers Weekly best seller
Now a major motion picture

When Margo Roth Spiegelman beckons Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night - dressed like a ninja and plotting an ingenious campaign of revenge - he follows her. Margo’s always planned extravagantly, and, until now, she’s always planned solo. After a lifetime of loving Margo from afar, things are finally looking up for Q...until day breaks and she has vanished. Always an enigma, Margo has now become a mystery. But there are clues. And they’re for Q.

Printz Medalist John Green returns with the trademark brilliant wit and heart-stopping emotional honesty that have inspired a new generation of listeners.

©2008 John Green (P)2019 Listening Library

Critic Reviews

"Green’s prose is astounding - from hilarious, hyperintellectual trash talk and shtick, to complex philosophizing, to devastating observation and truths." (SLJ starred review)

"[Green’s] a superb stylist, with a voice perfectly matched to his amusing, illuminating material." (Booklist starred review)

"Laugh-out-loud humor and heartfelt poignancy." (Kliatt starred review)

Problems with the audio recording

The book was awesome! However, several errors on the audio recording takes away some of the excitement; the recording repeats itself on several occasions and makes you lose the flow of the story; which makes you go back and listen and re-listen until you realize the problem isn't that you're not paying attention but the recording itself. I also couldn't shake off the worry that some parts of the story were deleted from the recording due to the errors.

Excellent Read!

My son is reading this book for a summer program so I thought it would be fun if I "read" it too, so we could talk about it. I expected it to be very juvenile and lame but I was pleasantly surprised! It is actually a great read! I loved the humor in the book and the suspense certainly kept me "turning the pages!" I would recommend this book to everyone!

Loved this voice

I had not read a John Green book since The Fault in Our Stars and I loved this one just as much. Very developed characters and exciting plot! Great voice!

Great but problems with the audio

The book iş really great in both story and underlining ideas. For some reason parts of the audio read twice, like when you're tired and read the same line twice. IT only happens like three times and i'm still not süre whether it adds something or takes away, but it's really just a minor nuance in the scope of the entire story.

Everyone should know a Margo

i evjoywd this fictional story. i originally heard from John Green in his podcast The Anthropocene Reviewed. It is a masterful piece of art. If you like this story, you will love the podcast, but enough of that. This story has a Margo, an adventurous spirit of a person who tugs on the lives of others - though perhaps somewhat unknowningly. It reminds me of a girl I knew some years back of her adventurous spirit which people would simply gravitate around getting caught up in her excitement for life. Everyone should do one such road trip. Everyone should either have such a Margo moment, even if for a weekend, or a Margo friend.

You'll never know if you don't go

Coming of age, a mystery and a romance all in one? John Green has got your back.

Most relatable and captivating books

One of the most amazing books I've had the pleasure of listening to or reading. It was captivating and wonderful, I listened to it every chance I got. Amazing beginning and a spectacular ending. I have never had the pleasure of reading a book that made me feel so connected to the characters, I feel like I knew them.

Good story but not my style.

Great narration and visualization. such a sad story about such a selfish y oung girl.

Too Many Impossibilities

I should have said this when I first submitted my review but John, I enjoy your and Hank's videos tremendously. Though that doesn't change my mind about the words typed below, I wanted you to know that you guys are great and to keep up the good work (except, of course, for this book).

Initially I thought it was an intriguing story. Teenager stuff, I guess, but not expressed in a teenager-type way. Amusing.
Still have a few more minutes to listen, but have some logical questions fighting in my thoughts.
Are we to think that the parents accepted these last minute travel plans? And the BP card wouldn't have been used to track down the runaways? That Margo would really be in a dress when they found her? And the trip surely would have produced bickering? And nobody took into account the consequences of their actions?
And what kind of work did Margo do to sustain herself? Where did she go if it rained? Also, when did these kids crap during the long ride? And no one was complaining, or was grouchy or got smelly? And if Margo was moving to New York, why weren't her bags packed or car loaded. And no one stopped by that building at the intersection to check out why there was a car parked next to it? And wouldn't other curious visitors have come to visit this Papertown thus invading her privacy? And how did she get by without running water? Did they have working phone chargers on the ride? And a minivan went that long and fast without malfunctioning (along with getting such wonderful gas mileage)... even after the accident? And NO ONE ever stopped them along the way? Other drivers didn't report them speeding? The BP station attendants didn't call the police because of such unusual behavior?
And Margo must be mentally ill if she had no reaction (good, bad, surprised, pissed, confused, bewildered, amazed) when she saw these 4 teenagers pop out of nowhere after an overly remarkable drive? And adequate cell reception in the middle of nowhere?
And if Lacie was a normal teenager, she would have long ago dumped Ben who doesn't seem to have any redeeming qualities.
And no one had second thoughts about this ordeal as they were driving? They were all of one mind?
At the very end, when Quentin is helping bring her stuff to the car, aren't both of their hands and arms dirty from the digging? And why the specific timetable for leaving her dilapidated home/office?
Story created a robust appetite but ended up leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

Not a mystery

the author takes you on a long ride with no twists or turns. not recommended.

Worth it

Loved to move so much that I decide to read the novel and to my surprise, it's even better than the movie

This was a GREAT book!

I listened to the book and followed along in the actual book which was fun! I watched the movie afterwards which was not even close to the book so don't waste your time on the movie. I really loved the book though.

Wow

Loved it but a bit disappointed with the end what a shame it ended like that