Like most young adults born in 2000, I learned everything I needed to know about love and relationships between the covers of John Green novels. You can bet I had the infamous blue and black, “Okay? Okay.” sticker on my seventh grade binder. And, much like Hazel Grace’s obsession with fictional author Peter Van Houten, I too would read John Green’s grocery lists if given the opportunity.
Reviews by Caroline McCarthy, Staff Writer
An Abundance of Katherines (2006)
John Green’s top ranked book, “An Abundance of Katherines,” focuses on child genius Colin Singleton and his struggle between maintaining his intellectual status and his continuous cycle of girlfriends named Katherine. When his last girlfriend, Katherine the Nineteenth, dumps him, he uses the time to attempt to find himself, and solve the ultimate mathematical theorem to find love. Which, in case you were wondering, is as follows: -D7X8+D2X3- (x2/A3) -CX2-PX+ (1/A) + 13P+ (SIN (2X)/2) [1+(-1)H+1 (X+11(3.14)/2)h/ |X+11(3.14)/2|H]
Will Grayson, Will Grayson (2010)
“Will Grayson, Will Grayson,” tells the story of two teenaged boys who share the same name, but couldn’t be more different. Will Grayson number one suffers from depression and spends his time conversing with an online boyfriend whom he’s never met. Will Grayson number two is a polite, well-mannered teenager who is best friends with openly flamboyant homosexual, Tiny Cooper. The two worlds collide when vivacious Tiny Cooper and melancholy Will Grayson number one begin dating.
Paper Towns (2008)
“Paper Towns,” follows quirky, shy high schooler Quentin as he is abducted into a whirlwind of mischievous pranks by the most popular girl in school, Margo Roth Spieglman. Margo’s friends have all betrayed her, and tonight is her night for justice. Quentin loves being her companion, but when she disappears, he finds out they may not have been partners in crime after all.
Looking For Alaska (2005)
Miles Halter lives an ordinary, boring and friendless life at his public high school. So, for his junior year he decides to go to Culver Creek boarding school in Alabama. There he meets Alaska Young; a vivacious, troubled and beautiful girl whom Miles is instantly in love with. His now perfect life comes to a screeching halt when Alaska is reported to have died in a car accident. “Looking for Alaska,” portrays the complexities of suicidal characters and their many masks that they hide behind.
The Fault in Our Stars (2012)
“The Fault in our Stars,” is a heartbreaking love story between two teenaged cancer patients. Augustus Waters falls for Hazel Grace at a support group meeting, where he is effortlessly conducting metaphors by keeping a cigarette between his teeth, without ever lighting it. The two go on the adventure of a lifetime together to visit Hazel’s favorite author. When fate takes its course and August’s cancer returns, the two have to make the best of the time they have left.
Photos Courtesy of johngreenbooks.com