John Green has become a hallmark name when it comes to young adult books, but is he still the passionate and ultimately creative writer he was when he wrote the critically-acclaimed, smash success The Fault in Our Stars.
Green’s latest book Turtles All the Way Down features sixteen-year old Aza who never intended to pursue the mystery of the missing, fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett. However there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward on the line, and her best friend Daisy is more than eager to investigate. Although both want the reward, Aza feels bad searching for somebody who does not want to be found especially when his oldest son Davis was one of Aza’s childhood friends. At first, Aza doesn’t want anything to do with him but the closer Aza and Davis get, the more they realize that they have feelings for each other.
Turtles All the Way Down was at best an average book because it had no real climax and was ultimately bland. A good thing about this book is the way Green captures Aza’s needling anxiety and compulsions perfectly. Her inner voice of doubt that causes her to question things she knows, leading to worrisome tangents.
Sadly, this is where the praises end. Everything in Aza’s life is either boring or truly annoying. This book could have easily been amazing if it focused on just her mental health problems and never ending therapy sessions, but instead a blinding attempt at an edgy subplot about a missing billionaire was included. The intended comic relief Daisy was nothing but annoying and problematic throughout the book. She comes off as very selfish due to her treatment of her friends, especially her on and off again boyfriend, Mychal. The book managed to be overcrowded and at the same time lacked substance and felt empty. The lack of climax made me not want to finish the book because I began to not care if they found Russell Pickett or not.
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This book is definitely one of John Green’s most dull books. His use of unrealistic, philosophical teen conversations has finally stopped working in his favor and is rather working against him.