Turtles All The Way Down
Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Genre/Themes/Demo: YA, Contemporary, Mental Health
Release Date: October 10th 2017
Page Count: 286
Format: Audiobook/Hardcover
ISBN: 9780525555360
Author Website | Book Depository | Amazon | Chapters/Indigo
Initial Post Reading Thoughts
I won’t lie. I wasn’t exactly super excited for this new John Green release. Maybe if it had been released soon after The Fault In Our Stars, but since reading that book a few years ago, I felt as though I may have outgrown John Green. It’s not that I suddenly dislike him or his writing, I just wasn’t as excited as I could have been for the release of Turtles All The Way Down. However, upon finally picking it up and giving it a shot, I ended up really enjoying it. It felt slightly different than his previous works and I’m not quite sure why that is just yet!
Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis. Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.
What I Liked
The mental health discussion. I will instantly love any book that has a serious and meaningful discussion around mental health. I feel like there should be more books that discuss mental health, especially within teenagers. I would have loved to have seen more books like these when I was a teen and I’m glad that more and more have started to be published lately. I hope to see more books like this in the future.
The writing. I know a lot of people have their issues with John Green’s writing and the way that his characters speak, but honestly…it’s never bothered me. If anything, I really quite like it. I think it’s unique and beautifully done and part of what makes John Green’s books so enjoyable for me. Turtles All The Way Down was no different. It felt mature and heartfelt and perfect for those who love the traditional John Green style.
The unique backdrop. In the foreground of the story, we have a young girl and her struggle with mental health. In the background we have a young boy and the mysterious disappearance of his father. While neither of these stories is all that unique on its own, mixing the two together definitely makes for an interesting mix.
What I Didn’t Like
The length/conclusion? Turtles All The Way Down felt like a really short read, and at 286 pages I guess it technically is. However, I felt as though it may have been too short. The ending felt slightly rushed and therefore the conclusion wasn’t the greatest for me. I kind of wish that this book was a little longer that way the ending could feel a little more complete.
Overall, I ended up enjoying Turtles All The Way Down a lot more than I thought I would. As I mentioned, I didn’t really have any intention to read it right away, but I’m really glad that I did. So, how many more years before we get a new John Green book this time?
About The Author
John Green is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and The Fault in Our Stars. He is also the coauthor, with David Levithan, of Will Grayson, Will Grayson. He was the 2006 recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award, a 2009 Edgar Award winner, and has twice been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Green’s books have been published in more than 55 languages and over 24 million copies are in print. John is also an active Twitter user with more than 5 million followers.
Thank you for reading!
Big City Bookworm 
I finished this book about a week ago. I think the difference between this one and his others is that the others mainly focused on the relationship whereas TATWD focused on Aza and her struggle with mental health. Like, the boy is there and he is a part of the story, but he doesn’t consume her life – she can’t become lost in him like Hazel could with Augustus. And I think that is really important in a discussion of this type of mental health – it can’t be ignored and, if not handled well, it is THAT central to your life.
Great review.
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I totally agree with you! That’s probably why I liked this one as much as I did! Thank you so much! 😀
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I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while now, so thank you for your recommendation. I’ve yet to read anything by John Green (surprisingly, even though “The Fault in Our Stars” is so popular.) Thank you for sharing – great review. 🙂
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Thank you so much and no problem at all! I can’t wait to see what you think of it! 😀
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