notes for the weekend: turtles all the way down

John Green is one of my favorite contemporary writers, and I think the best YA author out there, right now. He does so well capturing the teenage voice in a way that makes you empathize, charms you, and impresses you. His humor is spot on. Characters are great: quirky and funny and unique. So I was excited to read “Turtles all the Way Down”, a story about a OCD high-school student named Ava, caught up in an investigation of her wealthy friend’s missing father. It all takes place here in Indianapolis, where John lives.

Verdict? I loved it.

It’s not as philosophical as “The Fault in Our Stars”, but neither are the characters, who struggle far more with fixation, anxiety and acceptance than they do with the meaning of life in the face of death. And yet, it’s so clear that Green has a deep respect for young adults: he introduces them to big concepts, and big questions, and doesn’t buck at the way a teenager might be feeling and thinking about these things.

One of the things I appreciated most, and one of the reasons I picked the book up in the first place, was getting inside the mind of the main character as someone who struggles with OCD - a diagnosis that’s far more talked about than understood. Understanding the way OCD impacts Ava was really helpful to me, and I loved the way John didn’t skirt away from the messiness of trying to “fix” the problem. It’s one of Ava’s main character arcs, and I think it’s really insightful.

All in all, I wasn’t disappointed at all. John Green is a go-to for my summer reading. Plus, as a fun bonus, I knew all of the places in this story as an Indianapolis, and was surprised/delighted to find some friends in the book as well.

If you’re looking for one last summer read as the window closes, highly recommend.

You can find the book here.