Book Club Reviews “Turtles All The Way Down” by John Green

By Lia Low

 

 
Turtles All The Down by John Green

Templeton’s book club finished John Green’s Turtles All The Way Down this spring break. It took us about one month to read as we take our time for those of us with tight schedules, school trips, and family vacations. We plan to read The Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins, Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao, and The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides in the upcoming months.

Our average rating for this novel is 4.15/5 stars. It is a medium-paced, young adult story that focuses on the main character’s anxiety, resilience, and friendships. The protagonist, Aza Holmes, is a sixteen-year-old girl who gets sucked into the investigation of the disappearance of the fugitive and billionaire, Russell Pickett. She reunites with her old friend, Davis (Mr. Pickett’s son), and she navigates who she is as a person. Aza’s best friend hopes for the one hundred-thousand-dollar reward, which she aims to get while battling the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. This book is reflective, emotional, and available in Templeton’s library if you are interested in reading it.

Personally, I found this to be a relatively easy read with relatable characters and an interesting plot. I think I would have liked the story more if I had read it a year or two ago, but I am glad to have read it and to have done so with the book club. If you have already read Turtles All The Way Down, I would strongly recommend reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It is a similar character-driven, coming-of-age story, although it may be triggering for some readers. Some more suggestions from other members of the club are Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Paper Towns by John Green.

Happy reading from Templeton’s book club!

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