Michael Cart (Booklist, Jun. 1, 2008 (Vol. 104, No. 19))
Starred Review* Quentin—or “Q.” as everyone calls him—has known his neighbor, the fabulous Margo Roth Spiegelman, since they were two. Or has he? Q. can’t help but wonder, when, a month before high-school graduation, she vanishes. At first he worries that she might have committed suicide, but then he begins discovering clues that seem to have been left for him, which might reveal Margo’s whereabouts. Yet the more he and his pals learn, the more Q. realizes he doesn’t know and the more he comes to understand that the real mystery is not Margo’s fate but Margo herself—enigmatic, mysterious, and so very alluring. Yes, there are echoes of Green’s award-winning Looking for Alaska (2006): a lovely, eccentric girl; a mystery that begs to be solved by clever, quirky teens; and telling quotations (from The Leaves of Grass, this time) beautifully integrated into the plot. Yet, if anything, the thematic stakes are higher here, as Green ponders the interconnectedness of imagination and perception, of mirrors and windows, of illusion and reality. That he brings it off is testimony to the fact that he is not only clever and wonderfully witty but also deeply thoughtful and insightful. In addition, he’s a superb stylist, with a voice perfectly matched to his amusing, illuminating material. Grades 9-12

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2008 (Vol. 76, No. 17))
Printz Medal Winner and Honoree Green knows what he does best and delivers once again with this satisfying, crowd-pleasing look at a complex, smart boy and the way he loves. Quentin (Q) has loved Margo Roth Spiegelman since they were kids riding their bikes, but after they discovered the body of a local suicide they never really spoke again. Now it's senior year; Margo is a legend and Q isn't even a band geek (although quirky best friends Ben and Radar are). Then Margo takes Q on a midnight adventure and disappears, leaving convoluted clues for Q. The clues lead to Margo's physical location but also allow Q to see her as a person and not an ideal. Genuine—and genuinely funny—dialogue, a satisfyingly tangled but not unbelievable mystery and delightful secondary characters (Radar's parents collect black Santas)—we've trod this territory before, but who cares when it's this enjoyable? Lighter than Looking for Alaska (2005), deeper than An Abundance of Katherines (2006) and reminiscent of Gregory Galloway's As Simple as Snow (2005)—a winning combination. 2008, Dutton, 320p, $17.99. Category: Mystery. Ages 13 up. © 2008 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Janis Flint-Ferguson (KLIATT Review, September 2008 (Vol. 42, No. 5))
Printz Award-winner John Green has crafted a story that explores the themes of honesty and image, of identity and friendship. Quentin is a high school senior who lives next door to his classmate Margo. Margo is an unusual young woman who lives according to her own rules. Late one night, she knocks on Quentin’s window and drags him out of his studies and into a wild escapade. As he takes part in her revenge tactics, Quentin realizes how much he really cares for this crazy young woman. In the morning, she’s gone. Margo has run away before, and Quentin remembers that each time she leaves clues to her whereabouts. Because he is concerned about her emotional state, he enlists the help of his friends Ben and Radar, and Margo’s friend Lacey. The four hunt for clues with the help of Margo’s little sister. While Ben and Lacey, Radar and his girlfriend attend their prom, Quentin spends the night alone and finds what he believes to be proof that Margo is in a deserted “paper town”--a town that exists only on a map. So instead of attending their graduation, the three embark on a wild cross-country road trip to “save” Margo. Quentin tells his story with laugh-out-loud humor and heartfelt poignancy. Language and situations make this a realistic high school experience as Green explores the issues and ramifications of authenticity and image. These are characters readers will remember for a long time. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: S*--Exceptional book, recommended for senior high school students. 2008, Penguin, Dutton, 320p., $17.99. Ages 15 to 18.

Emily Garrett Cassady (Library Media Connection, January/February 2009)
When Margo appears one evening before high school graduation and asks her life-long neighbor, Quentin, for help, he goes along. He ends up having the best night of his life: doing things he would normally never do. When Margo disappears the next day, our perplexed protagonist is convinced that she has set up an elaborate chain of clues that will lead him to her. He is worried that if he does not find Margo in time, she may kill herself. Desperately, he struggles to unravel her cryptic messages. When he finally cracks the code, he enlists the help of friends and takes off on a road trip that will lead them from Florida to New York. When Quentin locates Margo, he recognizes that he may have over-idolized the girl. That realization helps them to build a fragile relationship based on new realities. John Green is brilliant. Paper Towns further cements his name as one of the best contemporary young adult writers. With minimal cursing, suggestions of sexual activity, and some drinking episodes, this book will make an excellent purchase for older high school students who will definitely be experiencing the same growing pains as Green’s characters. Highly Recommended. 2008, Dutton Children’s Books (Penguin Young Readers Group), 352pp., $17.99 hc. Ages 15 to 18.

Melanie Koss (The ALAN Review, Fall 2008 (Vol. 36, No. 1))
Quentin Jacobsen believes everyone gets one miracle in life, and his is living next door to Margo Roth Spiegelman. Margo is the epitome of Quentin’s dreams, and he will do anything for her. When she appears in his room in the middle of the night, dressed all in black, and asks him to go on a top secret mission with her, Quentin ignores his better judgment and goes. What follows is a night full of escapades, revenge, dead smelly fish, and the creation of a bind between the two friends. When Margo mysteriously disappears and leaves enigmatic clues for Quentin, he feels he must drop everything and find her. In his best book date, John Green provides original, quirky dialogue and enough twists, turns, and mystery to keep the reader turning the page. Once again John captures the essence of a geeky high-school boy who is pining for the out-of-reach girl, and fully develops the supporting cast of characters -- Quentin’s friends and the elusive Margo Roth Spiegelman. Category: Friendship/Relationships/Self-Discovery. YA--Young Adult. 2008, Dutton, 320 pp., $17.99. Ages young adult.Chicago, IL

Karen Coats (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, October 2008 (Vol. 62, No. 2))
Quentin and Margo were inseparable nine-year-old playmates when they found a dead body in the park. Since then, they’ve grown apart and become different, with Margo nursing an appetite for adventure and popularity and Quentin a taste for a quiet, uneventful life lived safely in the midst of a few loyal friends. While Margo seems to have forgotten about Quentin, Quentin’s love for Margo has only deepened through the years; when she taps on his window late one night needing a ride for a night of creative revenge against some unfaithful friends, Quentin gets his keys. The next day, a newly hopeful Quentin is troubled to find that Margo has run away, and he’s determined, with the help of his friends, to find her. Although the plot and characters are significantly different and in many ways more engaging, there is a significant thematic similarity here to Green’s Looking for Alaska (BCCB 2/05), as an ordinary guy seeks to understand a complex, fascinating, yet elusive and troubled girl. Margo’s discontent with the mundane character of the life she’s living is neatly balanced against Quentin’s quiescent appreciation for the goodness of a life lived within the rules; throughout their adventure, Quentin’s friends, as well as his parents, provide the wisdom and ballast that keep him from veering off course, while Margo’s vapid and superficial set deserve her rejection and scorn. A suspenseful mystery, a compelling central metaphor, and one of those road trips that every senior hopes he or she will have round out this exploration of the kind of relationship that can’t help but teach us a little bit about ourselves Review Code: R* -- Recommended. A book of special distinction. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2008, Dutton, 352p.; Reviewed from galleys, $17.99. Grades 9-12.

Diane Colson (VOYA, August 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 3))
Quentin has been in love with his next-door neighbor, Margo Roth Spiegelman, since early childhood. Their connection was forever bonded when they discovered a dead body together at the age of nine. Now they are ready to graduate from high school. Although Margo has not been part of Quentin's life for many years, she shows up at Quentin's window late one night, enlisting his help with a wild scheme of revenge against her cheating boyfriend. Despite his natural reluctance to break the law, Quentin goes along with her, imagining that this teamwork will signify a new, more romantic turn to their relationship. But then Margo disappears, leaving only wisps of clues to her whereabouts and a tormented Quentin in her wake. In this story set in Orlando, Florida, Green perfectly captures the tone of this grotesquely over-developed town when Margo comments, "It's a paper town . . . look at all those cul-de-sacs, those streets that turn in on themselves, all the houses that were meant to fall apart." This theme is echoed as both Margo and Quentin struggle to discover what is real in their own lives. The writing is as stellar, with deliciously intelligent dialogue and plenty of mind-twisting insights. The book suffers a lull about midway through, as Quentin keeps hitting dead ends in his search for Margo, but even this hitch seems to be an accurate reflection of Quentin's stubborn determination. Language and sex issues might make this book more appropriate for older teens, but it is still a powerfully great read. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2008, Dutton, 320p., $17.99. Ages 15 to 18.

Molly Teague, Teen Reviewer (VOYA, August 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 3))
Based on the cover, I never would have picked up this book on my own because I-and I think we all secretly do-judge a book by its cover. But once I opened it, I couldn't put it down and read ninety pages in the first sitting. The book is a perfect length; quick enough so you stay interested but slow enough to prevent it from being choppy or confusing. There is just enough humor to prevent it from becoming monotonous. I think this book would appeal to both male and female high school readers. VOYA CODES: 5Q 5P S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2008, Dutton, 320p., $17.99. Ages 15 to 18.