Paper Town, John Green

  I am currently reading the book, “Paper Towns” by John Green. This book is about a senior named Q, who has two best friends, Radar and Ben. Q is the average high school kid, good grades, doesn’t get into trouble, has friends, not very popular, etc. However, one night, his crush, and most popular girl in school, Margo, came up to his window and asked him to help her on an eleven- step mission. At first, he was hesitant to go with her on a mission at night, but eventually, she convinced him to go with her. He thought it might make their relationship better, wishing that it might result in him taking Margo to prom. However, he never saw that it might change his future, or maybe even himself as a whole.
  Before the night with Margo, Q was a good, intelligent, and kind guy. He never would stay awake on a school night, or even on a weekend. He got good grades, and never broke the rules. He did everything he could to stay on top of his work and keep everything going for just a few weeks until school officially ended. However, he eventually changed after that night with Margo. He broke the rules, didn’t do his homework, went to bed late, and didn’t even study for his final government exam the next day. For example, Q took his mom’s car without permission and left with Margo to help her with the eleven- step mission. In addition, him and Margo broke into three houses, Jason’s (Margo’s cheating boyfriend), Becca’s (Margo’s ex-best friend), and Chuck’s (the bully that bothered Q everyday) and spray painted their cars and house. Adding on, they broke into one of the most popular buildings in Orlando, Florida. Q even ran from a guy shooting a shotgun and the police. Clearly, Margo has made him do things he usually would never even think of.
  But why did Q do all of this? Q did this to prove to Margo that he is good enough to be her boyfriend. He wanted to make Margo fall for him that night, so they can be together, and go to prom together. In addition, he wanted to know more about Margo so that he can impress her. However, he didn’t notice that she was just using him to help her with her mission.
  Overall, I think Q could’ve made the right choice by not going with her because he could get into so much trouble, which could make his future worse. For example, he wouldn’t get into Duke, his dream college. Also he would have a criminal record if he gets caught with all of the crimes he did with Margo that night. I think he should’ve just stayed away from her because she is a bad influence on him.
      

Young Adult Fiction Too Dark?

Young Adult Fiction Too Dark?

            This article, “Has Young Adult Fiction Become Too Dark”, by Mary Elizabeth Williams, is a response to Megan Cox Gurdon’s recent article, “Darkness Too Visible”. Williams mostly talks about how young adult fiction can and cannot be bad for teens. She mostly proves Gurdon’s claims wrong, like how she exaggerates when she talks about the content in young adult books. In addition, Williams explains how Gurdon can be misleading throughout her article. Adding on, Mary gives honest opinions about what she thinks of young adult fiction, and if teens should be reading it or not. For example, she admits, “YA section of your bookstore can be a pretty damn grim place, rife with everything from angsty vampires to sex abuse to bullying. And no, not all of it is great literature.”

            Throughout the articles, Williams gives little hints of what she wants us to think or feel. In the article, she makes Gurdon look so misleading; making us think that she is giving out false details that we shouldn’t acknowledge what she claims about young adult books. For example, Williams says, “And when she clumsily insists, ‘publishers use the vehicle of fundamental free-expression principles to try to bulldoze coarseness or misery into… children’s lives’, she fails to acknowledge the coarseness and misery already inherent in adolescence. She assumes that coarseness and misery- and profanity, and violence, and sex- are in and of themselves unsuitable subject matter, regardless of the quality of the writing. That’s where she goofs up big time.” In addition, she proves Gurdon wrong by using better and truthful facts. For example, she asked her daughter what she thought of Gurdon’s article and she said, “Does she get it that they’re not called ‘children’s’ books? They’re ‘young adult’ Adult.” In addition, Williams wants us to feel like we can trust young adult books, she explains how most young adult books can relate and help troubled teens.

            Overall, this article has changed the way I look at YA books and how I feel about them, I feel like I can relate to the books more. Adding on, I changed what I thought on this issue, I now support young adult books because they change most teen’s life and they can teach memorable lessons for us in the future. However, I would like to know more about how many teens had there life changed from a young adult book.