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All teen and kid reviews for Paper Towns

Age
12
Average rating based on 13 kid and teen reviews:
  • 54% say language is an issue
  • 46% say there are positive role models
  • 38% say there are positive messages
Kid, 12 years old
September 6, 2010
 
John Green
French the llama John Green is awesome.

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Teen, 18 years old
June 25, 2011
 
An older teen's perspective
I am seventeen, and just read this book. I would like to say that, contrary to what some of these reviews say, it is NOT for young kids. I feel sad for the kids who said they read this at twelve, and wonder what their parents are thinking! I think it is a compelling story, good for light reading for older teens--I would hardly want myself of two years ago reading it. Green is a fantastic writer and his characters are funny and fun, but I wish he had realized that the profanity and sexual references in his books do not contribute to, and often hinder, his stories and messages.

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Teen, 16 years old
June 28, 2009
 
Awesome Book!
"Paper Towns" is a funny, engaging, eye-opening book. It had me laughing, it had me crying, it had me pondering the way I look at other people. John Green is able to convey an interesting, mysterious novel great for teens. In regards to questionable content, this novel makes use of the occasional four-letter word, has some frank sexual discussion, a bit of violence, and heavy under-age drinking. But really it's nothing any 13 year-old hasn't already heard.

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Teen, 16 years old
March 1, 2009
 
I really liked this book!
I'm only 12 but i really liked this book. I wouldn't let anyone under at least 12 read this and that's only if they're really mature and know about stuff cause they talk about some 'inappropriate' things but anyway i really liked it i read it in one day!!

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Teen, 16 years old
September 4, 2010
 
Fantastic!
This book is one of the best books I've ever read! It's quite appropriate for ages 14 and up. John Green's writing is fantastic. The book is realistic, but also wonderful and exciting. Definitely not something for anyone under the age of 14. I did feel the language was a little bit too much, but then again the characters are Seniors in High School.

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Kid, 13 years old
February 2, 2011
 
Wondeful Book
I wouldn't say this is my favorite book of all time, but it's definitely one of them. I'm only twelve years old, but I loved this book and understood the metaphors perfectly. And it's pretty funny as well. John Green is a talented and brilliant writer.

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Teen, 18 years old
July 11, 2010
 
One of the BEST books I have ever read.
Now see, I am really picky when it comes to books. They have to be quirky, insightful, funny, and most of all, realistic, in order for me to like them. Paper Towns is all of that and more. I think everyone can relate to Quentin in one way or another; especially in the way that he observes others. John Green really opened my eyes to how much I "mis-imagine" people through this book. I would recommend Paper Towns to every teenager I know, the positives outweigh the swearing and drinking and pranking by a million pounds. And I also think that teens are a lot smarter than adults give us credit for- we are not going to go out and spray paint peoples' houses just because Margo and Q do, or break into SeaWorld. We are old enough to understand that those things are simply part of John Green's wonderful storytelling, and that they have a significance in the book.

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Kid, 11 years old
August 27, 2011
 
awesome
another john green masterpiece!!!!!!!!

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Teen, 16 years old
July 30, 2010
 

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Teen, 17 years old
December 15, 2008
 
The Best Book You will

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Teen, 17 years old
August 27, 2010
 
The teens in the book act true to their age, which is on a high school level, so keep that in mind for younger kids. However, I think as a young adult novel it's acceptable for all teens. There's definitely nothing new that your teen shouldn't have heard before. PLUS, it's an amazing book filled with quirk and wit and will really get you thinking. John Green's writing is effortlessly beautiful and the book is perfect.

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Teen, 17 years old
May 13, 2010
 
Originality
There are both good and bad role models in Paper Towns. Q is a great role model -- great in school and mature. Margo is not exactly a bad role model, but if I had kids I wouldn't want them getting the message to run away. My biggest concern would probably be with Ben, Q's best friend, because he is obsessed with all things girl-related; most of the innapropriate stuff comes from him. I found that this was an amazing, original book. At first it was a bit slow but soon afterwards I really got into the book, and I would say ages 8+ if there weren't that much swearing and innapropriate references.

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Teen, 16 years old
January 18, 2012
 
Quirky and Funny Mystery
I'm really on a John Green kick right now (fingers are practically burning as they flip through An Abundance of Katherines, which I will review when I'm done) so I may be a little bit biased, but as someone who in general loves to read, this was an awesome book in the true sense of the word. Awesome, in this day and age, may be a bit overused, but in the definition of "inspiring awe," this succeeds as I find Green's writing style truly awe-inspiring, for me to continue to work as a young adult writer. He creates characters that are believable and three-dimensional (especially Margo, who is never fully understood, which makes her all the more interesting), but with better one-liners and a lot more interesting lives. For parents of teens, there isn't really too much to concern them if you let them watch PG-13 movies, except for maybe language, which, as per usual Green novel, pops up frequently, but it makes it more realistic as these are teen characters, who, believe you me, really talk like that. Brand names are mentioned in terms of things like candy, and there is one scene where a few of the characters get extremely drunk, but it's not really celebrated. Not condemned exactly, either, but these characters come off looking less intelligent for doing so, at least in my opinion. If you're looking for a good teen mystery, you've come to the right book (it won an Edgar award!).

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