Turtles All the Way Down

Spoiler Alert: One's own head is a dangerous place to be trapped in

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A stellar and well-researched story, Turtles All the Way Down is not only an entertaining and heart-warming young adult novel, but also an interesting and informative look into mental illness and the many ways one's own brain can be lethal. Perhaps the most layered story I've read by John Green (I can now say I have read all of his stories) this book follows sixteen year-old Aza and her struggle with obsessive compulsive disorder. Deliberately sensitive and careful not to glamorize mental illness in any way, the story is highly educational while not losing any factors of relatability. When Aza and her best friend Daisy stumble upon the mystery of a fugitive billionaire and meet the son left behind, Aza, along with the readers, are in for an adventure. As Aza grows closer to Davis, the elusive son with the missing father, and finds herself closer and closer to true love, she finds it harder and harder to keep herself from being vulnerable with loved ones -- but will they still love her if they knew the truth? Equally poignant and insightful, this story is lightly to pull on your heartstrings and stay in your mind for long after reading it. In addition to the strong and meaningful plot, the characters are also genuine and like-able. Aza is surrounded by loving, supportive, albeit believably flawed human beings. Despite a strained relationship, Aza's mother is a well-meaning and caring person. She wants the best for her daughter, and despite not understanding her condition, gives her all the help she can. Daisy is Aza's "Best and Most Fearless Friend" and definitely live up to the title. Although they have their troubles and sometimes fail to understand one another, Daisy is always there for Aza . The character of Davis, although a bit quirky is everything a reader would hope for in Aza's first real boyfriend. The two have great chemistry and are able to connect on an intellectual and emotional level. The heroine of Aza herself is unconventionally fearless -- constantly taking risks and putting herself in certain situations for her loved ones -- despite the constant overthinking and fear. She eventually not only to live with her illness but also to reach out to others and find help. In the end, Aza knows she is loved which is perhaps the most important lesson for any young person to learn.

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Favorite Quotes: “Your now is not your forever.” ~~ “Anybody can look at you. It's quite rare to find someone who sees the same world you see.” ~~ "You're both the fire and the water that extinguishes it. You're the narrator, the protagonist, and the sidekick. You're the storyteller and the story told. You are somebody's something, but you are also your you.” ~~ “True terror isn’t being scared; it’s not having a choice on the matter.” ~~ “The thing about a spiral is, if you follow it inward, it never actually ends. It just keeps tightening, infinitely.” ~~ “You remember your first love because they show you, prove to you, that you can love and be loved, that nothing in this world is deserved except for love, that love is both how you become a person and why.”