Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Yes, I am a huge John Green fan. And yes, I liked this book very much. I was delighted that the last sentence of so many paragraphs were profound and spoke a basic truth. It's like he peppered small philosophical statements throughout the whole story.

We have Aza who is struggling with a mental disorder that causes a voice in her head to tell her she will contract some horrible illness from microbes. She knows that microbes are in all of us. Maybe she is just the host. Maybe the microbes actually control her. Maybe she doesn't even control her own thoughts. Even with therapy and medicine (which she doesn't always take), the nagging thoughts are still there. It is excruciating at times to feel Aza go through it.

Aza's best friend Daisy is much more extroverted. They have been friends since grade school and often hang out at Applebee's using a bunch of coupons (much to the disdain of their usual waitress). Neither have a lot of money and both go to public school.

Daisy is particularly interested when one of the city's wealthiest businessmen disappears on the eve of his arrest. Aza went to a camp with the man's son (named Davis), so Daisy is sure they can use that connection to help solve the mystery (and get the reward). Aza is not so sure. Will Davis even remember her? And even if he does, he lives in a mansion and goes to private school.

This story is not about the solving the mystery; it is about Aza coming to grips with her life. John Green does an extraordinary job of putting us right in her head. Dealing with anxiety myself, I know what it is like to have those irrational thoughts that seem beyond my control. I like to say my brain is working against me as if it is completely separate from me. It is a rare and amazing thing to hear your own voice in a story. This book is one of those times. I felt Aza's pain all the more because I have personally felt some of her struggle.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Top 9 Books I Read This Year

I read several good books this year. I have narrowed down my favorites to this list of nine. Most were published this year, but not all. So why nine? I had several that were close to making the cut, but did not quite reach the standard set by these nine. Also, nine covers fit just perfectly in the picture to the left.

I have blogged about all of them, so you can find more info about them if you want.

So here they are (in no particular order), my favorite books that I read in 2012:

Burning Blue by Paul Griffin
After the most beautiful girl in school is permanently disfigured by having acid thrown in her face, loner Jay decides to find out who is responsible. More than just a mystery with lots of suspects - this is about two drifting teens who find a connection.

Every Day by David Levithan
A jumps into a different person every single day. One day A spends the day as Rhiannon's boyfriend and falls in love with her. Now A must find a way to be with her at the risk of messing up other's lives. One of the most unique teen books I have ever read.

Butter by Erin Jade Lange
Butter is obese and only gains popularity after promising to eat himself to death live on the internet. Sensitive topics like bullying and obesity are handled with great care and depth. An unforgettable story.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
Jazz hunts for the person committing murders just like his famous serial killer father did.  I love Barry Lyga's books, and this is one of his best.

Shine by Lauren Myracle
In a small Southern town, Cat's best guy friend is the victim of a hate crime, and she decides to find the perpetrators. This is one of those 'wow' kind of books where when you are finished all you can say is 'wow.'

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills
A teen girl who wants nothing more than to life life as a boy struggles to be accepted by her family and the community. His only refuge is in music and sharing it with the listeners to his late night radio program. An incredible story set to music - my favorite combination.

My Life in Black and White by Natasha Friend
A stunningly beautiful girl suffers permanent scarring to her face after a horrific car accident. Rumors fly, her popularity drops and the events leading up to the accident haunt her. Not a teen melodrama, but an exploration of loss and rediscovery.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
John Green gives us an exquisite story about two young people who find each other in a cancer support group. This book has won numerous awards and deservedly so. 

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
Logan falls for the interesting new girl in school who fears that her secret (she is really a boy) will be discovered. Enlightening and heartbreaking. This book is an eye opener for anyone unfamiliar with the struggles of transgender people. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I have enjoyed all of John Green's books, so I just knew I would like this one before I even got it in my hands. I was not disappointed. I remember wanting to read An Abundance of Katherines because I was intrigued by the idea of a guy trying to use a mathematical formula to understand why he always gets dumped by girls name Katherine. After reading Looking for Alaska, I was hooked.

After reading the synopsis, a co-worker of mine said this book sounded depressing. I get that - I mean the book is about teens who have cancer. But the characters lift the story above what could be a dark tale. They are trying to be regular teens who not defined by their disease. This is not always easy when they have frequent doctor visits, constant physical limitations and parents who, out of love and concern, hover over them with worried expressions and fear of what may happen to their children.

At the center of the story, we have Hazel who needs assistance to breathe because her lungs are very weak. She meets Augustus at a support group. Their growing relationship drives the story. They become closer through Hazel's favorite book that leaves her with too many unanswered questions. Contacting the author to find those answers becomes a key point for them. Through it all they deal with a disease that could turn on them at any point.

Click here for more info about this book from the Indianapolis Public Library.