Turtles All the Way Down
Author: John Green
Since I have been on a reading spree (perhaps even more so than usual due to the pandemic), I’m going to take a little break from reviewing movies and share some book reviews with you instead. This week I am going to review a book that I actually just finished last weekend. John Green is one of the most popular authors in the YA world, and his books have sold millions of copies and have been made into several movie/TV adaptions (sadly this book isn’t one of them quite yet). When it was announced that Turtles All The Way Down was going to be published, people were very excited. The book received positive reviews, most especially for the portrayal of mental illness, and was a bestselling book immediately. This was my very first John Green book I’ve read, and I’m very excited to review it, especially since Mental Health Awareness Month just came to an end in May.
Turtles all the Way Down is about a 16-year-old girl, Aza, who struggles with OCD that affects her life constantly. One day, a famous billionaire, Russell Pickett, mysteriously disappears and there’s a $100,000 award out for anyone that finds him. Aza wants nothing to do with the “case,” most especially since she was friends with Pickett’s son, Davis, back when they were kids; but her best friend, Daisy, is very eager to work on the case. So, the two friends go on a quest to find Pickett, with Aza trying to find a way to not let her struggles get in the way of living her life. While this book was the first John Green book I’ve read, it definitely won’t be my last! It is so well written, almost poetic at times, and has great character development (I especially loved Aza and Davis). It also deals with anxiety/mental illness in a way I’ve never seen any other YA books do. However, due to the book’s main topic, it might be hard to read, and there is a point where a main character seriously harms herself. So, if you happen to struggle with your mental health yourself, I would caution you strongly before reading this. There’s also some strong language (and some other “references” too) that would make this book appropriate for mature teens only. I will say as well that I’m not sure if Aza and Daisy had a good friendship, as Daisy was very jerkish to Aza at several different points. I really loved the way the book portrayed mental health struggles, most especially since Green actually struggles with OCD himself which I think makes the book even more authentic than it already is. It’s the kind of book we need to see more in the YA genre and in the book world in general. In the media world, up until very recently, mental illness was portrayed as a taboo thing, something that people should be ashamed of, and this makes me sad because this isn’t true at all. We need to have more positive portrayals of mental illness in the books we read and in the movies and shows we watch, and John Green is definitely helping us have that!
“We never really talked much or even looked at each other, but it didn’t matter because we were looking at the same sky together, which is maybe even more intimate than eye contact anyway. I mean, anybody can look at you. It’s quite rare to find someone who sees the same world you see.” one of the many noteworthy quotes from Aza
8 Comments
Dori Futrell
Makes me want to read the book… great thoughts and sounds like a great book! 😊
EvangelineFiles
I would love to hear your thoughts after you’ve read the book! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Ally
I loved this book as well! OCD isn’t as talked about as anxiety and depression. This book is helpful in destigmatizing it. I want to read Greene’s new book “The Anthropocene Reviewed”.
EvangelineFiles
I’m so glad you enjoyed the book! And, you are right OCD isn’t talked about nearly as much as anxiety and depression. I’m glad that there are people like John Green who are breaking the stigma. Also, please let me know what you think of Green’s new book. I haven’t read it yet but would really like to!
Walinda
I’m intrigued by the book and love the quote you share. I’m glad to hear of YA books that not only address mental health issues but also strive to accurately portray them. I pray your generation will be more compassionate because of it. I’ll be recommending it to J. Did you buy it or borrow it from the library?
EvangelineFiles
I was glad to find YA books that handle these kind of topics too! most especially since John Green has OCD himself. I’m currently on the hunt for more books that deal with this topic. I hope J likes the book! I bought it from a local used bookstore but you could probably borrow it from the library. (if they’re open that is)
Tiger
Okay, so you just keep educating me (and I thought I was well-read)! I do not know this author. This book sounds so amazing! I am a huge mystery fan and I also have a lot of personal experience with mental illness; and it sounds like this book does a wonderful job combining these two things. The quote you share from the book is so profound (and so true!) and I love your pic (as always!). And I think you’re so very right about how mental illness is viewed. I also think that sharing things like this book with others is a big step toward positive change in this area. Also, a quick curiosity question, what is the significance of the turtles in the book title (if you can share that without being a “spoiler”)? Thanks!
EvangelineFiles
The book is one of the best portrayals of mental illness I’ve seen in the YA genre. I really and truly hope more books like this continue to be published. We really need more books like this one. I’m so glad the post resonated with you! I enjoyed reviewing it! As for the significance of the book title, “Turtles All the Way Down” is an expression that has to do with infinite regress. the image they give in the book is a turtle lying down on the back of a larger turtle which is part of a column of even larger turtles that goes on indefinitely. I’m not sure I’m explaining it well but I hope it makes sense. I hadn’t heard the expression myself until I read the book.