DPL Teens

Have you read all of John Green’s books and now you’re wondering what to read next?  Here are some suggestions:

If you liked Looking For Alaska: You might want to try other boarding school novels like Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard (if you’re looking for another guy narrator) and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (if you’d like to switch to a girl narrator). Another great choice is Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher; like Alaska, it’s about a guy who is piecing together information about a girl he thought he knew.

If you liked An Abundance of Katherines:  Other road trip stories like The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith and Car Trouble by Jeanne DuPrau could be right up your alley.   Much like Katherines, Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler is (as the title suggests) about dealing with a breakup.

If you liked Paper Towns:  Check out some more books about guys falling for and/or getting caught up in the lives of complex, eccentric, mysterious girls.  You might try out The Disenchantments by Nina Lacour, The Amanda Project by Melissa Kantor, and Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King.

If you liked Will Grayson, Will Grayson:  Try some other books told in multiple perspectives, like My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger or Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.   If you’re interested in another LGBT read, Geography Club by Brent Hartinger is a great pick for fans of Will Grayson.

If you liked The Fault in Our Stars:  Moving stories about love and loss like Deadline by Chris Crutcher, The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, and Before I Die by Jenny Downham might be just what you’re looking for.

For more reading lists, be sure to check out our Recommended Reads for Teens page!

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Other books in series or Standalone: Standalone

First Impressions: A friend of mine took the dive and read The Fault in Our Stars before I did. So, I knew going in that this book was going to be great, but extremely sad.  I mean, it’s about a sixteen-year-old with terminal cancer, there’s pretty much no way that’s not going to be sad.   However, once I actually got into the book, I was thoroughly surprised with the attitude of the main character, Hazel. It was nothing like I expected, and I very much wanted to get to know her better.

Last Impressions: Wow, what an amazing book. The Fault in Our Stars is easily my favorite by John Green. The relationship between Hazel and Augustus was at once uplifting and tragic, and I’m a sucker for beautiful contrast. Their story sticks with you long after you put the book down. I’m not going to say I cried, but—if only that truck full of onions hadn’t driven by as I was reading.

Thoughts on the bookcover: The cover is very elegant and simple. While this may not seem so amazing, think back on the cover of any classic you’ve seen. They’ve almost all been elegant and simple! That’s just the publishing company putting their faith in John Green, preemptively believing this novel will be a classic.

Favorite Moment (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT): It has to be, and this scene plays out with the utmost respect, making out in the Anne Frank House. Yeah, I just typed that. But really, that whole scene was perfect.

Least Favorite Moment (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT): I actually don’t have a least favorite moment, per se. But when Hazel says she doesn’t want to be close to anyone in order to avoid “collateral damage” when she dies, her situation really hit me hard. 

People who should read this: All NerdFighters, of course. Anyone looking for a book that’s tragic, yet beautiful. Those not afraid to cry in order to feel fulfilled.

If you like this book, you may also like: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

***Also, there’s a Tumblr for The Fault in Our Stars for those that have finished the book, featuring a direct Q&A between you and John Green. However, it’s password protected (the last word in the Acknowledgements, case sensitive), so make sure you jot it down when you check out the book!