The plot of "Paper Towns" is pretty simple. The main character, Quentin, has been in love with his neighbor, Margo Roth Spiegelman, for as long as he can remember. A few weeks before they graduate high school, Margo enlists Quentin in a daring, all night prank to get back at a cheating boyfriend, the girl he was cheating with, and all of Margo's friends who didn't tell her he was cheating. Margo also convinces Quentin to break into a few buildings and a theme park, just for the hell of it. This comes as a shock to Quentin because he and Margo have not been close friends since they were small children. Even more shocking to Quentin is the realization the next morning that Margo has disappeared.
The remainder of the book sees Quentin and his friends, and eventually Margo's friends searching for her. Margo seems to have left behind some clues and everyone becomes terrified that she has committed suicide. There is much quoting of Walt Whitman, some hilarious comedy scenes, and a road trip (John Green does love his road trips). But, like most books, the plot is merely an engine for a fascinating idea.
We don't imagine other people with enough complexity.
Quentin certainly doesn't imagine Margo with much complexity. To him, she's not even really human. She's an idea, a vessel for his hopes and hormonal desires. But he doesn't imagine his close friends very complexly either. "Paper Towns" makes it pretty clear that you don't either.
As well as you know your family members and your friends, you don't give them nearly enough credit. You stop imagining them after a few easy labels. "Controling." "Sweet." "Tech Nerd." "Book Worm." And then you interact with them using these simple labels as a guide. It robs you of deeper, more meaningful connections. It robs all of us of deeper, more meaningful connections.
The older you get, the more you are convinced that most of the problems in this world stem from humanity's tendency to label other people as exactly that, other people! So many problems could be solved, so many relationships could be mended, and so many tragedies could be avoided if we all began thinking of one another as complex, meaningful, multifaceted, flawed, and forgivable members of one family.
Your mom tried to teach you this when you were little when she would remind you that your mean teacher might be going through some terrible personal tragedy so you should act with patience and understanding. Your wife tries to teach you this when she reminds you that the way you treat your children teaches them how to act toward others. Tolkien tried to teach you this when he had Gandalf remind Frodo that it was pity that kept Bilbo from killing Gollum, ultimately saving the world. Jesus tried to teach you this when he said "Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
Of course there are jerks out there. Of course there are people who do terrible things. But they are all still people and simplifying them down to labels or categories will never help you understand anything. And what's more is that "Paper Towns" reminded you that working to imagine others more complexly helps you learn more about yourself as well.
What surprised you the most about "Paper Towns" was that it ended up being your favorite of the four John Green novels you've read so far. You thought "The Fault In Our Stars" would keep that honor, but it has been replaced. Not because "Paper Towns" has a better story, it doesn't. But because you liked the lesson you learned from "Paper Towns" more.
As the plot unfolds, Quentin learns to see the people who surround him with a deeper understanding. He and his friends even make a game where they try to create intricate back stories to the anonymous people in the cars that surround them on the Florida highways. Quentin's growth gives you hope that you can embrace this idea too.
"The Fault In Our Stars" is all about how true strength is gained in moments of weakness. And that's a great lesson. But "Paper Towns" is all about finding value in your fellow human beings, validating them as complex and rich characters. That is a lesson you needed to learn.
On to the next book!
P.S. The picture of the cover you used up above is actually two pictures of the two different covers "Paper Towns" was printed with. Your copy had the Margo on the right on it. You thought it was pretty clever to add visual complexity to the cover of a book about imagining people more complexly. Good old John Green.
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