John Green’s first novel in almost six years, Turtles All The Way Down is a compelling and powerful portrayal of a seemingly average sixteen-year-old high school student, Aza “Holmsey” Holmes. But Aza, in addition to coping with the usual everyday pressures of life, has to also deal with Obsessive Compulsion Disorder, which puts an invisible wall up between her and her friends.
Things get even more complicated when Aza’s best friend Daisy gets the two of them involved in the search for a missing financial CEO, whose son, Davis, Aza knew back in summer camp years ago. Daisy’s looking to score a posted reward for the missing father, but Aza finds herself even more conflicted by her growing attraction for Davis. And then, when the pressure increases, Aza resorts to some very extreme behavior.
Green is more concerned with Aza’s plight than the missing father subplot (although it does have a bearing on Aza’s own life), and that emphasis on her is what makes the book more compelling. Green gets into what makes Aza the way she is, and how she eventually seems to reconcile her condition with the demands of the outside world. However, as the book ends, Aza may not be completely out of the woods.
The characters, their situations, surroundings, and dialogue all ring true. And like real life, the book ends on a note of uncertainty. Turtles All The Way Down is definitely recommended to readers that enjoy riveting stories about strong characters.
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