during the summer months, most students have homes to return to or jobs to keep them busy until school begins again in september. as an eighteen-year-old jobless first-year student, i had more free time than the average university student. when i wasn’t desperately handing out resumes in the hopes of getting a job, i had time to tackle the forever rising pile of books by my bed. for the most part, they wound up being novels by john green, the american author of young adult fiction. here are some of my favourites of his work:    

Paper Towns by John Green

I made it my goal to read every John Green novel this past summer, but my time ran out. Paper Towns is beautifully written and makes one question how much we really know about a person. The story challenges readers to look deeper beyond the surface, because there really is more to a person than his or her appearance or what is said about them.

Favourite quote: “Maybe all the strings inside him broke.”   

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green 

Yes, another John Green book. This one had a little too much math in it for my taste (there was a lot that I didn’t understand).  But it’s a great book that’s funny and thought-provoking, with fun little footnotes all over the place.

Favourite quote: “Books are the ultimate Dumpees: put them down and they’ll wait for you forever; pay attention to them and they always love you back.”   

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan 

This story questions coincidence and fate when two boys with the same name meet each other in a lonely part of Chicago. Both live very different lives and end up learning about themselves and each other throughout the novel.

Favourite quote: “It’s hard to believe in coincidence, but it’s even harder to believe in anything else.” 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The final John Green book I read this summer – this one’s about a sixteen year old girl with cancer. I know you must be thinking that this must be another typical cancer book with love, death, and tears. And in many ways you’re right. But there’s also enough humour and honesty to make it uniquely touching.

Favourite quote: “I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.” 

Sarah O’Connor