Green, J. (2008). Paper towns. Speak.
Summary
Quentin has loved his neighbor, Margo, for as long as he can remember. Just when he thinks she has no time for him, she climbs into his window asking him to help her break into somewhere, dressed like a ninja, and set on revenge, and he's more than willing to help. The next day, Margo has disappeared, and Quentin realizes she's left clues that only he can decipher as to her location. Along with his high school best friends, Quentin sets out on a crazy fast adventure trying to figure out where exactly Margo ended up, with a bittersweet ending that will leave readers almost satisfied, but completely in love with Green's writing.
A Teacher's Perspective
John Green has been a buzz name in YA literature for years. The fact that Green named one of his 'quintessential' characters Quentin is absolutely hysterical. I met John Green once, found him as pretentious and quirky as his characters. He almost writes characters the way you wish teenagers would behave, but mostly too deep and 'unique' to be exactly believable. No one has THAT many quirks/issues.
My students love him, though. Especially after The Fault In Our Stars used big named actors to represent the characters, well, that and the tragic love story.
Paper Towns is better, in my opinion, in that no, it's not the perfect ending, but it's perfect for those characters. It's not tragic--no tear jerker to pull you in and make the big bucks (and yes, I know the inspiration for TFioS is from real life, and I'm very sympathetic to that, but it's still not my favorite).
Paper Towns is what I hope students realize is reality; not everyone gets a happy ending.
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There is a movie of this, as well, that gave the book a bit of popularity for a hot minute, but I don't think it got more traction than TFioS:
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