Paper Towns

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Do you ever find yourself facing the kind of anxiety that Quentin experiences? Is there a positive side to his anxiety? Do you think that real-life anxiety has any positive attributes?

2. What beliefs are expressed in the metaphors of the strings, the grass, and the vessel? Which of these perspectives are you most drawn to? Do you see strong evidence supporting this perspective in real life, or are you drawn to this philosophy for other reasons?

3. What truths does the incident in which Quentin and Margo find the body in the park illustrate about Quentin’s parents? Later, do they fully realize the impact that Margo’s disappearance is having on him? In your opinion, are they good parents? Why or why not?

4. Margo is clearly a person who believes in revenge. Do you share her views? How much do circumstances matter? (For example, would your answer be affected by factors such as the particular wrong a person has committed or the form the revenge takes?) 

5. In this novel, several key characters misjudge their friends or take them for granted. Have you experienced anything like this in your own life—from either side? How would you compare your experiences to those of the characters in the book?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. What real-world online site is “Omnictionary” meant to represent? Have you or anyone you know ever contributed to this site? How important is it as a resource? Do you think the devotion of people like Radar makes a difference in the world?

2. John Green has sometimes been accused of creating characters who fit the “manic pixie dream girl” stereotype. Why do many people object to this trope? Is Margo a manic pixie dream girl, or is John Green trying to undermine this trope in Paper Towns?

3. Adults have a legal right to disappear if they want to. What real-world stories have you heard in which adults deliberately go missing? How would you compare these real-life stories to Margo’s story? How does Margo’s age affect your evaluation of her choice to disappear?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism. 

1. What does the novel’s allusion to Moby Dick add to the overall characterization of Quentin? How this allusion further illuminate Quentin’s attitude toward Margo?

2. Paper Towns is a coming-of-age novel. How does Quentin mature and grow over the course of the story? Which events and characters make key contributions to this growth?

3. The book’s title points to one of its key symbols. How is this symbol developed over the course of the novel? How does this symbol’s evolving meaning support the theme of Perception and Reality and help to convey Quentin’s perspective on Margo?

4. How do the metaphors of the strings, the grass, and the vessel create a focus for each of the novel’s three parts? How do these three metaphors contribute to the novel’s characterizations and themes?

5. Margo’s last name, “Spiegelman,” is German for “mirror maker.” What does this suggest about her overall characterization?