The Disability Book Archive

[ID: A book cover. The title “Turtles All the Way Down” and the author’s name “John Green” are written in large black capitals down the centre of the cover, stacked on top of each other from top to bottom. To the left of the cover, next to author’s name, smaller, pale brown capitals read “#1 Bestselling author of ‘The Fault in Our Stars’”. The background is cream, with a large orange line spiralling vertically down the centre, behind the title and the author’s name. /end]

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Content Warning:

• Self Harm
• Panic Attacks
• Death of A Parent
• Disappearance of A Parent
• Death
• Car Accident
• Medical Content
• Abandonment
• Attempted Suicide
• Injury
• Injury Detail

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Summary:

JOHN GREEN, the acclaimed author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, returns with a story of shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.

Aza Holmes never intended to pursue the disappearance of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Pickett’s son Davis.

Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

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Notes:

There is an audiobook.

There is a kindle edition.

This book was nominated for the 2020 Lincoln Award, and the 2017 Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction. It received the 2020 Alabama Author Award for Young Adult, and the 2018 Hea Noorteraamat award.

A film based on the book was announced in 2017 and is set for release later in 2024.

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Archivist Comments:

Some people felt that the writing of this book is a bit pretentious, and I’ve seen some differing opinions regarding the portrayal of teenaged characters- some people thought it was done in a realistic manner, some people don’t believe that the teens in the book are at all realistic. There also seems to be a common thread of agreement in the reviews that the mystery plot in the book was a bit nonsenical i.e. it didn’t really add anything to the overarching story of the MC learning to cope with her anxiety.

However, on that note, the portrayal of anxiety and OCD seems to have been quite well received. The book is somewhat based upon Green’s own experiences with mental health issues- anxiety and OCD in particular.

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