Turtles All The Way Down by John Green is a captivating and unique story which is worth the read for teens. The story opens with Aza Holmes, or Holmsy, as her best friend Daisy refers to her. It is clear Aza has a lot on her mind, including the jail-like American school system, but mainly, her intrusive thoughts swirl around C. diff, a bacterial infection. Aza is 16, and for both her and Daisy, stress about post secondary is high. Daisy works at a local Chuck-E-Cheese to hopefully save for college. When an ad on the radio offers $100 000 for information on the whereabouts of the missing billionaire, who also happens to be the father of Aza’s childhood friend, Davis, they decide to paddle down the white river which borders the background of both Aza and Davis’ properties. With that, the book launches into a mystery filled, suspenseful story, with the perfect plot that you can’t seem to put down.

The novel is paced perfectly, engaging the reader and keeping them on the edge of their seat. Little hints and clues are subtly planted about the disappearance of the picket father and the ultimate conclusion of the book. Beyond a simple mystery thriller, this book dives into deeper themes like love, greed, and loss. Aza’s struggle with her mental health is possibly the most beautiful and realistic portrayals of mental health struggles in teen fiction. There are so many things to love about this book, from the stunning imagery to the bittersweet feel, Turtles All the Way Down is a must read, especially before the film adaptation's release, which is set for later this year.