Turtles All the Way Down

Review from School Library Connection Star:

Aza Holmes knows that bacteria is everywhere, and that other people eat raw vegetables and kiss boys without dying, but she cannot stop the obsessive thoughts that plague her mind. Her best friend, Daisy, has always understood Aza, and proposes a distraction that will simultaneously solve both girls' financial problems. A local billionaire has disappeared, presumably on the run prior to his imminent arrest, and Aza knew his son, Davis, from summer camp years ago. If Aza can reconnect with Davis, they may be able to determine what happened to his father and collect the reward money. However, Aza's relationship with Davis, her friendship with Daisy, and her mental health may all suffer in the process. As in his past bestsellers, Green delivers teen characters with remarkable self-awareness and indefatigable wit, making them slightly unrealistic yet undeniably lovable. His portrayal of Aza's obsessive-compulsive disorder, modeled after his own experiences, will be comforting to readers with anxiety issues and provide an eye-opening glimpse into the condition for those who have never experienced such distress. The relationships between characters are satisfyingly stable, yet not without the complexities that add realism and depth. The connection to John Green and his existing popularity will be enough to make this book a hot commodity, but this empathetic, well-written, and compelling novel would be exciting even without a backstory buzz.