Review: Rookie on Love

Rookie on Love
edited by Tavi Gevinson

Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: January 2, 2018

Tavi Gevinson founded Rookie, an online magazine, in 2011. ROOKIE ON LOVE is an anthology featuring essays, comics, and poetry ­­– each with a focus on the subject of love. The pieces in both the magazine and anthology are all either written by teenagers, or adults who are writing to teenagers. Coupled with this unique detail, ROOKIE ON LOVE presents a diverse look at the different ways of defining and thinking about love. With such a wide range of styles and angles included in the anthology, readers will be able to relate and connect to at least one of the 46 pieces (and likely many more than that). They say not to judge a book by its cover, but as a fan of Rookie magazine and the Rookie yearbooks, I expected a lot from the cover art of ROOKIE ON LOVE; I was not disappointed. While I recommend reading the entire anthology, some of my favorite essays included “On Love and Associated Leavings,” “Karma,” “Memory is an Angel Who Can Fly No More,” and “The Most Exciting Moment of Alma’s Life.”

Review: Turtles All the Way Down

Turtles All the Way Down
by John Green

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young People
Publication Date: October 10, 2017

John Green has done what I thought was impossible: he has out-John Greened himself. This is TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN in a nutshell: an emotional tale riddled with obscure literary references that only someone who has read an entire library would understand, the quirky best friend(TM), and too many internal monologues to count ...and I loved every second of it. More than just a romance, or a look at teenage friendship, or a coming of age adventure, TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN is about personal struggles with mental health and the inescapability of one's own mind. Aza, the main character, tries to live her life and not be controlled by her "thought spirals", but is held back by the very thing only she has control of: herself.

This book was a bit different from some of Green's other books, in that it was less plot based and more based on the internal emotions of the main character, but I think that he was really able to convey true and raw depth of the characters, especially Aza. His own personal experiences with mental health are visible through Aza; her struggles don't seem fake or exaggerated and are grounded in the roots of John Green's own fight. This is not a book to read passively; it demands a deep connection from the reader to actively root for and against the characters, often at the same time. Following the publication of this book, there is likely to be a trend in YA focusing on mental health, as seen in the effect of Green's other books after their releases, yet I doubt any of them will be able to match the caliber and power of TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN. There were definitely some problems, don't get me wrong. The freedom of these 16 to 17 year olds to do whatever they wanted is highly implausible, and the lack of any actively responsible parental figures is a bit strange, but these are commonly overlooked in YA fiction, whether it be a misunderstanding of the lives of modern teens or the need to further the plot, but it doesn't have too much of a negative effect on the novel as a whole. I was really impressed at this book overall, and hope that John Green doesn't take as long to write his next one. 

The Fault in Our Stars Movie Review

The Fault in Our Stars is a humorous but poignant tear-jerker that stayed incredibly true to the novel's storyline. Fans of the John Green story about two cancer-stricken lovers who journey to Amsterdam won't be disappointed by the movie adaptation. The movie is clearly an interpretation of the book (unlike movies such as the ill fated Percy Jackson) and while I didn't agree with all the directorial choices, it follows the ideas and beliefs both behind and in the book perfectly. Shailene Woodley (essentially the new Jennifer Lawrence) portrays an adequately matter-of-fact and truthful Hazel Grace, the narrator/main character. Ansel Elgort, on the other hand, presents a fantastic surprise in his adorable and moving interpretation of Augustus Waters. The metaphorically inclined, one-legged love interest completely steals the show with his clever facial expressions and heartbreaking dramatic acting. The movie is not quite as deep as the book, but therein lies the challenge of translating any John Green book to a broader audience via the cinema; it is impossible to be that philosophical without making the movie 8 hours long. Despite that, The Fault in Our Stars is an excellent movie that will have viewers laughing through their tears and I highly recommend it whether or not you have read the book. Note: there is a scene of not so brief partial nudity and sexual implications.