Article archive / December 2017
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 12. Source pages: 15.
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Deborah Palmer, PhD Clinical Psychologist Health and Education Alliance of Louisiana, New Orleans
John Green’s new book, Turtles All The Way Down, is another great read in the Young Adult/Teen fiction genre. Green introduces us to Aza, a teen struggling with anxiety, OCD and the cognitive spirals it puts her in, her struggles to take medications consistently due to side effects, and the teen struggles of friendships and relationship. Green’s character development makes Aza a believable teen with real family issues (the death of her father), a bright student with much to look forward to, and the understanding of what a lifelong friendship can look like even in the midst of a mental health diagnosis.
Teens have been drawn to Green’s books (The Fault in our Stars which was also made into a movie and Looking for Alaska) as they capture real life feelings and experiences. I’ve found that knowing Teen fiction is an amazing way to connect with teens who might not openly talk about their own issues, but can identify with a specific character. Green’s portrayal of anxiety/OCD is both complex and accurate. He presents a character with all the answers, but rather a real-life struggle where some things go well, and other moments are part of a complete anxiety meltdown. Turtles All the Way Down is an easy read, but thoroughly enjoyable for adults as well as teens.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.