An Abundance of Katherines

Title: An Abundance of Katherines

Author: John Green

ISBN: 978-1-4233-2450-8

Recommended Grade Level of User: 9th and Up

Media Type: Audiobook, Compact Disc (CD)

Copyright:  2006

Audiobook Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Narrator: Jeff Woodman

Duration: 7 Hours (6 CDs)

Genre: Fiction

Reader's Annotation: So many Katherines. So many heartbreaks.

Plot Summary:  Colin, the male protagonist, just graduated from high school.  He also just had his heart broken.  His girlfriend, Katherine, broke off their relationship and now Colin must mark one more on his tally card.  It seems that Colin has had bad luck dating girls named Katherine and this recent heartbreak reinforces his theory regarding Katherines.  Colin and his best friend Hassan set out on a summer road trip.  All the while, Colin contemplates women, in general, and Katherines, in particular.  The road leads the two young men to Tennessee where they share new experiences and meet people who make Colin reconsider his over generalized notions of women.     

Evaluation:  (B)  Although it is slightly unrealistic that Colin has only dated girls named Katherine, the premise is still plausible. Regardless of the believability of this element, An Abundance of Katherines is a creative story.  Colin takes an interesting approach, by developing a mathematical equation, to justify why so many Katherines have broken up with him. This is one example why he is such a likable character.  His nerdiness and quirkiness come across effectively in the audiobook.  Additionally, Colin and Hassan's road trip is so funny and entertaining that anyone who is interested in this story might consider taking it on their own summer time road trip.                  

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• YALSA Selected Audiobooks

Looking for Alaska

Title: Looking for Alaska

Author: John Green

ISBN: 978-1-4233-2444-7

Recommended Grade Level of User: 9th to 12th

Media Type: Audiobook, Compact Disc (CD)

Copyright: 2006

Audiobook Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Narrator: Jeff Woodman

Duration: 7 Hours (6 CDs)

Genre: Fiction

Reader's Annotation:  Will Miles ever find his Great Perhaps? 

Plot Summary:  Miles is leaving his family and his home for boarding school in Alabama.  After his arrival, he quickly becomes friends with his roommate Chip and his roommate’s female friend, Alaska.  When Miles gets thrown into a lake one day by a local group of notorious pranksters, Miles and his friends declare a prank war.  Amidst the festivities surrounding the pranks, Miles finds that he is developing a crush on Alaska.  Throughout the course of the audiobook, infatuation grows between the two teens.  One fateful night, however, Alaska suddenly perishes in a car crash.  Devastated by their loss, Miles and Chip set out on a quest to uncover the truth behind Alaska’s death.   

Evaluation:  (B)  Green created three well developed characters in Miles, Chip, and Alaska. Each brought interest to the story with unique sets of characteristics and provided for an intriguing and suspenseful narrative.  It is easy to see how each character impacts the others' lives and while the ending isn't necessarily a happy one, it makes the story much more believable.        

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• YALSA Literature and Language Arts Book List

Paper Towns

Title:  Paper Towns

Author:  John Green

ISBN:  978-1-4233-4422-3

Recommended Age Level of User:  14 and Up

Media Type:  Audiobook, Compact Disc (CD)

Copyright:  2008

Audiobook Publisher:  Brilliance Audio

Narrator: Dan John Miller

Duration:  8 Hours (7 CDs)

Genre:  Fiction

Reader's Annotation:  Appearances can be deceiving.  

Plot Summary:  Next door neighbors Margo and Quentin have grown up with each other.  The two were close friends until the age of nine.  After an eventful day in the park, their friendship deteriorated.  As high school seniors, the teens are still neighbors and Quentin has had a crush on Margo all the while.  Since both belong to different crowds and have divergent personalities, Quentin has never revealed his feelings.  One night, Margo and Quentin reunite when Margo shows up at Quentin’s door.  The next day, she mysteriously disappears and the rest of the story revolves around Quentin’s efforts to find Margo and uncover who she really is.    

Evaluation:  (A)  This plot is similar to Green's Looking for Alaska.  They are different stories, of course, but the idea of searching for a girl is reminiscent of the author's other work. Nonetheless, this story was funny and will give the reader (or listener) a lot to think about. Although Quentin has idolized Margo for so many years, he starts to understand that people are not always what they seem.  Teens may be able to relate to this concept.  Paper Towns would make a great addition to a summertime reading book list.     

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• YALSA Best Books for Young Adults