John Green, an award-winning author of young adult fiction from Indianapolis, published his seventh book, Turtles All the Way Down, in October 2017. This teenage detective story is set in Indianapolis.

Cover of Turtles All the Way Down. It features a coil that gets smaller as it reaches the bottom of the page.
Turtles All the Way Down, 2017 Credit: Fair use via Wikimedia Commons View Source

The novel focuses on the life of 16-year old Aza Holmes. Ava deals with typical teenage issues–balancing being a good daughter, friend, and student, while also living with OCD and anxiety. The plot follows Aza as she embarks on a search for the fugitive billionaire, Russell Pickett. Not only is there a large reward for finding him, but Pickett also happens to be the father of Aza’s friend, Davis Pickett. Throughout her search, Aza is accompanied by her best friend Daisy Ramirez.

Several scenes in the novel are set in locations throughout Indianapolis. This includes White River, Pogues Run Tunnel, IU Health North, a mansion on Michigan Road, Juan Solomon Park, and the Applebee’s at 86th street and Ditch Road. Other Indianapolis fixtures mentioned are the Indianapolis Star, the Indianapolis Prize, Butler University, and Iupui.

Turtles All the Way Down was well received, appearing on best book lists from The New York Times, NPR, Time, and more. It was also featured on Fresh Air, 60 Minutes, and the TODAY Show.

John Green is well-known for works such as Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, and The Fault In Our Stars. He has won several awards for his work, including the Printz Medal, a Printz Honor, and the Edgar Award. He has also been a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize twice and selected as one of the 100 Most Influential People by Time. In addition to being an author, Green is also known for his digital work including “Vlogbrothers” and “Crash Course.”

Revised June 2021
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