An Abundance of Katherines - by John Green

Summary/Overview: The story is about a boy named Colin who has dated nineteen Katherines to date. The title of the book is not misleading at all. Colin is a very interesting character and very smart. Okay, he is very very very smart. He is trying to figure out his dilemma with dating and being dumped by nineteen Katherines. Colin also is trying to figure how to actually matter in this world. He goes on a road trip with his best friend Hassan to figure this all out. Their road trip quickly ends in a town they only wanted to visit a tourist attraction in. The town and a few of its residents helps Colin to figure out what life is all about. It turns out that it wasn't what he thought it was supposed to be.
Personal thoughts and opinions: I thought Looking for Alaska was amazing and didn't know how John Green could top it, but he did, or at least they are dead even. The characters he creates within his stories are so complex and amazing. Some moments just made me laugh out loud. An Abundance of Katherines is an amazing book about a teenager trying to find himself that any teen reader can relate to (even if Colin is very very very smart). The footnotes in this book were not only amazingly creative but usually pretty hilarious. The footnotes fit the story to a T. I would recommend this book to anyone who simply enjoys a good book.
Would I teach this book: I would love love love to teach this book in a classroom. What is even more exciting is that there is actually some material out there already on teaching this book. I had a hard time finding materials or talk of teaching Looking for Alaska. I think that An Abundance of Katherines tones it down a bit compared to Looking for Alaska but that doesn't make it any less brilliant, just more teachable is how I look at it. This book would be great for a classroom and I couldn't imagine having anyone object to it.
Quote:"It was the first time since arriving in Gutshot that he'd beaten the rooster to waking. Immediately he opened his bedroom window, pressed his face up against the screen, and shouted: COCK-A-DOODLE DOO! HOW DO YOU LIKE IT FROM THE OTHER END, YOU LITTLE FUGGER?"