NEW DELHI: Award-winning author John Green speaks about the kind of mental illness that has affected his life since childhood in his new book, in which he shares the story of a young woman looking for clues in the disappearance of a fugitive billionaire, while grappling with depression.
Green says he has been working on "Turtles All the Way Down" for years, and he's excited to share it with his readers. "This is my first attempt to write directly about the kind of mental illness that has affected my life since childhood, so while the story is fictional, it is also quite personal," he says.
Green's last book was the critically-acclaimed "The Fault In Our Stars", published six years ago. Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there's a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her best and most fearless friend, daisy, is eager to investigate.
So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett's son, Davis. Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.
Publisher Penguin says "Turtles All the Way Down" will have a US first print run of 1.5 million copies and Penguin UK will be printing circa half a million copies. Green's many accolades include the Printz Medal, a Printz Honor, and the Edgar Award. With his brother Hank, he is one half of the Vlogbrothers and co-created the online educational series CrashCourse.