The Fault in Our Stars- Hannah Bright

Title of Book:  The Fault In Our Stars 

Author: John Green

 # of Pages: 313 

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 

Why This Book has Value:

The Fault in Our Stars centers around the young love of 16 year old Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus "Gus" Waters. Hazel Grace has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer for three years now. She continues to call herself a "side effect of the relentless mutation that made the diversity of life on earth possible" ( Chapter 4, pg.49). At her regular support group for cancer kids, she made the acquaintance of Augustus Waters, 17 year old osteosarcoma patient. As the books go on, Hazel starts to feel herself fall in love with Gus, and she eventually tells him how she has never been able to contact the seemingly recluse of an author, Peter Van Houten, who wrote Hazel's favorite book, An Imperial Affliction. Waters contacts Houtem's assistant, explaining the dilemma and how Hazel wants to know the answers of the ending of the book. He then uses his wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation™ to finance the travel plans. However, the trip is put on hold because a slight ICU scare of Hazel's Her doctors and her parents then decide she can go on the trip as long as her mother goes along with her. Gus, Hazel, and Hazel's mother then fly to Amsterdam, where Van Houten currently resides.  They meet with the drunk and rude author and then proceed to the Anne Frank Memorial House where they share their first kiss. At the end of their trip, Augustus reveals his cancer has come back to Hazel. "He flashed his crooked smile, then said, 'I lit up like a Christmas tree, Hazel Grace.  The lining of my chest, my left hip, my liver, everywhere.' "( Chapter 13, pg.214). Through out the book, Hazel and Gus experience love and pain, combined into one. "'That's the thing about pain,' Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. 'It demands to be felt.' " Cancer is one of the main themes of the book, along with the necessity of suffering, the inevitable (death/oblivion) and Love.  These themes contribute to the overall factor: no matter what you are facing/ going through, always live in the moment. The Fault in Our Stars is a great book for teenagers, I believe, and overall, a great read.