1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Green, John. 2012. The Fault in Our Stars. New York: The Penguin Group. ISBN: 9780142424179
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Hazel is a 16 year old who has thyroid cancer, which has begun to affect her lungs. In an effort to encourage activities with others, her mother takes her to support group meetings. It is here that she meets and ultimately falls in love with Augustus (Gus), a 17 year old who has a type of bone cancer that is in remission. Hazel shares her love of books with Gus and convinces him to read her favorite, An Imperial Affliction. The book, however, doesn’t have a definitive ending, and after numerous emails, the author agrees to tell them in person. Gus reveals that he has never used his “make a wish” and takes Hazel to Amsterdam to meet with the author. Unfortunately, the visit doesn’t go as planned, but the two enjoy the trip together anyway. After returning home, Gus admits that his cancer has returned, and his condition rapidly deteriorates. Hazel stays with him, loving him and supporting him, through his worst days and finally his death.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is a beautiful story of two young star crossed lovers, dealing with their daily challenges in dramatically different ways. Hazel seems to take life and her terminal diagnosis rather seriously, while Gus is much more carefree and sees the positive in every circumstance. Both of these characters are believable, and it is easy to become engaged in their day to day lives. The plot, while incredibly tragic and heart wrenching, is logical and convincing as a storyline. The way the characters interact with peers and parents is typical behavior for most teenagers, but no matter how normal things seem, there is an “elephant” in the room that can never be fully ignored. The setting, while technically in modern day Indiana, could be in any town in the present day.
There are many different themes that come through in this book. One that stood out to me is that life isn’t fair and there is no rhyme or reason why one person may face terrible suffering during their lifetime. “The world is not a wish granting factory” no matter how much we would like for it to be, and unfortunately, the presence of childhood cancer is very real for many families today. Facing this diagnosis would be devastating for anyone, but books like this might help some to feel like they are not alone and could eventually help the healing process.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
2012 TIME Magazine’s #1 Fiction Book
TODAY Book Club Pick
#1 New York Times Bestseller
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
#1 USA Today Bestseller
#1 International Bestseller
#1 Indie Bestseller
From The Washington Post: “John Green deftly mixes the profound and the quotidian in this tough, touching valentine to the human spirit.”
From New York Times Book Review: “[Green] shows us true love—two teenagers helping and accepting each other through the most humiliating physical and emotional ordeals—and it is far more romantic than any sunset on the beach.”
From Booklist, starred review: “Beautifully conceived and executed, this story artfully examines the largest possible considerations—life, love, and death—with sensitivity, intelligence, honesty, and integrity. In the process, Green shows his readers what it is like to live with cancer, sometimes no more than a breath or a heartbeat away from death. But it is life that Green spiritedly celebrates here, even while acknowledging its pain. In its every aspect, this novel is a triumph.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Gather other books with characters suffering from chronic or terminal conditions such as:
• Andrews, Jesse. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. ISBN 1419701762
• Downham, Jenny. Before I Die. ISBN 0385613466
• Picoult, Jodi. My Sister’s Keeper. ISBN 0743454537
Gather other John Green to read such as:
• Looking for Alaska. ISBN 0142402516
• Paper Towns. ISBN 014241493X
• An Abundance of Katherines. ISBN 9780142410707
John Green has a fantastic educator guide for four of his novels available at: http://www.penguin.com/static/images/yr/pdf/JohnGreen_Guide_june_2014.pdf
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