The Fault In Our Stars

Green, J. (2015). The fault in our stars.  London: Penguin. 

Hazel meets Augustus, a former star basketball player, at the cancer support group meeting. After hanging out, they agree to rread each other’s favorite books.  Hazel’s favorite books is An Imperial Affliction  by Peter Van Houton, which maddingly leaves her asking questions.  They use their “cancer perks” to take a trip to track down Van Houton, who ends up a drunk and not helping them.  Augustus reveals that his cancer has spread everywhere and shortly after returning from the trip, Gus passes away.  Van Houton ends up attending Gus’ funeral and talking a bit more to Hazel.  She loses the love of her life, but she finally gets closure to her ultimate worry- that her parents will be okay, after she dies. 

Two teenagers struggle to find meaning in their short lives while dealing with the deadly cancer that dominates their thinking.  No topic is too sacred to explore.  Characters boldly expose their emotions, their view of life, death and the afterlife.  It seems they have no time to waste on their own mortality, that fate having been sealed. Poignant with wry humor and sarcasm, this book gives insight into adolescent compassion and anxiety.  The characters are believable and relatable.  Here is a book trailer for the novel.