The Fault In Our Stars Review by Allison Trippe
Bibliography
Green, John. 2012. The Fault In Our Stars. New York, NY: Penguin Group, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0142424179
Plot Summary
Sixteen year old Hazel is learning how to live an ordinary life after her cancer has left her with failing lungs. Self-described as terminal since the age of thirteen when she was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer, Hazel feels alone in her world. Reluctantly, she attends a support group for children with cancer where she unexpectedly meets the newest support group member, Augustus. They soon become fast friends having shared similar experiences, thoughts, and feelings about their illnesses. They spend time talking on the phone, watching movies, and discussing literature together. When Hazel and Augustus read books recommended by one another, their relationship begins to develop into something more. Both curious about how one book in particular ends, and longing for more closure than the author provided, they reach out to the author probing him about his plans for a sequel.
As they fall in love, Augustus finds a way to travel to Amsterdam to meet with Peter Van Houten, the author of Hazel’s favorite book. Though meeting with the author turns out to be disappointing, Hazel and Augustus don’t let it keep them from delighting in the trip of a lifetime. Upon returning home to Indiana, an unexpected plot twist forces Hazel to come to terms with inevitable truths, tragic loss, and heartbreaking irony.
Critical Analysis
Author John Green articulates a beautifully written, modern-day, love story about two terminally ill teenagers. His strong development of characters and descriptive style engage readers almost instantaneously. Many themes emerge naturally, most of which contain difficult subject matter for teens, and will resonate with young adult readers.
Even though Hazel is a cancer survivor, readers will relate to her need for independence, strong will, and cynical humor. The author juxtaposes a physically and chronically ill character with an above-average intellect and savvy personality. Hazel is contemplative and ruminative, often struggling with feelings of guilt about burdening her parents. She has a graceful presence, sharp wit and is eloquently expressive. Her unique perspective on life will force teen readers to realize that nothing in life is guaranteed. Augustus’ character grounds Hazel’s tension by helping her embrace the present. He provides more than a distraction from her own issues. Augustus elevates Hazel’s spirit, challenging her to live life to the fullest and enjoy the simple rewards in life.
Green writes a descriptive novel told in first person of the main character, Hazel. The book is written in mostly dialogue, paralleled with Hazel’s narrative subconscious and inner psyche. Readers are able to create vivid images which are anchored by the author’s effective use of metaphors, similes, foreshadowing, and allusions throughout the realistic fiction novel. He does not shy away from raw and intolerable details about the inevitable truths of death and dying.
Themes of friendship, courage, love, injustice, and learning to live a full life are ubiquitous throughout the book. However, the most compelling of these is how the main character learns to live her life to the fullest. As we follow her character, Hazel experiences each one in that order. The story is so believable that readers will experience many of Hazel’s same emotions. She discovers an unlikely friendship; rallies with courage to fall in love; and in the end faces an ironic injustice. Hazel learns firsthand what it really means to live by turning tragedy into triumph, fear into comfort, and heartbreak into solace.
Awards & Review Excerpts
- 2013 Black-Eyed Susan Book Award
- 2013 Virginia Reader's Choice Awards
- 2015 Evergreen Young Adult Book Award
- 2015 Golden Archer Award
- 2015 Sequoyah Book Award
- 2015 Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award
- 2015 Young Reader's Choice Award
- 2014 California Young Reader Medal
- 2013 Indies' Choice Book Award
- 2016 Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award
From Booklist: “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.”
From Amazon.com Review: “In The Fault in Our Stars, John Green has created a soulful novel that tackles big subjects--life, death, love--with the perfect blend of levity and heart-swelling emotion.”
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.”
Connections
- Compare and contrast The Fault In Our Stars with books such as:
- Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. ISBN: 1451696191
- Forman, Gayle. If I Stay. ISBN: 014241543X
- Ask students to write about what the title means to them.
- Students can conduct a character analysis of the main character, Hazel.
- Assign students to write about different types of connections: text to self, text to text, text to world.
- Use Google Earth to provide support and context for the setting of the book that occurs in Amsterdam.
*Created as an assignment for a Texas Woman's University course.
