Thursday, April 23, 2015

The Fault in Our Stars

Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York: Penguin Group.

The story is about two teenagers who have cancer.  Hazel has terminal cancer and Augustus is a cancer survivor.  They meet at a cancer support group.  Hazel’s mom thinks that she is depressed and she requires her to attend the weekly meetings with other teenagers that either are living with or having survived cancer.  She spends most of her time alone and is obsessed with the book An Imperial Affliction by Peter Van Houten.  This book is what she uses to draw her strength from in coming to terms with life and death. Hazel thinks that the meetings are a waste of time but she comes to appease her mother.   But this changes when Augustus Waters and his friend, Isaac show up one day to a meeting.  It seems that Hazel and Augustus have an instant connection.   Hazel’s and Augustus’ relationship grows and they begin to fall in love. She is worried that she will die and wants to spare him from being hurt.  Augustus decides to use his Make-A-Wish on her and travel to Amsterdam together to meet Peter Van Houten and get some answers about her favorite book.  While in Amsterdam, Augustus admits to Hazel that his cancer is back and that it has spread all over his body.  Upon returning home, Augustus becomes very ill and he dies soon after.  Hazel realizes that it was worth loving Augustus and not to have loved him at all.


This was an excellent novel to read.  I couldn’t put it down.  It is good read for anyone who is dealing with an illness or a death. Yes, it deals with cancer, death and sadness but it is also filled with love, hope and loss.  It tells the reader that they should live their life to its fullest and love freely.  

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