Hazel Grace Lancaster was not the average 16 year old girl. She is overwhelmingly witty, an extreme reader, and has been unfortunately diagnosed with cancer. She has few friends and prefers staying inside and reading her favorite book, ‘An Imperial Affliction.’ She has unique opinions, and views her depression and other issues as not a side effect of cancer, but a side effect of dying.
One evening at a cancer support group, Hazel befriends a boy named Augustus Waters. Augustus has recovered from Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, a few years earlier and has since lost his right leg to the disease. He is equally as witty as Hazel, and is a video game enthusiast, his main dream is to make a difference and be remembered after his death. Throughout this novel, readers are shown their many times together, their clever conversations and how they eventually fall in love.
“The Fault in Our Stars” is a young adult cancer novel, but it steps away from the average cancer plot line. This novel is very well-written and is obviously well thought-out. This novel will make you laugh and cry, being a perfect mix of bleakness and comedy. The plot also has a few twists and turns that made it not as predictable as most cancer novels are.
“I’ve never really cried over a book until I read this one,” said sophomore Michael Nagy.
The characters were very interesting, including the supporting characters who were all very different, such as their parents and Isaac, their blind friend. It is rare to find people who are as special and unique as Hazel and Augustus. Their characters are so compelling and charismatic. They are able to have deep conversations about insignificant things and are able to find a metaphor in everything. Sadly, because they are so intellectual and clever in their conversations it gave their characters and the story an artificial feeling. Instead of hearing the characters speak it occasionally feels as if it is the author’s voice. Despite it feeling fake in parts, Hazel was very honest about how she felt about her cancer, and that felt very real.
“The Fault in Our Stars” was written by John Green, a popular YouTube vlogger, who also wrote “Paper Towns.” It was released earlier this year and has understandably had a great response.
