the fault in our stars book review essay

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Essay: Book review essay: “The fault in our stars”

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‘I fell in love the way you fall asleep, slowly, then all at once’ (Green). Hazel Grace is a sixteen-year-old girl, who has been suffering thyroid cancer since the age of thirteen. Since her lungs are so badly damage caused by the cancer, she is connected to an oxygen tank in order to be able to breath. She is obligated by her mother to go to a cancer support group where she meets a young, handsome boy named Augustus Waters. Augustus is a seventeen-year-old boy, survivor from osteosarcoma, which falls in love with Hazel at the moment he sees her. Both create a relationship together where they fight the struggles that are presented to them and share the obsession over a book named, An Imperial Affliction by the fictional author Peter Van Houten. The Fault in our Stars is not just a book that portrays the hard times that a teen or any person at any age goes through cancer physically, but also what actually true love is and the power it has. The courage that it takes for a person to take cancer as part of their lives and the fears they create.

John Green creates this story where the characters take cancer as a member of their lives by making it seem as something that they have known forever and explain what is really to live with it. It is portrayed by the way Hazel explains an idea of what are the real side effects of cancer, in this case depression. She describes it by saying, ‘depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of dying. (Cancer is also a side effect of dying. Almost everything is, really)’ (Green). She explaining that by having cancer, people know that they will not be able to live long enough and that their body can fail at any moment, but in some way they still fight. Green in some way creates this book in some kind of a philosophical work where he question whether is it really worth it to fight when in some cases people will not achieve it. He questions, what is what they are really achieving.

The author has a skill that helps him create his characters at a point where the audience knows how the characters feel, think and what they fear and eventually relate to them. As Beimers commented, Green ‘appears to be more capable at telling a story from a female point of view than most women writers are today’. Hazel is described as a girl that fears to hurt the people around her. She mentions, ‘”What am I at war with? My cancer. And what is my cancer? My cancer is me. The tumors are made of me. They’re made of me as surely as my brain and my heart are made of me. It is a civil war’with a predetermined winner.” (Green). She becomes the disease and she is scared of infecting the people around her. She is scared that when she is dead the people around her will not be able to move along with their lives. It may be that ‘Hazel is all of these negatives wrapped up in her end-of-her-world melodrama’ (Starkehaus), but Green wants to portray how people become depress and forget about hope. As for Augustus he fears oblivion. He fears that after his dead nobody will remember him and be just someone who fought for cancer. He is scared of not making something important for the world. Green portrays that ‘The real heroes anyway aren’t the people doing things; the real heroes are the people NOTICING things, paying attention’. (Green)

After the author shows how depressing and hurtful cancer can be, he also show what’s love and the power it has. Green does not talks about any kind of teenage couple relationship but about a real relationship where they are struggles, there’s kindness and caring between the couple. Augustus tries everything to accomplish the dream of Hazel which is find out what happens to the characters of the book she is obsessed on. The portrays how with love it can overcome the hard times and that during those hard times the couple can stick together no matter what will happen during the future. It shows how love will cause them not to hurt them or prevent it. When Hazel knows that she has fallen in love with Augustus she tells him, ‘I am a grenade and at some point I am going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties okay?” (Green). She cares for him that he doesn’t want to hurt him. When Augustus is confirmed that has cancer for a second time he promises Hazel that he will fight and during that fight Hazel never let’s go. The book shows what love is really capable of.

After all the book might be a sad, but the way Green’s words are ‘oftentimes breathtaking, and some portions of the novel are so perfectly structured that even the smallest details are turned into moments of real poignancy’ (Beimers). It shows how people need a lot of courage to live and overcome their biggest enemy. And how love can change everything. ‘But it’s not a cancer book’ because cancer books suck.” (Minzesheimer).

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Themes and Analysis

The fault in our stars, by john green.

‘The Fault in Our Stars’ is a novel that brings themes about love, family, relationships, pain, and death to life.

About the Book

Written by Joshua Ehiosun

C2 certified writer.

‘The Fault in Our Stars’  uses human-relatable themes to tell the story of its primary characters, Hazel and Augustus. Though the novel follows a tragic story, it shows the happy-sad relationship between the primary characters. The story’s focus on the weaknesses and struggles of its characters made it become a popular attraction for teenagers and young adults.

Love and Friendship

Love and friendship are the primary themes of  ‘The Fault in Our Stars.’  Throughout the novel, John Green showed how Hazel and Augustus sailed through their love for each other. The story focused on its primary character’s relationship and showed how it slowly progressed from mutual friendship to love.

On meeting Augustus, Hazel became attracted to him, and soon, she shared her most prized possession with him. On introducing him to  ‘An Imperial Affliction,’  their relationship blossoms, and after they go to Amsterdam to meet Peter Van Houten, Hazel realizes she has fallen for Augustus. After professing their love for each other, Augustus reveals that his cancer is back. Hazel begins to navigate through the experience of seeing the person she loves fade from existence. 

The novel shows how powerful friendships get. Isaac and Augustus had a strong bond that lived beyond Augustus’s death; this showed the value of their relationship.

Pain and Suffering

Though the novel showed moments of happiness and love in its characters’ lives, it focused more on their reality, pain, and suffering. As a novel that narrates the struggle of living with cancer, the story of ‘The Fault in Our Stars’   perfectly portrays the suffering associated with cancer.

The novel’s attention to the reality of cancer made it an extremely relatable book . After Hazel met Augustus, she realized that she could not escape her life of suffering. On meeting Peter Van Houten, she got forced to confront her reality as Van Houten told her that her ailment was nothing but an effect of evolution; this made her realize that she could never escape the pain. She had to watch Augustus gradually become a shadow of himself; this ate away at her, and when he died, she felt trapped in a cage of her pain and suffering.

In  ‘The Fault in Our Stars,’  Hazel and Augustus tried to navigate a life of pain and suffering while simultaneously discovering their feelings for each other. Augustus was a person who believed that leaving a mark in life was crucial. However, Hazel argued otherwise, stating that the legacy left behind by great people will turn into nothing but scars. The novel showed how Hazel, Isaac, Augustus, and other teenagers struggled to find their identity in a world of cancer and pain.

Life and Death

Death is a primary theme in  ‘The Fault in Our Stars.’  Though Hazel tried to show her strength amid suffering, she admitted that her death would bring undiluted pain to her parents and those around her. Seeing herself as a time grenade, she desperately tried to protect her family from the future impact of her death. With her life getting shorter and shorter, Hazel tried to resist falling in love with Augustus because she feared that death would only hurt him more. After Augustus revealed that he was dying from cancer, Hazel began to wish that her life was a bit different. The pain of watching Augustus die tormented her.

Coming of Age

One thing the novel talks about is maturity. The loss of innocence became a crucial turning point in Hazel and Augustus’s lives as they matured into adulthood. They realized that their lives would circle cancer, pain, and death.

Analysis of Key Moments

• Hazel’s doctor and mother advise her to attend a support group.
• On joining the support group, Hazel meets Augustus, a seventeen-year-old boy who had his right leg removed due to Osteosarcoma.
• Hazel and Augustus become friends. They exchange their favorite novels. Hazel gives him  ‘An Imperial Affliction,’  and she collects ‘ The Prince of Dawn.’
• Augustus gets frustrated by  An Imperial Affliction’s  ending but learns from Hazel that Peter Van Houten, its author, has moved to Amsterdam.
• Isaac, Augustus’s friend, gets dumped by his girlfriend, Monica.
• Augustus reveals to Hazel that he has tracked Peter Van Houten’s assistant, Lidewiji Vliegenthart, and has begun an exchange of emails with Van Houten.
• Hazel and Augustus start exchanging emails with Van Houten, and finally, they get invited to Amsterdam.
• Augustus uses his genie wish to get tickets for Hazel, himself, and her mother to see Van Houten.
• Hazel meets Van Houten but discovers he is a mean alcoholic. He refuses to answer her question, and in a fit of rage, she storms out of his house.
• Van Houten’s assistant takes Hazel and Augustus to Anne Frank’s house.
• Hazel and Augustus kiss for the first time.
• Hazel and Augustus lose their virginity to each other.
• Augustus reveals that his cancer had returned and spread throughout his body.
• On returning home, Augustus’s health deteriorates, and he dies.
• Van Houten tries to apologize to Hazel at Augustus’s funeral, but she rejects his apology.
• Van Houten’s assistant tells Hazel of the letters Augustus had sent to Van Houten, and on reading one, she discovers he wrote an obituary for her.

Style, Tone, and Figurative Language

‘The Fault in Our Stars’  employs a sad but vibrant tone but the melancholy switches when Hazels falls in love with Augustus and becomes a happy tone. Hazel’s straightforwardness made the story progress rapidly as she served as the narrator from a first-person’s perspective.

The story uses similes, metaphors, personifications, and allusions to create a delicately interesting word structure. Metaphors like Augustus’s use of cigarettes created an ironic portrayal of the story’s narrative. 

Analysis of Symbols

An imperial affliction.

The book  ‘An Imperial Affliction’  has many metaphorical reflections on Hazel’s life. She admitted to the book being like a Bible for her because it was one of the few novels that understood what it felt like to be dying. Hazel stated that Peter Van Houten was a writer who understood death. After reading the book numerously, Hazel became addicted to the fate of the story’s characters; this makes her travel to Amsterdam in search of answers. However, on reaching Amsterdam, she got hit by reality as she discovered that Van Houten had no suitable answer to her questions.

In the novel, Augustus kept a cigarette pack. When asked about why he had a cigarette placed in his mouth, he stated that it was a representation of trying to prove that one had power over a force of evil. The cigarette symbolizes the belief that something can only harm a person when they let it hurt them.

Oxygen Tank

Throughout the novel, Hazel always uses an oxygen tank. The tank represents the blockade that stood between life and death for Hazel.

What are the primary themes of The Fault in Our Stars ?

‘The Fault in Our Stars’   implements many themes synonymous with teenagers; this includes themes of coming of age, love, and identity. The novel exploited the concept of pain in its characters’ lives.

What happens to Isaac in The Fault in Our Stars ?

Isaac is August’s friend who had eye cancer. When Isaac got scheduled to undergo surgery, he and Monica broke up. The surgery was successful, but he lost his eye and became blind.

Does Hazel die in the Fault in Our Stars ?

Though the novel did not show whether Hazel died or not, John Green revealed that she died one year after Augustus’s death.

What do Augustus’s cigarettes represent?

When Hazel got angry at Augustus for putting a cigarette in his mouth, he told her that the cigarette was a metaphor. He explained that having the cigarette in his mouth without smoking gave him power over death.

About Joshua Ehiosun

Joshua is an undying lover of literary works. With a keen sense of humor and passion for coining vague ideas into state-of-the-art worded content, he ensures he puts everything he's got into making his work stand out. With his expertise in writing, Joshua works to scrutinize pieces of literature.

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Ehiosun, Joshua " The Fault in Our Stars Themes and Analysis 📖 " Book Analysis , https://bookanalysis.com/john-green/the-fault-in-our-stars/themes-analysis/ . Accessed 29 March 2024.

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green | Book Review

Posted February 16, 2015 by Jana in Book Review , Young Adult Fiction / 5 Comments

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

I can’t believe I read this. I can’t BELIEVE I read this. I had vowed to never, ever read The Fault in our Stars because I hate crying and being sad and cancer. And being the perfectionist, type-A student I am, I finally did. If the love of my life had asked me to read TFioS, I would have said no. But when my grade’s on the line I’ll pretty much do anything that isn’t illegal and/or against my moral code. Haha. So yay! Now I’m cool and I’ve read the book, and I only cried a little (but that’s because I read the spoilers because I’M SORRY, but in addition to being a perfectionist I’m also a planner. So sue me.). Anyway, so much has been said and re-said about TFioS so I’m not going to do a full review like I usually do. Here are my thoughts!

– I think The Fault in Our Stars ‘s biggest selling point (aside from the sweeping romance) is that suffering is a part of life sometimes, and people go through things that are not fair. It’s part of life. We all go through a lot of suffering, and while it might not be as huge as cancer, loves are lost and devastating things happen (big or small). I remember times where I felt convinced that my life was over for one reason or another. The Fault in our Stars really puts everything into perspective and gives readers a chance to think about their own lives. I thought a lot about what I would do if I knew I was terminal. I wondered how I would change or how I would re-prioritize my life.

– The story is unique because the romance feels so realistic and true . Hazel and Gus are dying, so they have risen above time just to be in the moment. I love their story, and I love how they fell deeply for one another. And, oh, Augustus. I love his personality.

– Hazel’s voice is so poignant and strong, even though she’s scared. Her maturity matches that of someone who has had to grow up faster than average in order to live her entire life in a too-short period of time.

– Hazel’s thoughts about love and life are so real, especially for someone that is dealing with something horrible. I identified with her in many ways because I have debilitating diseases that have altered my life. I’m not terminal, and I’m not in danger of becoming so, but I understood her reflections. It’s unbelievably scary and confusing to live in pain, and John Green writes like he has been through it. He writes Hazel and Gus like he knows what it’s like to be them. He conveys such perfect emotion. 

– The romance is so sweet. I had a perfect fairy-tale love story as a teen (obviously it was far from perfect and we went our separate ways), and I was told all the time that I couldn’t possibly know what love is like. I appreciate that John Green understands that teens can know. And they can have a deep love story. I love it when an author respects their audience like that, and does not put characters in their book that tell teens how wrong they are, and how their feelings aren’t true.

– The book gave me hope . The jokes and the sarcasm and the funny jabs are a reminder that you can always have hope, even in dire circumstances. I loved that message.

All in all, The Fault in Our Stars really spoke to me. Readers do not have to be suffering from cancer or even know someone who has/had cancer in order to relate. The book is about living and loving and enjoying the time you have. It’s about hope. I think everyone should read this book because the messages of the necessity for suffering, the realities of cancer, living in the moment, hope, and love are so strong and beautifully delivered.

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5 responses to “ The Fault in Our Stars by John Green | Book Review ”

Glad you enjoyed it! I wasn’t expecting much from this book, so it blew me away. There was a perfect balance between bitter reality and optimistic hope, such a well done story. And Hazel! Her voice was excellent.

Lovely review :D Lea @ YA Book Queen recently posted… Mini-Review: VICIOUS by V.E. Schwab

I still haven’t read this. I tried. I made it about three pages in and returned it to the library. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it and took something away from reading it. Brianna recently posted… read: george washington books for kids

I think I was one of few that didn’t really fall in love with it. I love how you mentioned how this wasn’t just about the romance, but also about LIFE. I do love books don’t always have A HEA and really focus on things that we don’t like to talk about. :D

Glad you loved it! tonyalee recently posted… 2015 Book Blogger Love-A-Thon | Kick off Interview

The book is beautiful, yes the message is very clear, besides the romance i love the friendship, and the family support, the characters are beautiful and realistic, love the book

This is one of my favorite reads of all time! Love your comments!

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Fault in Our Stars — A Reflection On The Book The Fault In Our Stars By John Green

A Reflection on The Book The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

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Published: Mar 18, 2021

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The Fault In Our Stars. Book Review Example

What is book review?

A book review is a short description of a book which includes the main points of the plot, the description of the main characters, and writer’s remarks and recommendations of the book. A book review paper example should be written taking into consideration certain points. It is important that you consider the tenses that should be used for each paragraph of a review. The description of the plot should be written in present tense. The paragraphs should consist of more than one sentence. When forming the conclusion of a review, you should include your recommendations or viewpoint. The arguments and reasons should be used to support and justify the comments or beliefs. As for the style of a review, it can be both formal and informal, depending on the publication. A good book review example college level is The Fault in Our Stars book review which you will find below.

The Fault in Our Stars. Main plot

The Fault in Our Stars is a piece of young adult fiction which combines the elements of a love story and a drama. The novel is written by John Green, one of the most known authors of fiction for youth. The book was published in 2012 and was on the New York Times list of the best-selling books.

The book tells the story of two young people who are dying of cancer, their love and struggle to make each others’ lives better and brighter. Hazel Grace is seventeen. She is dying of thyroid cancer. The disease is incurable and no one knows how much time is left for the girl. She undergoes the treatment but a new drug she is treated with does not guarantee the remission. Hazel suffers not only physically but emotionally as well feeling very lonely and depressed. Hazel’ mother insists on her joining a support group. She hopes it will help the girl to socialise. One day she meets a young boy, Augustus. He has one leg amputated, the state of his health seems better than that of Hazel. He attends the sessions of the support group to help his friend Isaac who has cancer. Hazel and Augustus fall for each other. They have a lot in common; they discuss films and books and spend a lot of time together. Hazel tells Augustus about her most favourite story – the story of a girl dying of cancer just like Hazel. The only thing that disappoints Hazel is that the book is not finished. Augustus and Hazel decide to find the author of the book Peter Van Houten to find out what will happen in the story. Having made the efforts, they eventually find Van Houten in Amsterdam and contact him to learn whether he will be willing to meet them. They travel to Amsterdam to meet the writer, but soon they become disappointed – Van Houten appears to be very rude and unwelcoming and refuses to answer any of young people’s questions. Meanwhile the disease hits Augustus. Having returned home, Augustus undergoes chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the disease is stronger and the state of Augustus’s health is getting worse. Soon he dies. At the funeral Hazel is surprised to see Van Houten, who tells her the story of his daughter Anna who died of cancer when she was only eight. Hazel learns that Augustus left her a letter. The novel ends with the girl reading the letter of Augustus. The letter is a eulogy for the girl he loved and had to leave. In his letter Augustus tells Hazel about his love to her.

The main characters of the novel, Hazel and Augustus, are young people but their life taught them to be more adult than some adults are. They do not have the whole life ahead, so they try to take as much as they can from those months, weeks or even days they are given. They teach readers the lesson of love and friendship. They show that the life is worth living, they teach to appreciate every moment of it. The story is well written, it is really convincing. The readers sympathise with Hazel and Augustus who have to die so young. At the same time, they are happy about the young people as they have loved and have been loved which made their life complete.

The Fault in Our Stars. The movie

In 2014 The Fault in Our Stars was made into a film starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort . The film received positive reviews both from critics and viewers.

The novel The Fault in Our Stars is a brilliant story to be recommended to everyone regardless their age and gender. The problems touched upon in the story will appeal to those who are searching the answers to the questions about love and friendship, life and death.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green book review is an example of a book review written according to the rules and strategies fixed for this type of writing. The book review of The Fault in Our Stars contains all the elements of a good review – the plot description, the description of the characters and recommendations.

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Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars By John Green

By: Author Laura

Posted on Published: 19th June 2020  - Last updated: 12th January 2024

Categories Book Reviews , Books

The Fault in Our Stars Summary

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs… for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

The Fault in Our Stars Review

Usually, after I’ve read a book, I immediately try to throw some thoughts down on a page so writing the book review is easier, but I couldn’t do that with this book. I was an emotional mess and too busy rolling around on my bed wailing.

I’ve seen so much hype about The Fault in Our Stars in the blogosphere and, well, in life. But, to be honest, if it hadn’t come through my letterbox, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. It sounded a bit too heavy for me to handle and the thought of reading about sick teenagers did not appeal.

“The marks humans leave are too often scars.” The Fault in Our Stars Book

The Fault in Our Stars follows the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a lung cancer patient. She probably wouldn’t be very happy if she heard me defining her by her disease like that though as that’s what everybody around her seems to do.

After she is diagnosed with depression, she is forced to attend a support group where she meets Augustus Walters, a gorgeous and muscly boy who for some unknown reason (to her) is interested in her. They develop a close friendship, both challenging and supporting each other.

The Fault in Our Stars is written from the perspective of Hazel and her narrative is really witty and funny. I love that both Hazel and Augustus are so accepting of the disease that is such a huge part of their lives. Neither of them is self-pitying but nor are they unrealistically ok with what must obviously a highly traumatic thing to go through.

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Both of them are determined to live their lives as normal teenagers and it’s really saddening to watch them struggle. They’re both incredibly mature having been forced to confront the idea of death very early on in life so moments together when they can just be like any other teenagers are so special. These characters are so inspirational and I wish more people had their strength and outlook on life.

I don’t think I’d be giving much away by saying that a romance develops between Augustus and Hazel. And honestly? It was one of the most beautiful relationships I’ve ever seen develop in a novel.

This wasn’t insta-love and there aren’t many PDAs or anything like that but you can see a real connection between the pair of them based on shared pain and experiences that made them who they are. I also can’t imagine any other couple making ‘okay’ a flirty word.

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” The Fault in Our Stars Book

These two teenagers really care about each other and, for lack of a better phrase, they have such banter together. There aren’t that many huge romantic gestures or anything silly like that in this book and, to them, hanging out and playing video games is just as good a pastime as any. This story reveals the complexities of each character and shares their personality beyond their illnesses that people usually define them by.

I’ve read other people’s reviews of  The Fault in Our Stars and they said that they could see the end coming, but I really couldn’t. I think perhaps I was in a state of self-denial and was convinced that things would all turn out the way I wanted them to in my head, but they most certainly did not. The ending of this story was one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever read, ever .

When I read the synopsis of this book, I expected a sad story but not one that would make me want to rip my heart out of my chest. I can’t tell you how many times I cried whilst reading this book.

There is a certain point in this book where I just couldn’t contain myself anymore and full-on sobbing ensued. This must be one of the most painful stories to read if you’ve had any experience with sick relatives and I honestly can’t imagine what state I would’ve been in if I had.

I’ve never read any John Green books before but the general consensus seems to be that  The Fault in Our Stars is his best novel yet. This is such an emotional rollercoaster and it is undoubtedly one of the best young adult books I’ve ever read. This book is just so real and raw and the writing itself is just so darn brilliant.

I tried to write some sort of coherent review and reign the fan-girl in but I think she’s about to pop out so that’s all from me! Read. This. Book.

“Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.” The Fault in Our Stars Book

Buy The Fault in Our Stars now: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

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If you liked this post, check out these: The Fault in Our Stars Quotes The Fault in Our Stars in Amsterdam Let It Snow by John Green Me Before You by Jojo Moyes Midnight Sun Film Review

Editor of What’s Hot?

[This post was first published in 2013 and updated in 2020]

Drithi Shetty

Sunday 12th of September 2021

I have read The Fault in our Stars by taking from library and I really love it I love Teen romance and this was Iike a mood changer like sadness, happiness and all If you don't mind can you pls review To all the boys I've loved before by Jenny han

Friday 21st of March 2014

I loved that book ! it was amazing!

Wednesday 2nd of October 2013

The Fault in Our Stars was my first John Green book as well and I cried like a baby! I loved it so much! The book is really unique and honest, and I loved how strong Hazel and Gus were!

Friday 7th of June 2013

I don't cry when I read books, but this one made me cry buckets. Great book and I'm a fan for life now. Reading Paper towns now.

Monday 14th of April 2014

Ahh I really want to read his other books! I currently own Will Grayson, Will Grayson, An Abundance of Katherines and Let It Snow but I've only read the latter and it was awesome! Hope you enjoyed Paper Towns :)

Monday 18th of March 2013

OMG. This book made me cry so hard! I had cried over only one book ever before this, and that was top-notch drama! I guess, this one was, too, 'cause I cried non-stop towards the end.

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The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a young adult fiction novel that narrates the story of a 16-year-old girl who is diagnosed with cancer. She joins a support group where she meets Augustus, and there is a rollercoaster of emotions throughout this novel as the relationship between Hazel and Augustus develops. Hazel and Augustus are able to find comfort in each other through the tough times and learn to lean into each other which makes them both realize that they are not alone. They find love in each other and feel hopeful for each other, also while allowing the readers to learn about their inner struggles.

Review by: Kassandra R.

Kassandra is a virtual volunteer at Sylmar Branch Library. She is a 12th grader at Sylmar Charter High School.

—Dana Eklund, Sylmar Branch Library

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The fault in our stars, common sense media reviewers.

Heartrending love story told by teen dying of cancer.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Will build vocabulary and awareness of literature,

Hazel not only provides teens with insight about w

Hazel is a smart, funny narrator, and readers will

There is no out-and-out violence here, but sensiti

The two main characters, who are in love, do have

Some mature language that seems realistic given th

The main characters drink champagne, etc., on a tr

Parents need to know that The Fault in Our Stars is a story about teens fighting cancer, and sensitive readers might be uncomfortable with the subject matter and sometimes graphic descriptions of what it's like to die. Hazel has some near-death experiences and also copes with Gus as he vomits uncontrollably,…

Educational Value

Will build vocabulary and awareness of literature, as the book makes references to Shakespeare, etc. (including the title, which comes from his Julius Caesar ("The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/ But in ourselves, that we are underlings."). Can inspire discussions about fate, the meaning of life, thoughts about dying.

Positive Messages

Hazel not only provides teens with insight about what it is like to know you are dying -- and to lose someone you love -- but her story is also about deciding to love and be loved, even when you know it will cause pain.

Positive Role Models

Hazel is a smart, funny narrator, and readers will appreciate the flawed but loving characters throughout. Most notably, readers will be amazed by her parents, who try to be truly supportive to their daughter always, even though their hearts are breaking and they don't always agree with her choices.

Violence & Scariness

There is no out-and-out violence here, but sensitive readers should know that there are graphic descriptions of what it is like to suffer through cancer. Hazel has some near-death experiences and also copes with Gus as he vomits uncontrollably. Characters lose eyes, legs, control of their personalities, and more. Also, characters play violent video games and read books and watch movies with high body counts.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

The two main characters, who are in love, do have (safe) sex, though it is described only briefly.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Some mature language that seems realistic given the age of the main characters: stuff like "bull----," "bastards," "nuts," etc.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

The main characters drink champagne, etc., on a trip to Amsterdam, and Gus puts cigarettes in his mouth (but doesn't smoke them). Some discussion of fictional cancer drugs. An adult character is an alcoholic who begins drinking early in the morning.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Fault in Our Stars is a story about teens fighting cancer, and sensitive readers might be uncomfortable with the subject matter and sometimes graphic descriptions of what it's like to die. Hazel has some near-death experiences and also copes with Gus as he vomits uncontrollably, etc. Characters lose eyes, legs, control of their personalities, and more. Also, characters play violent video games and read books and watch movies with high body counts. There's some swearing and drinking, and the two main characters, who are in love, do have (safe) sex, though it's described only briefly. This is a mature and powerful story: Hazel not only provides teens with insight about what it is like to know you're dying -- and to lose someone you love -- but her story is also about deciding to love and be loved, even when you know it will cause pain.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (43)
• Kids say (493)

Based on 43 parent reviews

Crass at times

A romantic, emotional and sensitive story for young people must not involve them having sex in their young and immature relacionship just cause they've got a terminal illness, what's the story.

Hazel knows she is dying of cancer, and even when she makes an instant connection with survivor Augustus Waters at a youth support group, she is determined not to start a romance with him ("I'm a grenade and at some point I'm going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?"). Even so, when he uses his Wish to take her to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive author she loves, it is impossible to deny that he loves her -- and she loves him. And though she soon learns that Gus has a painful secret, Hazel learns that loving others is worth it, even when it leaves a "scar."

Is It Any Good?

Be prepared: This is a tearjerker dealing with dying -- and surviving the death of a loved one. Parents who read this book along with their teens will be particularly moved by Hazel's parents, who soothe her anxiety by telling her about their plans for after she has died ("Even when you die, I will still be your mom, Hazel ... how could I stop loving you?"). Green wrote this book after making a friendship with a teen with cancer, and his attention to detail is remarkable, from descriptions of equipment to what it feels like to be stared at by well-meaning strangers. Readers may be perplexed about an alcoholic author who begins making appearances in Hazel's life, and may be unsure if he is really there or just a symbol. This decision seems a bit out of step with what is otherwise a realistic and emotionally harrowing book about love and loss. But Hazel's honest narration and her strength to love despite the consequences will capture teens' attention most. In the end, this is a painful book, but well worth it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about what it would be like to know you are dying. Would you do anything differently? Why does Hazel say she feels like a "grenade" and tell her parents she wants to "minimize the casualties" by staying away from people?

Also, the author's other books, such as Looking for Alaska , are often called edgy. What makes a book "Young Adult," and when does it crossover into being an adult story? Does it have to do mostly with the age of the narrator, or something else?

Book Details

• Author : John Green
• Genre : Coming of Age
• Topics : Great Girl Role Models
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Dutton Books
• Publication date : January 10, 2012
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 14
• Number of pages : 336
• Last updated : November 4, 2019

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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The Fault in our Stars by John Green – review

John Green is possibly the most renowned author of Young Adult Fiction currently operating. His most well known book so far is probably this one, The Fault In Our Stars. The basis of the story is that a girl named Hazel who has cancer meets a boy named Augustus who she falls in love with. The two of them try to deal with cancer, love, and books. It's your average boy meets girl, girl has cancer, boy and girl talk about how a fictional book ends book. The whole story is beautifully written and is just breathtaking. The metatextual elements with references to the fictional book which the two are both a fan of (An Imperial Affliction) have a very Third Policeman–esque vibe to it, which, as a great fan of The Third Policeman was very enjoyable. I thought the plot was wonderful, the characters were absolutely believable and you do completely fall in love with them. Hazel and Augustus are fantastically drawn and the voice of them both is very funny and very well done. It is not a sick lit novel, despite having many of the trappings associated with the genre, it is a story about two people in love, one of whom has cancer. It also has a certain philosophical bent in which it discusses the meaning of life and death.

Of course, I cannot talk about The Fault In Our Stars without mentioning the brilliant film adaptation. Despite what the Guardian film critic might say (apologies Guardian, but you are for once wrong about this. Stick to politics and children's books next time and stay away from films) it is equally as brilliant as the book and, in my opinion, enhances the novel which very few films do. For me, the novel and book are now as one, each dependent on the other. Augustus will always be Ansel Elgort and Peter Van Houten will always be that guy who I thought was John Hurt but wasn't and then realised was in The Life Aquatic. Or Willem Dafoe for short.

I would recommend that everyone reads this book. It is beautiful, enthralling, funny and just fantastic. It shows how a short life can still be an infinity, even if it is a lesser one. It enthralls, entertains and educates and offers a jumping off point for young people to explore and discuss important philosophical issues.

And yes, I did get something in my eye at the end.

But it was totally dust.

Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop

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The Fault In Our Stars Essay

The Fault in Our Stars is a novel by John Green. The novel is about two teenage cancer patients who meet and fall in love. The novel has been made into a movie, which was released in 2014.

John Green’s The Fault in our Stars is an excellent novel and one of his best. It follows Hazel, a teenage girl with cancer, as she tries to live a normal life. This isn’t easy for her because she has to lug around an oxygen tank everywhere she goes.

The novel focuses on how Hazel deals with the fact that she is terminally ill, as well as how other people around her, such as Augustus, deal with it. Even though the novel has a very somber tone and subject matter, John Green manages to make it an enjoyable read by adding his trademark humor. The Fault in our Stars is an amazing novel that explores the complex topics of love, life, and death.

At a cancer support group for teens, Hazel meets Augustus Waters, who is Similar yet different to her in many ways. This novel tells a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about love, pain, courage, and inspiration. It also teaches valuable lessons about how to overcome obstacles in life. Augustus has osteosarcoma (bone cancer), and Hazel has stage IV thyroid cancer.

The book starts with Hazel’s viewpoint as she tells us about her life and how “cancer is the emperor of all maladies”. She talks about how her parents try to protect her by not letting her out much, but she eventually convinces them to let her go to a support group. It is there that she meets Augustus.

Augustus is funny and handsome, and he seems to be interested in Hazel from the start. They bond over their shared love of books and eventually start dating. As their relationship grows, so does the reader’s understanding of their individual cancers and what they mean for each person’s life. The novel deals with some heavy themes, but ultimately it is a story about love and hope.

John Green does an excellent job of creating relatable and likable characters. The novel is funny and heart-wrenching all at the same time. It will make you laugh and cry, and it will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it. If you’re looking for a novel that will touch your heart, then I highly recommend The Fault in Our Stars.

Augustus Waters is unlikely to be a good match for Hazel. He lives life with uncertainty because his cancer is not 100% cured. Hazel hangs onto every day because she knows her time is limited. She doesn’t want to hurt Augustus because she knows he had been hurt before in a similar situation.

Augustus falls in love with Hazel and convinces her to go on a date with him. doctor tells Augustus that his cancer is not cured and that it will come back, but he doesn’t tell Hazel. Augustus and Hazel get close and eventually share their first kiss. Augustus then tells Hazel that his cancer is not cured and she reacts badly because she feels like he was hiding it from her. She doesn’t want to be with someone who is sick.

Augustus then goes on a trip to Amsterdam with his friend Isaac to see Peter Van Houten, the author of An Imperial Affliction, which is Hazel’s favorite book. When they meet him, he is nothing like they expected. He is rude and doesn’t want to talk to them. They eventually leave and Augustus is heartbroken.

While they are in Amsterdam, Augustus learns that his cancer has returned and that it is terminal. He doesn’t tell Hazel because he doesn’t want her to worry. When they get back home, Augustus tells Hazel that he is going to die soon. Hazel then decides that she wants to spend as much time with him as possible. They go on a road trip to visit Gus’s pre-cancer girlfriend, Caroline Mathers. Caroline is now married and has a baby. She is not the same person she was before cancer and this upsets Augustus.

The novel ends with Augustus dying and Hazel attending his funeral. She is left with a lot of unanswered questions, but she is at peace knowing that she loved and was loved by Augustus Waters.

Every day, Hazel sits in her house reading the same book repeatedly. For some strange reason, she decides to share it with Augustus. He has his own secretive motive for loving the book just as much as she does.

The novel is special to them both, and it helps them understand each other in a way that nobody else can.

novel follows two teenagers who meet at a cancer support group and fall in love. Hazel Grace Lancaster is a seventeen-year-old with thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs. Augustus “Gus” Waters is a sixteen-year-old former basketball player who lost his leg to osteosarcoma.

Hazel feels that her cancer has robbed her of enough already, and she doesn’t want Gus to have to experience the pain of losing somebody he loves so she tries to push him away. But Gus is determined to show Hazel that life is still worth living, and he won’t give up on her easily.

Augustus uses his money from the Wish foundation for cancer patients to bring Hazel and her mother to Amsterdam so that they can meet the author of the book they both like. They are disappointed to learn that the writer they were expecting to meet is a repulsive jerk, and they depart as soon as they have arrived. Many of the circumstances in which Hazel and Augustus find themselves are quite true-to-life.

Augustus tells Hazel that the novel is “a love story, like Romeo and Juliet, except without the dying part.” Unfortunately, their own love story is not as simple. Augustus has to confront his own mortality when he learns that his cancer has returned. The novel deals with some very heavy topics, but it is ultimately a very hopeful and life-affirming story. It is a novel about two teens who are incredibly brave and selfless in the face of their own mortality. Augustus and Hazel’s love for each other is incredibly inspiring and will stay with readers long after they finish the book.

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Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, the fault in our stars.

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It should be agonizing, this tale of doomed love between cancer-stricken teens. It should be passionate, engrossing, suspenseful, something—even unabashed melodrama would have been appropriate, given the subject matter.

Instead, the film version of the best-selling novel "The Fault in Our Stars" feels emotionally inert, despite its many moments that are meant to put a lump in our throats. Perhaps it’s trying so hard to bludgeon us over the head and make us feel deeply that the result is numbing instead. There’s something just off about it for the vast majority of the time—an awkwardness to the staging, framing and pacing in director Josh Boone ’s adaptation of author John Green ’s tear-jerking, young adult phenomenon, and a need to spell everything out.

So much of what worked on the page—and made Green’s writing so lively and engaging—gets lost in translation and feels uncomfortably precocious when actual people actually say his words out loud. (Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber , who also wrote the romantic charmers " (500) Days of Summer " and " The Spectacular Now ," remained very faithful to the book, which should make the core tween/teen fan base happy. Okay? Okay.)

There’s a specificity to Green’s language; his characters are hyper-verbal, self-aware and fiercely biting in the tradition of " Heathers " and " Clueless ." They know all too well that pop culture depicts cancer—especially young people with cancer—in a mawkish manner that they refuse to accept as they regard their own conditions. But while the flip, jaunty verbosity they use as a shield produces some pleasingly acerbic humor, it often feels forced and false in this setting.

Still, Shailene Woodley ’s abiding, disarming naturalism consistently keeps you engaged. She just doesn’t hit a false note. Following winning turns in the indie dramas " The Descendants " and "The Spectacular Now," and the blockbuster " Divergent ," Woodley continues to cement her accessible and likable on-screen persona. Her work is so strong, it makes you wish she had a better performance to play off of to create the sparky chemistry at the heart of this story.

Woodley stars as Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old Indianapolis girl who’s diagnosed with cancer at 13. It weakens her lungs, forcing her to drag an oxygen tank behind her wherever she goes and to stop to rest after climbing a flight of stairs. While her situation looked bleak a few years ago, participation in a new drug trial has prolonged her life for an indefinite amount of time. Her parents ( Laura Dern and Sam Trammell , with whom she shares some lovely, honest moments) try not to hover over their daughter as she attempts to maintain some vague semblance of teenage life, and they even share her fondness for using dark humor to defuse difficult moments.

Mom insists that Hazel attends weekly cancer support group meetings (where comedian Mike Birbiglia is the amusingly earnest leader). There, she meets the handsome and equally loquacious Augustus Waters ( Ansel Elgort , who coincidentally played Woodley’s brother earlier this year in "Divergent"). A former high school basketball star, Augustus lost his right leg below the knee to the disease and now walks with a prosthetic. In Hazel, he immediately recognizes a kindred spirit: a quick-witted smart-ass who can’t take any of the feel-good platitudes seriously.

While Woodley navigates the complexity of Green’s dialogue with ease, Elgort seems stiff and uncomfortable by comparison. His character is meant to be a bit pompous and formal in the beginning but instead comes off as nervous, and even seems to be rushing or slurring his lines at times. Elgort is boyishly handsome (in a way that’s distractingly reminiscent of " Love Story "-era Ryan O’Neal, actually) but never quite radiates the charisma required to keep up with Woodley. Their pairing feels like a missed opportunity.

Hazel and Augustus’ shared love of reading inspires a trip to Amsterdam to seek out the reclusive writer of Hazel’s favorite novel, the fictitious "An Imperial Affliction," which also happens to be about a young woman living with cancer. Willem Dafoe brings a jolt of creepiness to the role of the alcohol-addled author, a rare sensation in a film that too often feels tidy. Their visit also sets the stage for the oddest scene of all (in both the book and the film) when Hazel and Augustus share their first kiss before an applauding crowd of tourists in the attic of Anne Frank’s house. Yeesh.

Yet we know this bliss can’t last. And so "The Fault in Our Stars" descends into major hanky territory with an overpowering assist from a nearly omnipresent soundtrack of wistful alt-rock tunes that tell us what to feel, and when, and how much. (I will happily admit to having tears stream down my face during the third act of Green’s book but, alas, did not get choked up here.)

Theoretically, these iconoclasts wouldn’t want their story to be told in such obvious and heavy-handed fashion. To borrow their favorite line from Hazel’s favorite book: "Pain demands to be felt."

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some sexuality and brief strong language

125 minutes

Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster

Ansel Elgort as Augustus Waters

Nat Wolff as Isaac

Laura Dern as Mrs. Lancaster

Sam Trammell as Mr. Lancaster

Willem Dafoe as Peter Van Houten

• Scott Neustadter
• Michael H. Weber

Cinematography

• Ben Richardson

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