The Fault in Our Stars

As a child, Hazel was diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer and expected to die. But thanks to a medical miracle and a drug that only works in a small percentage of users (herself being one of them), Hazel has bought herself a little more time. Unfortunately, no one is sure how much. Now Hazel is sixteen, constantly hooked up to an oxygen tank, out of school and somewhat disconnected from the rest of the world. Then at a support group meeting she meets Augustus Waters - handsome, brilliant, and in remission from the disease that took his leg. The two erudite survivors are drawn to each other and especially bond over Hazel's favorite book. Unfortunately the book ends abruptly when the narrator dies, and while Hazel appreciates the symbolism she has always been troubled by the lack of closure. Augustus takes Hazel on a journey to track down the book's author and, if at all possible, discover exactly what happened to the remaining characters.

After reading this book I think that I can truly say that I love author John Green (author of such books as An Abundance of Katherines and Will Grayson, Will Grayson). He is such a smart writer, and in The Fault in Our Stars he really does an excellent job of exploring what it is like to live with a death sentence. The lesson Hazel learns about not allowing cancer to define the scope of her life is a powerful one. There have been plenty of books written about kids with cancer, but very few that have so effectively explored the human condition with such well-drawn, clever, truly interesting characters. Best of all, Hazel and Augustus' story will appeal to all kinds of readers, not just those looking for a tear-jerker. I laughed and cried simultaneously - a rare treat to find in any story, but even more impressive in a genre that normally assumes that crying is enough. Well played, John Green.

Overall Grade: A

I fully expect The Fault in Our Stars to make my Top 5 list of best books of 2012 - it was really that good! If you need more convincing, check out the book trailer: