Hazel Grace Lancaster has cancer. She realizes that her life will have its challenges, but recently, Hazel has lost all optimism. She no longer wants to grow close to people, and she believes she will destroy her family and anyone close to her, emotionally. Her mom takes notice and forces her to join the local cancer support group.

      At the beginning of this novel, she believes she is dragging her family back. “I’m like. Like. I’m a grenade, Mom. I’m a grenade and at some point I’m going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?” . . . I’m not depressed. I don’t need to get out more. And I can’t be a regular teenager, because I’m a grenade” (Green 99). Reader’s will observe John Green’s skill at writing emotional and plausible scenes that show how much his characters struggle. 

Hazel meets Augustus Waters at the cancer support group, and they bond over books. Gus is a cancer survivor who is determined to leave a mark on the world and live his life to the fullest. As they grow closer, he changes the way Hazel thinks. Green’s plot focuses on Hazel and Gus‘s relationship, so Hazel’s thoughts and feelings are relatable and entertaining. Hazel and Gus will not be forgotten by readers, especially after reader’s hearts are crushed.

As the grenade quote shows, Green’s dialogue is not only plausible, but reveals emotions, as well. This novel is classified as contemporary realistic fiction, but is still fast-paced and perfect for readers who don’t like slow plots.

Green brings two main themes to the table with The Fault in Our Stars. The first is that pain is inevitable in life. Hazel is obsessed with not hurting others, which holds her back from branching out. The second theme is you don’t have to be loved widely to be loved deeply. Gus shows readers this theme when he writes, “People will say it’s sad that she leaves a lesser scar, that few will remember her, that she was loved deeply, but not widely. But it’s not sad, Van Houten. It’s triumphant” (Green 312). This theme is important for teens who struggle with feeling unpopular, or as if they have few friends.

Readers will enjoy The Fault in Our Stars because of the lovable characters and Hazel‘s raw emotions. This novel has awesome dialogue, is plausible, and has great sensory details. This title keeps readers begging to know what happens to Hazel and Gus. Green brings an amazing plausibility, emotional scenes, and important themes to the table with The Fault in Our Stars.

-Isabel M