The Fault In Our Stars

Green, J. (2014). The Fault In Our Stars. Penguin Young Readers Group.

In The Fault in Our Stars, which is also a NYT Bestseller, a sixteen-year old girl named Hazel battles terminal cancer. She meets Augustus at her kids-with-cancer support group and they both share the same spirit of kindness and senses of humor. They eventually fall in love and learn to make the best of each moment together. Hazel struggles with her love for Augustus and her death. She questions whether her life and death have meaning. Later Augustus reveals that his cancer has relapsed. His health worsens and he dies days after is pre-funeral. Hazel finds the pages Augustus had sent to the author of one of Hazel’s favorite book that ends abruptly. In it she finds the comforting words, “Getting hurt in this world is inevitable, but we do get to choose who we allow to hurt us.” He adds that he is happy with his choice. The topic of life and death is always an interest to young readers. The theme expressed in Augustus’s letter is something readers can ponder after the reading. We can choose whether we want to be hurt by others. The author’s story plot was one with a twist. I expected Hazel to pass away. Students can find themselves with the same reaction. A plus for all readers is that this book has been made into a movie! Make sure to read the book first.