The Fault in our Stars by John Green

Green, J. (2012). The Fault in Our Stars. New York: Dutton Books. ISBN 9780525478812

 

Plot Summary 

Hazel is an average fictional sixteen-year-old, smart, snarky, defiant.  She also has cancer and has been living with a terminal form for years.  She wheels an oxygen tank around behind her and gets winded climbing stairs, but with the help of an experimental new drug, the cancer ravaging her body has been slowed.  She knows that it will eventually kill her, and has no delusions about the fact, but she puts on a strong face for her ever-doting mother and extremely sensitive father.  At their insistance, Hazel attends a support group where she meets a lively cancer survivor, Gus, who gives her more purpose and life than she has experienced since being ravaged by the disease.  By willpower and love can only carry them so far as biology is bound to interfere.  This story chronicles their time together, and how even with a deadline, there love is limitless.

Critical Evaluation 

Told from the point of view of Hazel, the reader can easily relate to her and her disease through the unflinching descriptions, even if they have no familiarity with cancer.  Her story is moving, and the reader can become caught up in it.  Green takes advantage of this and even though events later in the book are hinted at, they can be missed as the reader is too engaged with Hazel and her perspective.  When she is blindsided, so is the reader.  The novel withing the novel, Imperial Affliction, and how Hazel relates to it, echoes how the reader feels about The Fault in Our Stars.  We are wondering how it will end, how no matter what the ending is, there will be more questions.  The peace that Hazel has to come with not knowing the outcome of certain characters becomes the peace the reader of this book must embrace as well.

Reader's Annotation 

Hazel Grace has found her first love in Gus, but cancer is a third member of their relationship, and one that cannot be denied.

Author Information 

John Green's biography notes he was the "2006 recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award, a 2009 Edgar Award winner, and has twice been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize."  He is extremely popular on YouTube where he and his brother exchanged communication through these videos, ceasing textual communication.  His videos have been viewed over 200 million times, and his reputation as a vlogger is well-know.  His other books include Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson with David Levithan.

Genre 

Fiction, romance, contemporary

Curriculum Ties 

Reading and Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas 

As Hazel, recall a day before she met Gus, in all its technical detail as it relates to her disease and describing the tedium.  Juxtapose that with her elation as she describes a day once she is with him

Reading Level/Interest Age 

This book is rated 850L on the Lexile Range.  Its grim details will skew this book towards older teens.

Challenge Issues 

Language and cancer are addressed.

If challenged, I would first suggest being familiar with the work in order to speak about it directly.  Then, listen the challenger's complaint, show them to positive reviews, and refer to the collection policy, stating a need to include a variety of works that may not be suitable for all, but should contain something for everyone.  As a last resort, turn to the ALA Bill of Rights or First Amendment defense, but try not to let things get there; listen and reassure the patron.

Reason Selected

I read this book for the first time in class, and it was the first time I cried while reading a book in years.  This is a book that kids need to read as it is a romance without the sentimentality, and is much more real for it.

References 

Bio/Contact. (2013). Jeff Green. Retrieved April 15, 2013, from http://johngreenbooks.com/bio-contact/