The Fault in Our Stars

Bibliographic Information: Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York, New York: Penguin.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age: 12-adult

ISBN: 978-0-14-242417-9

Plot Summary: Falling in love is the very last thing Hazel expected when she reluctantly agreed to join a cancer support group. But when Gus, a fellow survivor, proves himself to be her philosophical equal, she can’t help but be captivated by him. An introvert by circumstance, she’s surprised at her own interest in him. He does, after all, appreciate her favorite book as much as she does and takes as much pleasure in discussing, questioning and analyzing it as she does. He spars with her intellectually, makes her laugh when little else does and becomes a much needed ally in her war against cancer. In an act of true chivalry, Gus shares his Make-a-Wish with Hazel, taking her to Amsterdam to meet the author of that beloved book. Their time together becomes an unforeseen adventure full of Swedish rap, steep staircases and bubbly stars. Admitting to the certainty of their love for each other and the uncertainty of their futures, Hazel and Gus guide each other into an unimaginable future.

Critical Evaluation: The irony within The Fault in our Stars is one of the shining rhetorical devices that provides depth to the story. There are minor examples (teens making out against the wall of a church), yet the strongest ironic theme is of Hazel’s viewpoint on life: continue living only to postpone the grief of those around you. So much goes into keeping Hazel breathing, countless hospital stays, daily medication and the constant presence of her oxygen tank; yet despite these life-saving measures, she chooses only to live in the literal sense. She refuses to participate in her own life, to experience the joys and traumas of being alive. Her reasoning makes total sense to her: why create relationships only to end up hurting those people when she dies? When she meets Augustus Waters, she’s charmed by him and allows him into her small sphere of life. But Gus’s life philosophy is the polar opposite of her own; he wants to make his mark on the world. Even as their friendship deepens into love, Hazel is reticent to get too close. When she finally realizes how much she loves him and that she has indeed made a difference in the world, Gus admits his cancer recurrence. His illness is the ironic counterpart of Hazel’s maturity and she now understands the significance of living her life, however long or short it may be, with purpose, with clarity, with joy and with grief. The Fault in our Stars delivers a beautiful balance in irony, finding just the right balance to lead the reader on a journey all their own.

Reader's Annotation: Hazel is interested in only two things: Dancing with the Stars and her favorite novel. But thanks to a chance meeting with a fellow cancer survivor, she finds adventure, spontaneity and compassion in places she never expected.

Author Information: John Green is a recent popular name in the American young adult fiction. He is also an avid video blogger who has published numerous educational videos online. The Fault in Our Stars is considered to be his outstanding by far along with other notables.

John Michael Green was born on August 24, 1977, to Mike and Sydney Green in Indianapolis. He received his early education from Lake Highland Preparatory School and Indian Springs School. His experience of school was similar to other social outcasts who get bullied by arrogant people. He earned double graduation degrees in English and Religious Studies from Kenyon College. He worked as a student chaplain after graduation in a children’s hospital. His initial aim was to become an Episcopal priest. However, the time he spent among children with terminal-illness stimulated him to become a writer. Afterwards, he worked as a publishing assistant for Booklist, a book review journal. Green wrote numerous reviews on literary fictions mostly concerning conjoined twins or religion of Islam.

While working as a critique he also began writing his debut Looking for Alaska. Eventually, he had his project completed and published by 2005. It is a coming-of-age romance novel about a teen Miles. The novel is inspired by Green’s time at Indian Springs. Unlike other YA writers, Green has broadened the horizon of YA novels’ subjects matter. He introduced more philosophical approach to the issues in a teenager’s life. The unorthodox form and content of the novel had it earned the American Library Association’s Michael L. Printz Award in 2006. The book made a record staying at New York Times bestseller list for the span of 7 years.¹

Curriculum Ties: analyzing literature in real life, rhetorical devices, character development

Booktalking Ideas: terminal illness in teens, symbols (bones in the grass, metaphorical cigarettes, Literal Heart of Jesus)

Challenge Issues: sexuality, profanity, teen mortality

Challenge Issue Resources (for usage in a challenge situation):

• Library Selection Policy
• Rationale explaining why the item was chosen for the collection
• Active listening skills
• Awards
• Reconsideration form (as a last resort)
• Illinois Library Association (Banned Books Listings)
• National Council of Teachers of English “Right to Read”
• Positive and negative reviews: expert, parent, student
• ALA Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials
• ALA Bill of Rights on Intellectual Freedom

• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

Reasoning: The Fault in Our Stars is a novel filled with unexpected layers. It doesn’t fall into trap of today’s common dystopian/utopian themes, but alludes to a world made perfect by the lack of cancer. The characterization of the three main characters is complex and deep and thoroughly refreshing in a YA novel. Hazel, Gus and Isaac all use their hard-found wisdom to push the reader into what is often uncomfortable territory--juvenile cancer. Few teens ever learn what to say or how to react when a peer is ill. The Fault in our Stars provides an avenue for them to understand that sickness does not trump everything, that sick teens are just like all others… they’re still unsure about themselves, still struggling with parents and still figuring out the world around them. Green takes the reader down dynamic pathways to provide perspectives and life lessons on growing, not just up, but growing into one’s own.

Reference page:

¹John Green. (2012). FamousAuthors.org. Retrieved 04:07, September 16, 2015 from http://www.famousauthors.org/john-green