The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

"The fault dear Brutus, is not in our Stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings." - Julius Caesar

Hazel Grace was diagnosed with stage four thyroid cancer at the age of thirteen.  At the age of fourteen a medical miracle in the form of a drug trial prolonged her life by shrinking tumors found in her lungs.  Now sixteen, Hazel has been removed from school and is tethered to an oxygen tank. While she is alive and could live on in her current state indefinitely, life is by no means easy.  

Then Hazel meets Augustus Waters at her cancer support group.  He is handsome, a cancer survivor, and he likes Hazel. Being with Augustus changes everything for Hazel and she begins to see the world in a different light. 

Erienne's Review:
Sarah and I recently went to the National Book festival in D.C. and were able to hear John Green speak and then wait in a line of over 1,800 people to get his autograph (thankfully we were not at the end). Waiting in line, it was obvious that John's books have really made a difference in the young adult world.  Teenagers were actually rereading his books as they were waiting in line. One girl in front of us even commented that she had read his book, Looking for Alaska 13 times.  It is good to know that there is an author out there who writes books that teens want to read.  

While The Fault in Our Stars is technically a young adult book, it is definitely a book for adults as well. I have passed this book along to many of my adult friends who have in turn passed it along to someone else.  While reading this book I found myself laughing and crying at the same time. Hazel and Augustus have a beautiful relationship full of struggles, love, and laughter.  I wouldn't miss this one if I were you.  

Sarah's Review: 
This book is quirky, original, beautiful, sad, endearing, soulful, honest, the list could go on and on. I actually thought I would dislike this book since I imagined I already knew how it would end. After-all, how else could a book about a stage four cancer patient end? But I was pleasantly surprised by the interesting twists in the story. The dialogue was witty, in ways it reminded me of Juno, and the characters were real and well-written. The Fault in Our Stars reminds us what it means to truly love someone and begs us to embrace that love no matter how painful it may be. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of John Green's books after seeing such an overwhelming turnout of his fans at the National Book Festival.