1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Green, John. 2012. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. New York: Dutton Books. ISBN 9780525478812
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Sixteen-year-old Hazel Lancaster has been diagnosed with Stage Four Thyroid cancer and knows how lucky she is to still be alive. She's been on a steady regiment of an experimental drug that has lengthened her life, but has taken its toll on her lungs; she is now hooked up to an oxygen tank or BiPap machine to aid in her breathing. At a cancer support meeting, she meets the sharp-witted, intriguing Augustus "Gus" Waters and they instantly hit it off. Readers learn that Gus is in remission from osteosarcoma and lost part of his leg due to the cancer. Both Hazel and Gus form a unique bond of friendship that eventually transitions to love. A wish-granting organization offers Gus an opportunity to make his dream come true. He chooses to give his wish to Hazel so that she can fly to Amsterdam to meet the author of her favorite book. When they return, readers learn that Gus' cancer has returned aggressively. Through it all, Hazel and Gus lean on each other for support and share their fears, hopes, and dreams with one another.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Green does a fantastic job of developing well-rounded, solid characters for this contemporary realistic fiction novel. Since it is written in first-person perspective, readers get an intimate glimpse of Hazel’s thoughts and feelings. As readers turn the pages, an honest and authentic account of a cancer patient’s struggle begins to emerge. Hazel comments on the awkward and pitiful looks she receives from friends, saying “Any attempts to feign normal social interactions were just depressing because it was so glaringly obvious that everyone I spoke to for the rest of my life would feel awkward and self-conscious around me.” Readers feel the anguish and heartbreak Hazel experiences as she tries to distance herself from her parents to ease their future suffering. She cries “I’m a grenade… I just want to stay away from people and read books and think and be with you guys because there’s nothing I can do about hurting you.” It is through this rollercoaster of emotions that young Hazel begins the courageous journey of growth and acceptance. These startling, but authentic admissions capture what many cancer patients endure and will tug at readers’ heartstrings.
As Hazel and Gus play off each other through their playful banter, the witty and exciting dialogue shared between will keep readers’ interest. The dialogue also provides readers with a window into the Hazel and Gus’s budding relationship. Green also uses language that captures the way teenagers think and talk, which helps young readers make a connection to the story’s main characters. For example, Gus says things such as “I was, like, the prototypical white Hoosier kid” and “Dude, pillows don’t break.” After Hazel awakens from a recent hospitalization, readers see her thought process as she observes things around her in real-time: “My lungs [were] swimming in fluid, a liter and a half (!!!!) of which had been successfully drained from my chest, which was why I might feel a slight discomfort in my side, where there was, hey look at that, a tube that went from my chest into a plastic bladder half full of liquid…”
The plot is fresh and plausible, and tackles the serious issue of teenagers fighting cancer. Although readers may hope that a miracle cure is found to save Hazel and Gus, the plot quietly stresses that their final outcome will be terminal. Instead, Green focuses on building Hazel and Gus’s relationship as they help one another through the difficult phases of the cancer fight. A plot twist is revealed when readers learn that Gus’ cancer has returned and that he may, in fact, die before Hazel does.
Readers are also surprised when the story shifts from Indianapolis, Indiana to Amsterdam, Netherlands, as Hazel and Gus visit her favorite author, Van Houten. Amsterdam is vividly described as it serves as the backdrop where Hazel and Gus truly fall in love. Hazel describes “There were elm trees everywhere along the canals, and these seeds were blowing out of them. But they didn’t look like seeds. They looked for all the world like miniaturized rose petals drained of their color… we arrived at a street split by a beautiful canal, the reflections of the ancient bridge and picturesque canal houses rippling in water.” Green’s story is set in the present, as references to contemporary shows and movies, such as American’s Next Top Model and V for Vendetta, are made. This helps to make the story believable for his audience.
The theme of searching for identity and meaning in life is prevalent throughout the book. Gus often questions what kind of legacy he will leave behind after his death and how his life will impact others. Hazel struggles with her role within her family and how her death will effect her parents. The idea that love, family and friendship endure even through hardships is also interwoven throughout the story. Hazel leans on her parents and Gus after a sudden hospitalization while the roles are reversed when Gus’ cancer returns. Also, both Hazel and Gus help their friend Isaac recover from the emotional heartbreak he endures after his girlfriend abandons him when he loses his sight. Despite the difficult obstacles they must overcome, both Hazel and Gus must grow up quickly and make peace with the bleak outcomes that will surely follow.
Perhaps the strength of this book is Green’s superb writing style and use of descriptive metaphors. Eloquent sentences such as “I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once” and “The sun was a toddler insistently refusing to go to bed: It was past eight thirty and still light” will leave readers mesmerized. They serve as the author’s distinct stamp on the book and reflect his perceptive, compassionate personality.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST: "Beautifully conceived and executed, this story artfully examines the largest possible considerations- life, love, and death-with sensitivity, intelligence, honesty, and integrity. In the process, Green shows his readers what it is like to live with cancer, sometimes no more than a breath or a heartbeat away from death. But it is life that Green spiritedly celebrates here, even while acknowledging its pain. In its every aspect, this novel is a triumph."
KIRKUS: "Green's signature style shines: His carefully structured dialogue and razor-sharp characters brim with genuine intellect, humor and desire. He takes on Big Questions that might feel heavy handed in the words of any other author: What do oblivion and living mean? Then he deftly parries them with humor... Dog-earing of pages will no doubt ensue. Green seamlessly bridges the gap between the present and the existential, and readers will need more than one box of tissues to make it through Hazel and Gus' poignant journey."
5. CONNECTIONS
-Have students read other young adult novels that deal with characters battling cancer:
Ackley, Amy. SIGN LANGUAGE. ISBN 0670013188
Gurler, Janet. I'M NOT HER. ISBN 1402256361
Wylie, Sarah. ALL THESE LIVES. ISBN 0374302081
- Read other novels written by John Green
Green, John. AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES. ISBN 0142410705
Green, John. LOOKING FOR ALASKA. ISBN 0142402516
Green, John. PAPER TOWNS. ISBN 014241493X
- Show students the book trailer for THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=G4BCKLbRHTM
