Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile 

Release Date: January 10, 2012 

Format: Hardcover 

Pages: 313 

Source: Won from Tameka

From Goodreads: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

My review: At one glance this book seems like another book about kids with cancer. I read every one of Lurlene McDaniel’s books in high school - my 2nd favorite book ever is Don’t Die My Love in fact – but this book is SO much more than kids with cancer. It almost becomes this tiny little piece of the whole plot – really, I promise it does. If the whole kids with cancer and/or dying aspect has you leaning towards not reading this you need to get over that issue right now. You will be missing out on a book that will change your heart.

I devoured this book – two sittings ending up with a late night last page turn. I really didn’t have words through much of my reading to explain my feelings and emotions – it was that powerful. I was left without the power to speak coherent sentences. Heck, I couldn’t even form coherent thoughts, let alone speaking out loud. I’m still struggling with writing this review many days later. So let me put this out there:

Everyone should read this - no, really everyone.

The writing is beautiful. The story is rich and perfect. The characters are real, flawed, and amazing. I laughed hysterically – snorting out loud kind of funny. I read passages to Brett because they were so hilarious. I cried. I sobbed. I let these characters touch my heart. And I am viewing life a bit differently now.

I have had a lot of thoughts and emotional worrying lately about my life goals and what’s reachable and worth the time spent obtaining it. This book came at a perfect time in my life and truly touched me. Life is what you make of it – big, small, or in between. These characters have reminded me that life without fame or far-reaching impacts is STILL a life worth living. People around the world may never know my name, I may never get a book on the shelves in my local bookstore…but that’s ok. I have warm relationships with the people most important to me and that is legacy enough. Don’t get me wrong – I’m still going to work towards some of my big/lofty dreams, but at the end of the day my legacy isn’t dependant on those dreams being reached. The people I love are.

So, when I say this book changed the way I see life – it really did. I found a sort of peace within my inner juggling. I think when that gets off balance again; I will pull out this book for a re-read to re-center myself.