City News

The captivating, yet heart-wrenching novel, The Fault in Our Stars, written by John Green, proves that cancer is not the end, but rather can create a new beginning of unconditional love. Hazel, diagnosed with thyroid cancer at a young age, drags around an oxygen tank that she physically cannot live without and, as most would say, living a life not so extraordinary. Forced by her mother into a cancer support group, Hazel’s dislikes towards the whole idea quickly change when she meets Augustus Waters for the first time. Augustus, living with osteosarcoma cancer that has resulted in his amputated leg, instantly is drawn to the inner and outer beauty of “Hazel Grace.” The star-crossed lovers begin on their love journey and live happily ever after… Yeahhh no. That is what we all are hoping for, but unfortunately, the reality is not a “happily ever after.” Hazel keeps her distance from Augustus and refers herself to a “grenade” because of her minimized lifetime, and she fears that her sudden death will hurt him. She instantly fails at this attempt. Augustus has already developed strong feelings for Hazel and is too committed to stay away. After adventuring through Amsterdam and meeting with Hazel’s favorite author of the book An Imperial Affliction, Augustus tells Hazel his heartbreaking news. His cancer has returned and is attacking every part of his body leaving him with little time left on earth and with Hazel. We all can only imagine Hazel’s reaction... let’s just say... there were a lot of tears. Augustus Waters dies a few weeks later and enjoys his last few days with his beloved Hazel. After the funeral, Hazel is told that Augustus has written her a letter, so she rummaged through everything just to find it. Augustus made Hazel feel like she belonged and like she wasn’t on the road to death, but rather on the road to a greater and better life.

The title of the book, The Fault in Our Stars, could represent that it is not anyone’s fault for the stars we are given and that sometimes what we are given, just simply cannot be avoided or destroyed. Hazel and Augustus choose to live their lives to the fullest despite the fault in their stars, even though they know their inevitable fate.

When I started to read the book, I thought right from the beginning that it was your average girl meets boy; boy meets girl love story that ends up in either death, a breakup, or some other traditional sad story ending. I was right, but also wrong. The girl did meet the boy, and the boy did meet the girl, and it was a love story, but with a few twists that made the story undeniably unique. I was astonished and beyond impressed with the author’s way of laying out the reality of the situation and making this simple love story a more complex, deep, and enthralling one that leaves the reader constantly turning the pages.This novel is not near lightweight and uplifting, as it does address many heavy topics about the brutality of cancer on a young girl. Green does a beautiful job of making the reader truly appreciate this wonderful gift of life and appreciate all moments with true loved ones.

I give this this book a rating of five out of five STARS… get it :)

The many reasons why I truly believe that The Fault in Our Stars deserves five stars is because it was extremely eye-opening and always kept the reader engaged with the outstanding plotline and word choice. There was never a time where the story felt monotonous or uninteresting. The Fault in Our Stars teaches its readers that whatever your problems are, you should remember that they are a part of your life, but they are not your life.

Check out The Fault in Our Stars at the Newport Beach Public Library.