Bibliographic Data
The Fault In Our Stars
By John Green
Dutton Books ©2012
ISBN: 9780525478812
Brief Plot Summary
A miracle
drug has Hazel Grace barely hanging from certain death. Her cancer comes with
baggage like depression and an oxygen tank. It doesn’t mean that she is not
like any other young woman. She unexpectedly meets friends in her cancer
support group that go through tragedies just as if not more heart wrenching
than her own.
Critical Analysis
In
realistic fiction the characters play a critical role in the story. Hazel
Grace, Gus, and Isaac all have or had cancer. As teens they are not only coping
with the disease, but are coming of age as well. By the conclusion of the book
all three have changed emotionally. Especially in Hazel Grace’s case we see her
transform from someone who is scared of hurting people and living life to
someone who floats on the edge of “oblivion,” Gus’ fear he claims to have at
the support group meeting, and just like the ending of An Imperial Affliction. Isaac also changes from someone who depends
on love to get through life to a self-sufficient cynic that seems to have the
most optimistic ending despite being completely blind. And sadly Gus, who
starts as the most optimistic case, is a positive catalyst in both Hazel and
Isaac’s lives, but dwindles down the sad path of illness.
What
makes the characters pleasantly relatable is the voice of Hazel Grace. It is
surprising to think that a male author can give such a convincing voice to a teen
girl. Not only the protagonist, but the other characters too are believable
especially in the dialogue. Moments from aching serious to the goofy jokes
litter the book. It seems likely that kids in a cancer support group would
playfully make fun of each other. Isaac is the butt of many jokes, “’Hey,
Hazel, how’s it going?’ “Good. I’ve gotten really
hot since you went blind.’” Even the uncouth language in this book makes it
relatable. For example Hazel refers to discussion in the support group as a
“circlejerk.”
The plot
of realistic fiction must appear likely and be appealing by being fresh with
unpredictable direction. It is a sad truth that young people suffer with
cancer, but what makes this story fresh is that it humanizes the experience.
These teens do what other teens do. They watch reality television, play video
games, think about sex and drugs, and have to go to school. Readers are likely
to speculate that if this happened to them would they be a Gus, a Hazel, or an
Isaac. What makes this plot unpredictable are occurrences like Gus’ health and
the positive changes in both Hazel and Isaac.
Another
characteristic of the plot in a typical realistic fiction book is the
inevitable conclusion. In this story we know that someone will die of cancer.
It is ambiguous, but it seems like characters die of cancer after the
conclusion of this book too.
Green’s
book takes place in contemporary times in Indianapolis, but could easily be any
suburban city. The characters and plot transcend the physicality of the city of
Indianapolis. Hazel and Gus do travel to Amsterdam via the Make a Wish
Foundation. Supposedly Green spent a period of time in Amsterdam to perfect
this part of the story.
The Fault
In Our Stars is dense with deep emotional themes. One theme is that the best
moments are okay. Many times Hazel says, “The world is not a wish granting
factory.” Despite the desperate time Hazel and Gus’ romance takes place it is
the most beautiful thing in both of their lives. Which brings up another theme,
love is a risk worth taking. Hazel believed that she was like a grenade and
that anyone who loved her would be destroyed by her death. She denied herself meaningful
relationships to protect people, but does it really do anyone a favor? One
personally meaningful lesson in this story is the destruction of Maslow’s
Hierarchy of Needs. Even though Hazel does not have her needs met she clearly
needs acceptance, morality, creativity, and other top tier needs.
John
Green’s books always have a candid and witty voice. His narration is honest and
brutal. Readers will have many “I know that feeling” sort of moments. The part
where Hazel and Gus have intercourse stands out because realistic things
happen. Her shirt gets stuck on her tubes. Gus is embarrassed about his leg. It
is a genuine story.
Gender
quotient is even in this story. The main protagonist, Hazel, is female. She is
strong, distant, and not a typical girly girl. Isaac is different from a
typical boy particularly when he is pathetically in love with (ex) girlfriend.
This story present the issues in a real way and actual ways people deal with these
situations. People take medication, go the therapy, are angry, and lash out. We
see culture in this book, but they are only markers. Yes, they play video
games. Hazel is obsessed with America’s Next Top Model. They email and text.
However the story transcends the cultural details with profundity.
Review Excerpt(s)
“Green is
able to transcend such pitfalls in his best and most ambitious novel to date.
Beautifully conceived and executed, this story artfully examines the largest
possible considerations life, love, and death with sensitivity, intelligence,
honesty, and integrity.” - Michael Cart (Booklist, Jan. 1, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 9))
“Hazel
and Gus's dialogue is witty and entertaining it's enjoyable spending time with
them but also revealing of the issues they and their families are grappling
with.” - CCBC (Cooperative
Children's Book Center Choices, 2013)
“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.” - Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2012 (Vol. 80, No. 2))
Awards
Guardian
Children's Fiction Prize, 2013 Shortlist United Kingdom
Pennsylvania
Young Readers' Choice Award, 2012-2013 Winner Young Adult Pennsylvania
Silver
Inky, 2012 Winner Australia
West
Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA), 2013 Winner Older Readers
Australia
Connections
One
subplot of this book involves tracking down an author of the protagonist’s
favorite book. Have students select their favorite book and create a visual
using typography about the author. They can use databases such as Biography In Context or Something About the Author.
The movie
is coming out in theaters in the summer of 2014.
Read the
autobiography of the inspiration behind the story, This Star Won’t Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl.
Have
students create typography posters of their favorite quotes from the book.
Discussion questions via LitLovers: http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guides/15-young-adult-fiction/8711-fault-in-our-stars-green?start=3
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