Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

What is there to say about John Green's The Fault in Our Stars?

I say: Perfection.

This has to be, by far, the best YA novel I have read. 

Summary:

Hazel is battling cancer and her mother feels it's best to go to Support Group with other kids battling cancer so she can talk and won't feel so depressed.  Hazel tries everything she can to get out of it but to no avail.  When she goes, she doesn't expect to connect with Augustus.  Their friendship quickly turns into something more and a captivating book by a recluse author sends Hazel and Augustus on an adventure for answers in Amsterdam.  While there, the world they created for themselves takes a turn and nothing is ever the same.

Review:

In all honesty, this book could have been really cheesy.  Girl with cancer meets boy with cancer and they click and fall in love.  But this is written in such a way that the characters are believable and the story is plausible.  There is depth and substance to the "cancer kid" story that all doubts about this being a predicable, typical story are lost soon after the story begins.

Cancer is not a topic people take lightly.  So throwing together a bunch of kids ranging from being in remission to being terminal is a hard thing to grasp and deal with.  But as the story goes on and it focuses on Hazel specifically, the true nature and emotions of a kid with cancer shines through and grasps the reader from start to finish.  Hazel becomes a multi-dimensional character as she deals with her cancer but also as she deals with normal teenage issues like having a boyfriend.  The balance between the two is played out in a way where the reader doesn't see a defined line between her cancer and boy struggles.  It's like they are one stream and that is due to Green's masterful way with words. 

It's hard to put into words how much I enjoyed this book!  I couldn't put it down once I started.  The writing is amazing and the story is gripping from page one.

I highly recommend this book to anyone.  I do warn you that it's an emotional read, so if you're a crier have some tissues handy.