Review of "The Fault in Our Stars"

"Depression is a side effect of dying."

     John Green's The Fault in Our Stars takes a different perspective on cancer than many other novels. Hazel Grace Lancaster was diagnosed with thyroid cancer years ago, but the disease has refused to stay in one place. Now, thanks to the colony that has settled into her lungs, Hazel must drag a large, wheeled tank of oxygen wherever she goes. This happens to include the extremely depressing support group her mother forces her to attend, held in the "literal heart of Jesus" beneath a nearby church. There she meets Augustus Waters, a seventeen-year-old amputee with a penchant for metaphors and an insistence that she is more than her cancer. She doesn't want to jump into anything, but when Gus offers her the chance of a lifetime Hazel must decide: remain isolated, or risk letting him get close? In the end, she may not have a choice.

     Green has an unmistakably distinct writing style. Hazel's voice is full of sarcasm, fatigue, and very real emotion that makes her truly feel human. And she isn't just an ordinary girl--she thinks constantly of abstract concepts and has deep, philosophical debates with Gus. Even if readers don't agree with Hazel or her author, the way she presents her thoughts is simultaneously immersive and intriguing. She and Gus often joke about depressing things, which makes Hazel feel better and crafts her into a better, stronger person.

     When it comes to plot, Green takes his time. First we get to know Hazel, then her family and friends, and finally Augustus. Gus' personality is revealed one piece at a time, like the layers of an onion gradually peeling back, which is really nice. The plot doesn't take off, though, until a little ways in--or, at least, so it seems. In reality, the plot weaves its way through the story with a great deal of subtlety, bringing the characters gradually closer until the end. While this means that a lot of the book goes slowly, it really is well-done.

     One downside I encountered was Augustus. He's funny, charismatic, and a good friend, but I found it difficult to connect with him on an emotional level. He's too arrogant, too distant, to really understand in a way that's sympathetic. Maybe it has nothing to do with Gus himself; maybe it's just me. But when trouble strikes close to home, it isn't as effective if only one of the two lovers is relatable. Considering this is a novel that focuses entirely on these two learning to walk the cancer road together, that is not a good thing. Hazel's best friend doesn't show up too often, either, so it follows that she's a pretty flat, unsympathetic character. Though she's necessary to develop Hazel's personality, she isn't as important as a best friend should be. Otherwise, the secondary characters are all interesting and relatively dynamic.

     As this is a YA romance, it follows that certain qualifications pop up here and there throughout the story. Flirting is rampant, of course, but there's also a bit of crude humor and a physically romantic scene that goes into just enough detail to leave no doubt in mind as to what the characters are up to. As a cancer patient, Hazel is often told to stay positive, but she decides it is stupid to avoid thinking about the inevitable, so she tries to discuss death and other morbid topics with friends and family. With the exception of Gus, few people are willing to go along with it. Some of the side characters have cancer, as well, which means that body parts are occasionally removed, leaving them to deal with the consequences.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a YA novel about a teenager going through the angst and fear of cancer. Hazel Grace is a good, strong character whose relationship with Gus makes her better, like a knife against a whetstone. They occasionally think about dark things, like death, and discuss them with each other, but this is done in such a way as to build character. However, Augustus isn't a very sympathetic love interest, which takes away the impact of some of the conflicts. Therefore, I give John Green's The Fault in Our Stars four stars.