The Fault in Our Stars

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors 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 tumors 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.

Why?: Paul bought this book, and loved it. I've also heard nothing but good things about it, and have been wanting to read it for quite some time. I haven't read anything that's dealt with a serious topic in quite a while (I think the last one might have been My Sister's Keeper), and I think it will be nice to take a break from typical YA romances.

Expectations: I expect a romance, but I also expect this to be a very touching/sad novel. I'll probably cry.

Judging a book by its cover: The title on the cover looks like it was written on a chalkboard, in a speech bubble. I think maybe school will be important, or maybe they write things on a chalkboard at their support group?


--Ashley