 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Fault in Our Stars
- By John Green
- Genre: Coming of Age
Common Sense Media says
Heart-wrenching love story told by teen dying of cancer.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a story about teens fighting cancer, and sensitive readers might be uncomfortable with the subject matter and sometimes graphic descriptions of what it is like to die. Hazel has some near-death experiences and also copes with Gus as he vomits uncontrollably, etc. Characters lose eyes, legs, control of their personalities, and more. Also, characters play violent video games and read books and watch movies with high body counts. There is some swearing and drinking, and the two main characters, who are in love, do have (safe) sex, though it is described only briefly. This is a mature and powerful story: Hazel not only provides teens with insight about what it is like to know you are dying -- and to lose someone you love -- but her story is also about deciding to love and be loved, even when you know it will cause pain.
What's the story?
Hazel knows she is dying of cancer, and even when she makes an instant connection with survivor Augustus Waters at a youth support group, she is determined not to start a romance with him ("I'm a grenade and at some point I'm going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?"). Even so, when he uses his Wish to take her to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive author she loves, it is impossible to deny that he loves her -- and she loves him. And though she soon learns that Gus has a painful secret, Hazel learns that loving others is worth it, even when it leaves a "scar."
Is it any good?
Be prepared: This is a tear-jerker dealing with dying -- and surviving the death of a loved one. Parents who read this book along with their teens will be particularly moved by Hazel's parents, who soothe her anxiety by telling her about their plans for after she has died ("Even when you die, I will still be your mom, Hazel ... how could I stop loving you?"). Green wrote this book after making a friendship with a teen with cancer, and his attention to detail is remarkable, from descriptions of equipment to what it feels like to be stared at by well-meaning strangers. Readers may be perplexed about an alcoholic author who begins making appearances in Hazel's life, and may be unsure if he is really there or just a symbol. This decision seems a bit out of step with what is otherwise a realistic and emotionally harrowing book about love and loss. But Hazel's honest narration and her strength to love despite the consequences will capture teens' attention most. In the end, this is a painful book, but well worth it.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what it would be like to know you are dying. Would you do anything differently? Why does Hazel say she feels like a "grenade" and tell her parents she wants to "minimize the casualties" by staying away from people?
Also, the author's other books, such as Looking for Alaska, are often called edgy. What makes a book "Young Adult," and when does it crossover into being an adult story? Does it have to do mostly with the age of the narrator, or something else?
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AGE
Best John Green book yet!
I just finished this book in less than two days after both laughing and crying. When I heard that John Green had released a new book, I immediately had to go to Barnes and Noble to get it, and it did not disappoint. This is the first time he has written from a girl's perspective, but he does so hysterically yet realistically. Without his trademark sense of humor, this could have simply been a depressing book, but with it, it's almost... optimistic?
Even though the book is not really violent, I can't think of how else to describe the fact that it may upset sensitive readers with its not so much graphic as simply intimate description of living and half-SPOILER (can't completely spoil it): knowing someone who dies of cancer. The one time the main character has sex with her boyfriend, it is not really described except for the fact that it is safe. There is language in this book, but it's not as harsh as Green's other books have been; language is about PG-13 level. The (teen) characters drink alcohol but don't really use it to drink to excess, unlike the author who Hazel (the main character) meets, but he is clearly not someone to look up to. Yes, the boyfriend (Augustus) does put cigarettes in his mouth, but does not smoke them. They are merely a metaphor, as he explains, for control over how he dies. Overall, this book was smart, funny, sad, and just plain awesome all at once. Unless you do not have a heart, you will be laughing and crying thoughout the whole book. DFTBA!
(Post-note: after I finished, I gave it to my mom to read, since I've been dropping TFiOS in any reasonable conversation, and she had to read it to see what all the "John Green this and John Green that" fuss was about. Though she took longer to finish it than I did, I knew it affected her as well. She read most of it on a field trip with a my brother on the bus, and when she came home she was sniffling a little bit, and the sniffling got louder as she got comfortable on the couch. When I asked her if something was wrong, she simply said, "I just about finished The Fault in Our Stars, and I..." and she trailed off a little bit. It was that good, for both teenagers and adults.)
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AGE
Great book!
One of the best books I've read in recent history. Hazel and Augustus are great lead characters, and they actually seem like real people. John Green knows how to write a good book, and this is definitely his best yet. DFTBA!
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AGE
Wonderful book for mature teens
This is THE most amazing book I have ever read. It's better than Harry Potter. The writing is fantastic, and the philosophical questions it deals with are of amazing proportions. TFiOS essentially deals with the meaning of life in one, not terribly long novel. The message of living and loving despite dying are profound and much more worth thinking about than the topics of most other teen (and other) books published today. That being said, there is some swearing that feels natural with the age of the kids. Also, the two main characters kiss and have sex. The way this part of the book is written though is not focused on the sex. It is focused on the love these two characters have for each other. It also isn't graphic. Augustus puts cigarettes in his mouth, but never lights them. It's a metaphor to him; putting the thing with the ability to kill you in your mouth, but not giving it the power to do so. Hazel and Augustus are underage when they drink champagne, but I think it is completely excusable as they don't know whether they will ever be of age. The vocabulary, let's just say there were several words I didn't know by page 50, which is a rare thing for me. I think mature 13yos and anyone older should definitely read this, as it is fantastic, deep and addresses the meaning of life. (It's also VERY funny :) It is by far the best John Green ever and I'm currently smiling at all the DFTBA's below...
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Kid, 12 years old
February 4, 2012
AGE
A Fabulous Book
This book is one of the best books that I have read in a long time. I stayed up until midnight last night (after starting the book at around 8:30) so that I could finish it in one sitting. It is a compelling story that illustrates death and heartbreak beautifully. I cried (which does not happen often to me when reading) and laughed, sometimes simultaneously and almost constantly. There is a bit of questionable content. There is some language, but it's not terrible. There are some somewhat disturbing scenes, like when Augustus is throwing up and when Hazel reflects frankly on her cancer, but they are essential to the point of the book and without them the novel would lose some of it's power. The main drinking is by the author of Hazel's favorite book, and he is portrayed as someone you would not want to model yourself after. Augustus does put cigarettes in his mouth, but he does not light them and uses them as a metaphor for his control of his life and death. He puts the cause of death in his mouth but does not give it the power to do him in. There is humor and witty lines throughout this book that puts a (for lack of a better word) optimistic view on what would otherwise be a bleak and depressing novel. Overall, fabulous book, there's not really a good way to describe how amazing it is . Just read it, seriously.
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AGE
Best Book I Have Read In A Long Time.
John Green enlightens his audience with a slue of characters that are both relatable and lovable. As the story lays itself before you, you enter into a world of love and defeat. Loss and victories. And you realize how fragile and valuable life really is. I loved this book. I will always love John Green and I have recommended this book to everyone in my life. It pens your eyes in a way that is memorable and incredible. Bravo, John. Bravo.
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AGE
One of the Best
Honestly, I love this book. It has inspired me and expressed feelings I have that i could never explain. I feel like John Green was literally inside of my brain and was like "Hey. look something inspirational, don't be sad". Cancer books don't really appeal to me, I feel they are an easy way to make someone cry, but this, this is just amazing. I definitely recommend this book (Even adults so start reading!) DFTBA
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AGE
READ THIS BOOK!! :)
Anyone and Everyone should read this book. I didn't even think that this was possible, but this book put Mr. Green even higher on my list of awesomly awesome people. It is really that special. This is one of those books that stay with you after you read it. Not just for hours or days, but for years and years. Hazel paints how life is for the dying, especially the young dying. The way that Hazel paints it just turned my view on life and death around; And pointed out the pain in both and the inevitability of both and the beauty in both. I firmly believe that the world would be if not a better place, then a more understanding and sympathetic and meaningful place, if everyone read this book. I love this book so much, that it has become my third all-time- favorite book, only behind To Kill A Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby. Who knows, this book might even climb my favorite books chart as it get older, 'cause books only get better with age. Read this now and if you don't like it, then... well, that probably means you should go back to the meaningless, utterly inconsequential books you're used to reading. And you should be ashamed of yourself for doing that because that is coming from a vaguely arrogant fourteen year old. Of course you can avoid being mildly insulted by a fourteen year old by just reading this beautiful book about unlit cigarettes, okay's, and a girl named Hazel Grace and a boy named Augustus Waters. DFTBA. (just read it now, okay?)
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AGE
a must read
i have to say that i did cry at this book, a rare occurence while reading, it was, a completely honest story, hazel grace has cancer, there is no way around that, one day she will die, maybe it wont be untill shes much older, but ethier way, one day she will, augustus waters once had cancer in his leg, however it was amputated and that was that, however he might not be completely away from it, the story makes you laugh, and cry, but is, in all a beautifull book, most of the reason i rate this book pause for a 13 year old, is, the level of unerstanding,that is needed to read this book, the fault in ours stars has quickly topped what was once my favorite book (the hunger games, the fault in our stars has just about managed to be even more amazing), just one thing, you might need some tissues.
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AGE
Heart breakingley wonderful
Before I say anything else, READ THIS BOOK
*Spoiler alert*
This book over all is pretty content free except for one mild sex scene. But there is a very dark element to this book that may make some uneasy. It is heartbreaking but not shocking, because it is made very clear that the main character is going to die, but still highly saddening. With that said this book is beautiful, funny, intellectual and emotional. A must read for all ages.
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AGE
Hamartia romance...
This isn't normally the type of book I read, I normally read very clean books and I did a scan of this and didn't see any language so I thought it would be fine...But this book gripped me from the first time it described Hazel! Such a good piece of literature! A YA novel with depth, where teenagers actually know real words! I found it to good to be true! It's a fabulous story, though heart wrenching. It makes you appreciate every moment, it gave me a desire to leave less scares. Even if it meant not being loved by the whole world. This author should really be thanked!
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| Topics: | great girl role models |
| Author: | John Green |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | Dutton Books |
| Publication date: | January 10, 2012 |
| Number of pages: | 336 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 14 |
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