Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heartrending love story told by teen dying of cancer.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 47 parent reviews
Based on 514 kid reviews
Kids say this book is an emotional rollercoaster that beautifully explores themes of love, loss, and the struggles of young cancer patients while also provoking thought on life and death. While many readers find it heartwarming and a must-read for mature teens, some express concern about its portrayal of teenage behavior, including references to sex, drugs, and swearing.
- emotional depth
- heartwarming story
- mature themes
- relatable characters
- recommended for teens
- triggers strong feelings
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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 tearjerker 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.
Talk to Your Kids 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?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Dutton Books
- Publication date : January 10, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 14
- Number of pages : 336
- Last updated : September 13, 2023
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