The Fault in our Stars by John Green

 my rating: 5/5 stars

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

My Review: 5 STARS 5 STARS 5 STARS! What a wonderful piece of artwork this book is! I loved it from the very beginning and could NOT put it down. (always a good sign!) Green earnestly delved into the touchy issues-- sickness, death, and whether or not we will be loved and remembered in this world--with such compassion and understanding, and brought them to life with lovable charters that are so trademark John Green. Like most Green books, I found myself continuously re-reading a sentence or passage over and over again to absorb its beauty and/or its meaning. I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but Green has this wonderful uncanny ability to write about extremely tough issues and turn his writings into hilariously beautiful stories. I can honestly say I don't think I've ever laughed out loud so hard while reading a book, and I think that's part of the beauty of this novel; I laughed, I cried, and I was in awe of its beauty : )

I adore John Green for delving into his inner 16 years old female caner patient self, because Hazel Grace was such an amazing protagonist. She was so real, and everything she did and said made it feel like I was listening to the thoughts of a 16 year old girl who is actually going through cancer. She was a character with a lot of depth, and also a lot of humor; half of the reason I laughed so much while reading this book. The other half? Augustus Waters. Oh, Augustus Waters, I just love you. I also just love saying you full name. Plain and simple, Augustus charmed the hell out of me, and basically just set my standards of how all men should act in life. Again, only John Green could come up with such wonderful characters!

This story is a classic in my mind, and one that I will be revisiting often. I'm just so glad I was able to snag a signed copy of this guy before they all ran out! All that I have left to say, really, is John Green, I....I love you.