The Fault in Our Stars
John Green
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The Fault in Our Stars is John Green's young adult novel about two teenagers with cancer who meet at a support group and embark on a life-changing journey together.
- 1Hazel Grace Lancaster is a teenager living with terminal cancer.
- 2Augustus Waters is a charming teenager who had cancer but is now in remission.
- 3They meet at a cancer support group and form a deep connection.
- 4The two embark on a trip to Amsterdam to seek answers about their favourite author.
- 5The novel addresses mortality, love and the meaning of life.
- 6The narrative deals with serious illness while celebrating youth and connection.
Key ideas
Love and mortality
Green explores how love is deepened by awareness of mortality.
Meaning and legacy
The characters seek meaning and their place in the larger world.
Youth and illness
The novel balances teenage concerns with serious illness.
Friendship and support
Connection with others provides meaning and support.
Coming of age
The characters mature through their experiences and connection.
Humour and darkness
Dark humour balances the serious themes of illness and death.
Who is it for?
Readers interested in YA fiction dealing with serious themes will find this moving and powerful. It suits anyone interested in stories about love, mortality and finding meaning.
Full summary
Hazel Grace Lancaster is a teenager with terminal cancer who attends a support group.
She meets Augustus Waters, a charming teenager in remission from cancer.
The two form a deep connection and fall in love.
They embark on a trip to Amsterdam to meet their favourite author.
The trip is transformative, forcing them to confront questions of mortality and meaning.
The novel balances romantic connection with the reality of serious illness.
Green portrays how the characters support each other through darkness.
The novel ends with confrontation of mortality and affirmation of connection.
