The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars

By John Green     

Dutton Books (2012)         ISBN: 9780525478812

The Fault in Our Stars is about a girl named Hazel Grace living with terminal lung cancer, which makes it hard for her breathe on her own. As a result, she carts around  an oxygen tank to help her breathe normally. Due to her circumstances, her mother makes her attend a cancer support group for teens, where she happens to met a charming and handsome young man,  Augustus Waters. The Fault in Our Stars takes the reader on a journey with these two “star-crossed lovers” and learn how it is to be alive when the odds are all against you. This isn’t a depressing book about two kids who have cancer; it is about two kids who are living their lives through laughter, reading, witty banter, and love. Through their devotion, Hazel Grace and Augustus prove that our lives are defined by how we live, not how we die.

Quantitative: Lexile Level--850L; ATOS--5.5

Qualitative: Do not be fooled by the ATOS measure;The Fault in Our Stars offers depths of complexity that make it suitable for high school students. Because of Hazel and Augustus’ love of reading, allusions to works of literature may prove a challenge to some readers, but makes for a rich reading experience. The highly literate teens throw out vocabulary beyond the level of a typical student that many not read regularly. Using context clues will be necessary for students to make meaning of the text under these circumstances.

Content Area: English; Peer Resource; Health

Curriculum Suggestions: It’s hard enough being a teenager, but when “adult” problems arise, most young students may not have the emotional tools needed to endure them. A Peer Resource class concerned with helping students experiencing trying or stressful situations could learn how impactful friendship and compassion can be. English classes could explore the literary allusions and research those pieces, if not read them, especially at the honors or AP level. Furthermore, classes that read Romeo and Juliet could compare the tragic play to this contemporary piece--What is the significance of the novel’s title when compared to Shakespeare’s classic? Health classes may want to use this book as supplemental reading to units on terminal illness or even healthy relationships.

Common Core Standards: RL.11/12.1-6

Additional/Digital Content:

• John Green, the official site--http://johngreenbooks.com/the-fault-in-our-stars/

• When Teens with Cancer Fall in Love-- http://www.npr.org/2012/01/28/145903081/star-crossed-when-teens-with-cancer-fall-in-love

• Teens Living with Cancer--https://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/

Personal Thoughts: This is yet another book that addresses harsh, real-world issues. I appreciate Green’s ability to connect with a younger and older audience. Every person that I know who has read this book loves both the story and the storytelling. The Fault in our Stars blends humor and sadness in a way that shows how the two are almost always connected. A great addition to a high school library collection!

*Meets the "Reading for Fun MS/HS" requirement