Wednesday, 9 December 2015

The Fault in Our Stars Book Review by Alexa

The Fault in our Stars is a novel by author John Green. This book is a wonderful work of fiction about a sixteen year old girl named Hazel Grace Lancaster, and her battle against cancer. The plot takes place in the state of Indiana, and is a story about friendship and falling in love, as well as courage and fear when facing illness.


Hazel Grace is forced by her parents to join a support group for cancer survivors. There, she meets the handsome and charming Augustus Waters, who osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, caused him to have a prosthetic leg. The two instantly become good friends. Augustus and Hazel bond over Hazel’s favorite book, An Imperial Affliction, which is a story about a girl who is also battling a rare blood cancer. The author of the book, Peter Van Houten, concludes the book without revealing what happens to each of the characters. Hazel and Augustus are in pursuit of the author to find out what happens to the characters. Augustus even uses his wish foundation to fly both Hazel and himself to Amsterdam, where the author lives, in search for their answers. While on their adventure, Augustus shares some sad news with Hazel, and both their worlds fall apart.


The book was written in first-person narrative, from Hazels’ point of view. The book draws the reader into the characters and allow them to really connect with the main character, and understand her thoughts, her struggles and her fears.



I would highly recommend this book, which I believe can be enjoyed by young readers and adults as well. It is a beautiful story about love and friendship, with loveable characters. It educates the reader about the real issues, experiences and concerns of those who are touched by cancer. It is a story that is both funny and heartwarming at times, yet sad and heartbreaking at others. It is like a roller-coaster of emotions. Don’t forget to keep a box of tissues by your side.
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12 comments:

  1. Anonymous9 December 2015 at 10:08

    Hi Alexa, I really enjoyed your book review, this sounds like an amazing book. You said that Augustus shares some sad news with Hazel and their worlds fall apart. Could you please elaborate on that for me as I would like to know.
    Thank you, Emma

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous9 December 2015 at 16:45

    Dear, Alexa

    You did a great job explaining the characters' actions and emotions in your review. Why do you think it matters so much to Hazel and Augustus what happens to the characters after the end of the novel An Imperial Affliction and why do you think the author did not include in the book?

    Sincerely,
    Adam Shaaban

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous9 December 2015 at 17:16

    Dear Alexa,

    You explain our novel so well and with great detail, it sounds like a very fun book to read. You didn't really say any conflict in the book. Could you please name some conflicts for your novel.

    Yours truly,
    Angelina

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous10 December 2015 at 16:29

    Dear Alexa,

    You did a great job at explaining the characters. You didn't mention a lot of the incidents (rising action) or the conflict. Can you please elaborate a bit more on the plot?

    Sincerely,
    Kristi

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous15 December 2015 at 13:18

    Dear Alexa,

    The book's title is called the fault in our stars, but it has nothing to do with stars, even if people are referring to a "star" as a celebrity. Can you please tell me why the book was called "The Fault In Our Stars"?

    Sincerely, Connor

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous15 December 2015 at 16:52

    Dear Alexa,

    I have heard that the Fault in Our Stars is an amazing novel! I was just wondering what does Augustus Waters look like, and what are some of his character traits?

    Thank-you,
    Elena

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous16 December 2015 at 20:32

    Dear Adam,

    Thank you for your comment! The novel, An Imperial Affliction is Hazel’s favorite book. The book is about a girl, named Anna, who has cancer and starts a charitable organization. Hazel identifies with the character in the novel, since, like her, she too has cancer. The author of the novel, Peter Van Houten, never reveals what happens to Anna. Hazel is in search for the ending, hoping it will give her some insight to her own outcome with her battle. Perhaps the author didn’t include this in the book because he was hoping to write a sequel, or perhaps the reality of dead was too painful a topic for him to write about, since by the end of the novel, we learn that the author once had a daughter who died of cancer.

    Thanks,
    Alexa

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous16 December 2015 at 20:33

    Hello Emma,

    Well, to know the sad news you will have to read the book. Hint : It has something to do with cancer. Would you like me to tell you?

    Thanks,
    Alexa

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous16 December 2015 at 20:35

    Dear Angelina,

    Thank you for your comment. The main conflict in this novel is about cancer. There are many conflicts in this novel.
    1. Cancer ( Man vs Body ) – This is the most obvious conflict. Her cancer is killing her and she struggles to breath as her lungs weaken. That is why she carries an oxygen tank everywhere she goes. She has no control over this disease that will eventually take her life.
    2. Hazel ( Man vs Self ) – Without giving away too much of the novel, Hazel goes through a life-changing event. Hazel never wanted to get close to anyone because she fears she will just hurt them when she dies. She finds herself connecting to Augustus and allows herself to fall in love with him. There is conflict with the outcome of this relationship.
    3. Social Skills ( Man vs Society ) – Hazel was withdrawn from school because of her illness, and finds herself socially withdrawn. She doesn’t get to spend that much time with her best friend, and struggles with her friendship. She has a hard time making friends because of her illness. That is why she connected so well with Gus, because he can understand and relate to her.

    Thanks,
    Alexa

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous16 December 2015 at 20:38

    Dear Kristi,

    Thank you for your comment. One of the main conflicts is Hazel’s battle of cancer. She feels like her body is a bomb (that will explode). Hazel know that she is dying and does not want to get close to anyone because she feels like she will hurt them. You can read my response to Angelina’s question for more detail about conflict.

    The rising action in the novel is when Hazel meets Augustus Waters, who she meets at a Cancer Support Group. Augustus also has cancer, but he has a positive outlook. He influences her to see things differently; and the two fall in love. They travel to Amsterdam together in search for the author of Hazel’s favorite book.

    Thanks,
    Alexa

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous16 December 2015 at 20:40

    Dear Connor,

    You are right, the book has nothing to do with stars, as in a "celebrity". The title of the book “The Fault in our Stars” comes from a line in a Shakespeare’s play in Julius Caesar where Cassius says, “The Fault, dear Brutus is not in our Stars”. Cassius seems to be saying that it’s not fate that dooms men, but instead their own failings.

    Thanks,
    Alexa

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous16 December 2015 at 20:42

    Dear Elena,

    Yes, this was a great novel! I think you would enjoy reading it. According to Hazel, Augustus Waters sounds like a hottie! She describes him as being “a hot boy…. long and leanly muscular…with mahogany hair, straight and short”. Augustus sounds romantic and charming. He is pretty funny and witty too. He has a very positive outlook, and lives life to the fullest. Despite his illness, he still wants to leave his mark on the world, which he manages to do because he left him mark on Hazel, and changed her perspective on life. Gus sounds like a good friend, who is kind and generous. He uses his “wish” to take Hazel to Amsterdam to meet her favorite author and ask him questions about her favorite novel, An Imperial Affliction.

    Thanks,
    Alexa

    ReplyDelete