The Fault in Our Stars

 

The Fault in Our Stars
By John Green (318 pages)
Published by Dutton
Bookish rating: 4

I tend to dread to reviewing books that gazillions of people have already read. I prefer to unearth something under-appreciated that deserves some exposure and do my part for literacy. But hey. The Fault in Our Stars was begging to be read, mainly because it's a mind-bogglingly huge success in the YA market that has confirmed that younger readers are veering away from zombies, vampires, and end-of-the-world-slash-futuristic tales. As someone who is toiling on her own YA novel that contains nothing supernatural, this bodes well.

In case you've been living under a rock or only read news articles or 140-character remarks on your phone (ahem, Chris), The Fault in Our Stars is about two star-crossed lovers with cancer. Hazel's is terminal, and she's our teen narrator who, despite being written by a GUY, is adequately intelligent, irreverent, insecure, and believably GIRL. The parents are both lame (as parents are, amirite?) and remarkably sweet and complex. In fact, I thought Hazel's back-and-forth (I need you! Wait, no! Get away!) relationship with her folks very impressively got at their grief and love without being saccharine or sentimental or whatever. All while firmly in Hazel's point of view.

Of course, as a mum, I totally agreed with the line of "the only thing worse than having cancer is having a kid who has cancer."

The story was engrossing, the characters genuinely endearing and funny, and the writing sharp and perceptive--not at all heavy-handed. I found myself choked up here and there, which I suppose isn't surprising given the topic, but I really did feel attached to these kiddos by the end.

The novel was better than I expected it to be and it contains lots that lovers of YA can enjoy (and learn from). Recommended!