SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About TLT
  • Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • A to Z Book Lists
    • Book Review Policy
  • Teen Issues
  • Middle Grade Mondays
  • Programs
    • TPiB
    • Tech Talk
  • Professional
    • Teen Services 101
    • Things We Didn’t Learn in Library School
  • MakerSpace
  • Projects
    • #SVYALit
    • #FSYALit
    • #MHYALit
    • #Poverty in YA Lit

January 11, 2012 by Karen Jensen, MLS

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

January 11, 2012 by Karen Jensen, MLS   1 comments

Today John Green’s newest title, The Fault in Our Stars, was released.  If you have not read anything by John Green, I highly recommend that you do so.  Now.  Seriously. John Green writes realistic fiction with an authentic and gripping teen voice.  His earlier work, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Printz Award.  It also is amazing and I suggest you check it out if you haven’t already. (Some circles suggest that the film is supposed to be released in 2013, which would be completely cool.)

TFiOS is the story of Hazel Grace, who has a terminal case of thyroid cancer that seems to keep always just on the verge.  It begins with her mother’s admonition that she needs to attend a cancer support group because she “seems depressed.”  Here she meets one Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor and amputee.  A certified “hot guy” who is witty and charming and lives his life metaphorically.  Together the two of them go on a journey to try and meet the author of their favorite book and find answers to those nagging unanswered questions, but their journey is really a journey to find love and self in the midst of great odds. 

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

On the surface it seems a simple love story, but the power of John Green is the way in which he writes.  Here he presents teens as deep, thoughtful, articulate creatures struggling with what it means to live – and die.  (And yes, there are actually many deep, thoughtful, articulate teens which is part of what makes my job so amazing.)  For me, this was a 5 star read.  The characters are fully fleshed out and developed; they are compelling and you care about them.  You want to spend time with them and are sad when the story comes to an end.  And the way that Mr. Green can turn a phrase is awesome and inspiring; don’t just take my word for it, read it and discover for yourself.  This is the type of book that leaves you with a book buzz: when you are done reading it you want to shove it into the hands of every teen you encounter and say read this. Right. Now.  It is the type of books that reminds you to live an awe inspiring life.  And it makes you want to memorize words and phrases and quote them again and again.  It reminds you that “The universe wants to be noticed” (John Green, The Fault in Our Stars).

Hear John Green read Chapter 1 of The Fault in Our Stars here.

See the booktrailer for The Fault in Our stars here.

For more John Green fun, be sure to check out his Vlogs and the Nerdfighters.

So this is me saying go read this book. Right. Now.

If you like this book, you may also like If I Stay by Gayle Forman, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher and anything by Sarah Dessen.

Filed under: Reader's Advisory, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

June 2022

What to Read if You Like Stranger Things . . . A Book Gallery

by Karen Jensen, MLS

June 2022

Link Round Up for June 2022: Creative Displays, Important Info on Book Banning, and More

by Karen Jensen, MLS

May 2022

Using QR Codes for RA: Helping patrons find new book recs in the stacks

by Karen Jensen, MLS

February 2022

Take 5: Book Lists So Cool You Need to Know About Them

by Karen Jensen, MLS

January 2022

YA reads for fans of the hit TV show Yellowjackets

by Karen Jensen, MLS

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

The 2022 Poop Report

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Because You Just Can’t Have Too Much R.L. Stine: An Exclusive Stinetinglers Excerpt

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Banana Fox and The Gummy Monster Mess | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

Mock Newbery Update – Our List of First Half Suggestions

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

The importance of play: how turning a problem into a game can foster creative problem-solving skills, a guest post by Candy James

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Shark Week, Vanilla Ice Cream, and the Honda CRV: Bob Shea and Brian Won Team Up for ADURABLE

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

15 Frightful Favorites: A Fifth Grader’s Horror Booklist

"Period Power": 11 YA and Middle Grade Titles That Destigmatize Menstruation

Not OK? That’s OK. Middle Grade Authors Provide Compassionate Portrayals of Mental Health

Three Middle Grade Books that Center Japanese Culture and Characters

Five Must-Have 2022 Middle Grade Latinx Novels

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Skagway Fishing Charter says

    September 16, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    I cried soo hard reading this book. The letter at the end undid me. And even after the book was done, I still cried just thinking about it. So excited for the movie. I hope it does the book justice.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2022


COPYRIGHT © 2022